Viva Naturals Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

For a little while now I have been looking at aromatherapy a little bit more.  I have some allergies and was diagnosed with asthma this year.    This is mainly the reason behind my research on aromatherapy because there is so much that you can do with essential oils apparently.   I never had an infuser so I was excited to try it when it was offered on Amazon Vine Voices.

This stylish diffuser will allow you to use the essential oils you might have at home in an easy way. The whole process is very simple. Pour a quantity of water in the infuser, add some drops of essential oils, and voilà! You are all set for some relaxation and uplifting time.

This particular device is interesting because you have the capability to set it up for 1 hour, 3 hours or 6 hours. Obviously you have the control to include as little or as much water as you desire. A little measuring cup is included in the package. You can also include some light function which will switch through the colors (moonlight white, firefly green, aquamarine teal, galaxy purple, sunset red, mellow yellow, and mystic blue) or you can set it up fixed as well as remove the light options.

According to Viva Naturals, this will help you to purify  your home by eliminating toxins and fight molds.   It would also stop the germs from spreading because many essential oils contain powerful anti-microbial compounds that bind to germs in the air and remove them.   That way you can fight colds, flu, and other type of bugs through the year.

Essentially, I find that it is a little humidifier that you can have close to you when using it. It allows you to incorporate some essential oils in the water in order to spread some vilifying smells near you. The smells is not too strong and will help you to improve your health.  My only disappointment is that the infuser did not come with some essential oils. Fortunately, I already had a bottle at home. So I used that when I tried it out.  I set the diffuser on my bedside table and make it run in the afternoon while I was resting.    I like the fact that it would gently send through the air via the mist the scent I had picked.  The diffuser is very quiet so you won’t be bothered with the noise.

I really like the style and the color of the diffuser I have received. It comes in black and ash (greyish) as well.  This particular model allows you to have 400 ml of water in it.

The Viva Naturals Diffuser is available for purchase on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Pine Tranquil Model

 

Espresso Tranquil Model

 

Ash Tranquil Model

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Oral-B Power Genius 8000 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush

I always contemplated the electronic toothbrush but never could justify the price tag on them.   However, Amazon Vine Voices had the Oral-B Genius 8000 recently on the products offered and I decided to take the plunge in order to try it out.  Oh. My. Word.   The first time I tried the toothbrush my teeth felt so clean that I had the impression I just came back from the dentist – the feeling of having the teeth no so clean after spending time in brushing them was gone.  My teeth would squeak of joy if I passed my finger quickly on them. I am not kidding you that was how clean the teeth were.

This rechargeable toothbrush comes with a charger, 3 brush heads, a refill stand, a travel case, and a smartphone holder.  Wait what?  A smartphone holder?  But why?   That’s the beauty of this specific model because the toothbrush is bluetooth smart and will connect to your phone using the Oral-B app.  This app will monitor daily your habits and personalize the brushing routines.   The app will allow you to brush every area of the right amount of time so that you do not miss a zone.   Literally, you will brush for over 2 minutes without realizing it.   And your teeth will be sparkly clean in the process.

Also the app will allow you to customize the multifunctional 360 degrees smartring by modifying the color of it.   In all, you will be able to choose your favorite color from twelve choices.

Throughout your brushing, the toothbrush will also provide feedback on your brushing habits and you can implement your dentist’s recommendation via a customizable brushing plan too.    The brush itself rotates, oscillates and pulsates in order to break and remove the plaque that a regular toothbrush would not be able to do.  

The toothbrush offers numerous modes of cleaning as well: daily clean, gum care, sensitive, whitening, pro-clean, and tongue cleaning.  You are really taken care of when using the Oral-B Genius 8000.

The smart travel case will charge you brush as well as your smartphone with 1 plug.  Which is ideal for people who limits their luggage when on a trip.

Though I adore this toothbrush, there is one thing I would like to change in the app/toothbrush connectivity.   I think it would be fabulous to be able to track two people instead of just one.   My husband takes the sensitive teeth brush and I take one of the other ones.  However, when connecting on the app, it downloads all the tracking from the toothbrush – which is two people in our case.   I think it would be fabulous to be able to differentiate who’s who…

If you have been considering getting an electric toothbrush, I would like to suggest that you consider the Oral-B Genius 8000 because it will give you the best cleaning that you ever had in ages for your teeth. 

The Oral-B Power Genius 8000 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush is available for purchase on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Philips AVENT uGrow Smart Ear Thermometer

Last week, I have received a Philips AVENT uGrow Smart Ear Thermometer from Amazon VineVoices to review.   Contrary to what the title of the thermometer might suggest, it is not specifically designed only for babies and children.   You can use it for teens and adults as well.

One of the main reason why I decided to review this ear thermometer is because it was much smaller than the one we had purchase back in the days when our oldest son was a baby.  He is turning 16 in a month and I can hardly believe how time flies.   As you can see the new Philips AVENT uGrow Smart Ear Thermometer fits nicely in our hand.  It won’t take any place in your purse or bag when you travel.

The second main reason why I picked it is the fact that you can link your ear thermometer to an app on your phone in order to track the temperature of your child.  Why to this?  So that you can share the information when going to the doctor or the emergency if the temperature stays elevated for a long period of time.  I find that this function alone will give piece of mind to parents with children of all ages.

The use of it is very easy – simply put the thermometer in the ear and press the button.  You can switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius rapidly if you prefer one specific measurement.   Personally, I am still on the Fahrenheit measurement because I grew up with it.   I suppose I should try to adapt myself and turn to Celsius…

I think that any parents should own an ear thermometer because it is the easiest way to take the temperature on a child.   This specific model would make a great gift for a baby shower.

The Philips AVENT uGrow Smart Ear Thermometer is available for purchase at amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Bionaire Mini Tower Air Purifier

Since the past summer I have been experiencing difficulty in breathing normally.   My doctor suspects that I might become asthmatic and I had to go pass a breathing test last month.  About two weeks down the line, the hospital called me and asked if I could come back for a second test.   Anyhow, I am still waiting for the results.  I had done a bit of research on asthma and how to ease it.   I learned about how air purifiers could help you.    I knew I could not justify purchasing it until I get the final results on the tests I had done but imagine my delight when I saw the Bionaire Mini Tower Air Purifier being offered on Vine Voices.

Last week, while at the pool during the kids’ swimming lessons, I slowly started having issues again.  Fortunately, I also knew that the Bionaire Air Purifier was on its way.  It was just a matter of days…

When I received it I immediately proceeded in unpacking it and plugging it in the living room.   The air purifier has been working all day and night since then.   As I write this it has been over 48 hours since I plugged it.

This mini tower air purifier possess an Allergy Plus Filter.   The tower operates quietly and we barely hear it while we are in the living room.   The goal of this air purifier is to help remove up to 99.99% of airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, mold spores, pet dander and smoke in order to provide relief from irritants in the air. This specific air purifier will trap particles as small as 0.3 microns so you can breathe comfortably.  The bionaire mini tower air purifier came with one filter (purple color).

This specific air purifier has 5 speed settings including turbo and quiet.   The turbo setting will quickly circulate and filter the air in the room while the quiet setting will be preferable for a bedroom during sleeping hours.   You will also find a filter check indicator will let you know when to change the filter which could be very useful if you do not check the filter regularly like suggested in the manual.   Also on the tower you will find an optional ionizer .  What are ions?  Ions are tiny particles that carry a positive or negative charge.  They exist naturally around us.  The negative ions bind themselves with airborne smoke, dust, and pollen to form larger particles that are easier to capture.   This feature will help the process of air purification. 

The mini tower can be positioned in two different ways – you can put it vertically or horizontally depending of where you decide to place it.   It is recommended for small rooms up to 93 sq. ft. 

Another interesting feature for the Bionaire mini tower air purifier would be the 12 hour timer for worry free operation.  This function will allow you to program the air purifier to work up to 12 hours.  I have tried the feature for a 4 hours period and the air purifier shut down by itself once the timer was complete.

Now concerning the filter, let me remind you that it is an allergen remover that can destroy viruses, moul spores and fungi and more.   The aer filters are all compatible with this device.    Personally, since we have plug this little device in our living room, I have smelled a difference in the air.  It is as though the air is more pure and I have a better facility to breathe.    Having experience this mini tower air purifier and seen the difference it has made for me for my breathing issues I was having lately, I am seriously considering moving this tower in my bedroom and getting a bigger tower for the living room.  And I would also consider bringing the mini tower at the RV during the summer time.

I am very satisfied with the Bionaire mini tower air purifier.  My breathing seem to have eased a bit with it.   I would recommend it to any allergy suffering person. 

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Philips Avance Masticating Juicer

I recently received the Philips Avance Masticating Juicer from Amazon Vine Voices in order to review it.   I was curious about it and was looking forward to try it out.   I received the box earlier this week.  The box was somewhat banged a bit and I hoped the product inside would be in perfect condition.  After opening it, I realized that it looked like ok.   What I didn’t know it that the tray which is located under the machine and serves to receive the pulp of the fruit had sustained some damaged.   You see on the tray itself there is a little part that seems to pop out of it.  I had found this pointy part to be detached from the tray itself.  I decided to keep the plastic part for unknown reasons and proceeded to unpack the machine in order to try it out.

The machine is quite somewhat small and will fit beautifully on a counter top.   I would suggest to wash all the parts before making any juice with it.   After washing all the parts and installing them on the machine, I started cutting my apples.  I was making a juice with apples, cranberries and pineapple.  Once I was ready to use the Philips Avance Masticating Juicer, it wouldn’t work.  It was plugged in but the machine would not start.  I was confused at first but then I started checking the area behind the container that was broken and there is was …  a small little black dot on the base of the juicer.   Could it be that this small plastic dot that was broken on the container would make the machine start?  So I slid the plastic piece pushing the black dot and the machine came to life.   OK now I needed to find a way to making this work.   My good old scotch tape did the trick.  After asking my son’s help to hold the container while I tape the piece in place, the juicer was ready to use.

Using the juicer is quite easy, simply cut your fruits or vegetable, insert them in the top area and push with the tool that came with it.   And voilà, juice is being made.   The micro masticating of the juicer will guarantee that up to 90% of the fruit is used for making juice.   You can even include all the leaves, the greens and nuts in your drinks.   The recipe book that comes with with juicer has about 15 recipes from which you can choose.  I wish the recipe book would be a bit bigger but this gives you a great launching pad into juicing.    You can even make your own almond milk or soy milk with it or frozen yogourt.  The juice was delicious and packed with all the goodness of the fruits I have used.   Everyone in the family found it delicious – four kids and two adults. 

The juicer also comes with an innovative drip stop which would keep your counter top clean.   It is perfect for when you desire to make juice directly in glasses.  However, the juicer also comes with a special container in which you can make the juice in and store in the refrigerator.  

Cleaning the part is as easy as saying your ABCs.   You can detach all the parts and rinsed clean without any other kitchen tool.  The part where the juice comes out it the trickiest one of all the parts of clean.  But it was easy to remove the little bit of pulp that has ventured in that area. 

Now let’s go back to my broken pulp container – I was a bit disappointing that it was damaged.   So I decided to call Philips and see if I could receive a brand new one.  The customer service person was very nice and will be sending me a new pulp container for the juicer.   I am quite pleased with the service obviously.

Now when I was making my juice, I found that there was a lot of pulp falling in the container.   I mean a lot of pulp…  more than I would have wished to come out of it.  The person at the customer service said that it is great for compost.   But we do not have a garden yet – though it is something that I wish I can have in the future.   What could I do with all the pulp I got from the juicer???  Then I had an idea.  Why not incorporating them into muffins.   And I did just that this morning.  The muffins turned out great and are packed with delicious pulp from apples, cranberries and pineapple.  Couldn’t ask for a better muffin than that!

Having said this, if you do not own a kitchen appliance that can make juice (whether a juicer or a high quality blender), I think you would be quite satisfied with the Philips Avance Masticating Juicer.  Knowing how important it is to consume fruits and vegetables for your health makes it a decision that is easy to take when you are debating about getting this kind of small appliance.

The Philips Avance Masticating Juicer would make a great Christmas gift to anyone desiring to make their own juice.  There are plenty of fun recipes to discover on the internet and it has been proven that it could help you in having a better health too.  

The Philips Avance Masticating Juicer is available for purchase at your favorite small appliances store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Waterpik Cordless Freedom Water Flosser

I will totally be honest with you – I totally dislike flossing.   I know it is important to do it on a regular basis but I just hate the whole process.   Two years ago my oldest started orthodontics treatments.   They had mentioned the Waterpik product to help deal with flossing while having braces in his mouth.  We were not able to purchase one – though after mentioning to someone that he could use one, this person gave us the travel one he had because they didn’t use it in his home.   I really liked the idea of it but never thought of using it for ourselves.  

So recently I had selected a waterpik product on amazon vine in order to review it.  I receive it quite rapidly and this week proceeded in trying it out.  Turns out that the product I received was not the one they were suppose to send me but nevertheless I am reviewing it because I am absolutely impressed with the waterflosser.   Keep in mind that I dislike flossing…. right.  Well this waterflosser will literally take a few minutes of your time – whether in the morning or the evening  - and do an amazing job on your teeth.

Before I go in details with this item, let me tell you what the package contains.  After opening the box you will find the waterflosser, thre batteries, a bag, two regular tips (which are ideal for general use), one orthodontic tip (great for general use and for braces), a travel water plug, a storage bag and instructions.  

The waterflosser is quite small and will take only a small part of your counter top.

The bottom part of the flosser is easy to unlock.  You will have to pull it hard in order to open it.  That is where you will put the batteries since this specific waterflosser works cordless.   On the back of the flosser you will have a button that you can push to two levels of cleaning.  Level 1 is gentler than the upper level.  But both work fabulously in your mouth. 

Once you put water in the waterflosser from the opening on the top of the water tank, you can immediately use your waterflosser.  It contains about 30 seconds of water capacity.  It is highly recommend that you keep you mouth close when using the waterflosser.  Waterflosser is so much easier to use than floss I find.  And honestly the job done is gentler on the gums as well.  Even my dentist has switched to water flossing.  Using a waterflosser will help you to reduce and remove the plaque on your teeth.  It is also apparently 50% more effective for improving gum health in your mouth.   And a waterflosser permits a superior cleaning around braces up to 3 times than using string floss.

I personally like the waterflosser so much that I am keeping it in my bathroom.  However, since I have another child starting orthodontics treatment this month, I am please to have another orthodontic tip for him to be able to use.   Knowing that it is easy to switch the tips gives me a peace of mind when it comes to having more than one person using the device.

I highly recommend owning a waterflosser because it will help you to keep you teeth and gums healthy.  Anyone could learn to use it – even a child of 8 or 9 years old.   It is easy to use and it will be very useful to have as well. 

Waterpik Cordless Freedom Water Flosser is available for purchase at your favorite health store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Turning the Page for Your Health

I was going to admit that I am a bit late to post a review on exercises books but then again I was reminded that it is never too late to take good habits and try to become healthier.   So even though we are not the beginning of the year (but we are very close indeed), I think it is the perfect time to check out some interesting titles that DK Canada has to offer for anyone who desire to become more active in 2016.

I also started to move more in our home.  We have an elliptical machine and a treadmill.  Let me tell you that both are being used quite often every week.   But doing cardio is not enough and having good books to help you develop your muscles could help.  I was able to received numerous titles to present you – many for women but one it specifically for men.

Without any delay, let’s check the books.

Pilates Body in Motion

Pilates: Body in Motion is a pioneering, step-by-step book for mat-based Pilates. A global best-seller famed for its clear instruction and innovative design, Pilates: Body in Motion clearly explains every exercise sequence with at-a-glance overviews, detailed step-by-step photographs, and a checklist of dos and don'ts.  In this book, the author is guiding the reader in order to avoid injury and maximize your experience.   There are four program sequences that will allow you to move from beginner to intermediate to advanced.   The book cover fifty mat-based exercises, from The Hundred to The Wall Sequence, the Open Leg Rocker and Corkscrew to the Swan Dive, Shoulder Bridge, Magic Circle Sequence, and many more.

Strength Training – Exercises for Women

Strength Training is packed with more than 200 visual step-by-step exercises designed to burn calories, strengthen the core, and tone the body.  Strength Training for Women is a must-have for core-conscious women who want to target key areas of their body and maintain all-round strength and fitness. With a whole chapter completely dedicated to explain on how to get started, the book will guide you in doing lower body, upper body and core body programs.  Also included in the book you will find 15-minutes workouts that will allow you to maximize your training in a short period of time.

 

 

High Intensity Interval Training for Women

High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is a fantastic way to lose weight and get healthy quickly with very short bursts of targeted exercise. HIIT is a fitness trend for a good reason — because it works! Fast-track your way to good health and a beautiful, strong body with High-Intensity Interval Training for Women. In this book you will be able to visualize a step-by-step, highly visual guide jam-packed with exercises, workouts, and multi-day programs tailored to your fitness goals and designed to fit into the time you have. The beauty of HIIT is that it works fast, and the workouts are very short — you don't have to dedicate a lot of time to working out, but you still get great results from your exercise with High-Intensity Interval Training for Women.

With this complete guide to High-Intensity Interval Training, you'll learn the right way to perform more than 80 HIIT exercises that can be done anywhere. These techniques cover all major muscle groups with special emphasis on the core and lower body, where women often look for results first. With this book, you'll get an explanation of why HIIT works for women, and you'll learn how to integrate our specialized exercises into your workout to maximize results in a minimal amount of time.  The book contains numerous exercises for cardio, upper body, lower body and core in order to allow you to be in a better shape.  My only problem with the book is that all the women showing how to do the exercises are already all slimmed and toned.   I find it a bit discouraging to see this since I doubt I would ever be like them…

If you're a busy woman, and you're looking for an incredibly efficient and effective way to get the body you want and stay healthy then this book is definitively what you are looking for.

 

The Complete Running & Marathon Book

For anyone interested in running — from beginners to those looking to improve their techniques or preparing for their first marathon — The Complete Running and Marathon Book includes a comprehensive range of programs for all aspects of training.

Ideal for runners, personal trainers, coaches, and students, The Complete Running and Marathon Book features detailed anatomical artworks, user friendly step-by-step sequences, advice on optimum techniques and injury prevention, as well as guidance on running psychology.  Personally I dislike running like the pest.   I had to do long runs while in high school and wasn’t the best of the kids in the pack.   But I wonder if that could have changed if I would have had some guidance in training and running… This book is clearly a step by step guide to allow you to develop the gifting of running

 

 

Body Weight Workouts for Men

Bodyweight Workouts for Men is a step-by-step guide to one of the hottest fitness trends that truly gets results. It was created specifically for men and the workouts in this book can be done anywhere, anytime — gravity and body weight is all guys need.  In all, you will find over 75 bodyweight exercises and 40 routines designed specifically for men.

With this convenient — and free — workout method, the man in your life can say goodbye to unwanted pounds and say hello to definition.   My fourteen year old son grabbed the book back in January and has been working out using some of the exercises demontrated in it.   Let me tell you that the book has been beneficial to him so far as he is learning various ways to workout his muscles.

The book contains full-color photos and will guide you step-by-step through all the favorites: squats, planks, pull-ups, push-ups, leg raises, dips, and horizontal pulls. Regressions and progressions are outlined, allowing you to adjust the exercises to match your skill level and move on to the next level when you are ready. Guidelines on stretching, form, rep frequency and holding time, resting, and structuring a program are all featured to ensure the exercises in Bodyweight Workouts for Men are done correctly and without risk of injury.

 

As you can see there are numerous types of book to help you get in a better shape and healthier.   All you need is the courage to tackle the challenge and do it on a regular basis like 3 times a week for example.    Getting healthier and in a better shape should not be done like you are running a sprint run.   On the contrary, it is more like you are doing a marathon as it takes time and patience before seeing some results.   But with dedication and scheduled time, you can do it.

All these marvelous books are available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

  

  

   

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Daniel Plan

The Daniel Plan
Written by Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen & Dr. Mark Hyman
Published at Zondervan

About the book

Revolutionize Your Health … Once and for All

During an afternoon of baptizing over 800 people, Pastor Rick Warren realized it was time for change. He told his congregation he needed to lose weight and asked if anyone wanted to join him. He thought maybe 200 people would sign up, instead he witnessed a movement unfold as 15,000 people lost over 260,000 pounds in the first year. With assistance from medical and fitness experts, Pastor Rick and thousands of people began a journey to transform their lives.

Welcome to The Daniel Plan.

Here’s the secret sauce: The Daniel Plan is designed to be done in a supportive community relying on God’s instruction for living.

When it comes to getting healthy, two are always better than one. Our research has revealed that people getting healthy together lose twice as much weight as those who do it alone. God never meant for you to go through life alone and that includes the journey to health.

Unlike the thousands of other books on the market, this book is not about a new diet, guilt-driven gym sessions, or shame-driven fasts. The Daniel Plan shows you how the powerful combination of faith, fitness, food, focus, and friends will change your health forever, transforming you in the most head-turning way imaginably---from the inside out.

My Thoughts

I hesitated before requesting this title.   I wasn’t sure what it was all about.  So I searched it more.   Looked at the table of content and read the excerpt on Christianbook.com because I wanted to see more what it was all about.    I read and liked it enough to request the ebook.    All this happened at the same time when I got a free app to train me to do situps (which I highly disliked growing up).    So the reading and the training started about the same week…  

The training went well and I like the approach so much that I decided to purchase the Squats app and the PushUps one as well.    Besides these three apps (I still have to start the PushUps one) and the new-to-us elliptical machine we now own, I am exercising more regularly in the past month or so.  But I knew that in order to lose weight on an healthy way, I needed guidance.   That’s mostly why I decided to  read The Daniel Plan.

The Daniel Plan is based on five essentials:   faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends.    Pastor Warren dives you into the spiritual health aspect of the plan.  Dr. Hyman will tell you everything you need to know about the power of food to affect the mind and body.   Exercise physiologist Sean Foy will help you to remove the roadblocks that keep you from exercising.  Dr. Amen will show you how to boost the physical health, renew your mind, and fulfill your purpose.  The synergy of the plan is obtained because of the support of friends who come alongside you on your journey.

But as much as I would like to

I have seen “New Age” thoughts in it – things like

Faith is visualizing the future in advance.   It is seeing the future in the present.  Every great achievement began when somebody saw it in advance.  …   The same is true when it comes to getting healthy.  You look in the mirror and believe that, with God’s help, you’ll get healthy even though the person staring back at you is exhausted, stressed, out of shape, or overweight.

Yes I am overweight and out of shape.  And I do think that God desire me to be healthier.  But honestly looking at myself in the mirror and believing isn’t enough.  You need to have a switch in your thinking and start cutting down on sugar and junk food.  You need to exercise more.

Bottom line is that I am not a super fan of all this positive thinking mumbo jumbo that Christians are doing left, right and centre.   Consequently, I would stay away from this book.   You can achieve the same thing by establishing a good routine and incorporating more exercises in your own life.   When you make a decision of taking your health seriously it is easy to make life changes and wise choices when it comes to food.

The book is available to bookstores everywhere, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Zondervan for sending me the above mentioned product in ebook format for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Deep Relief Ice Cold Spray

Not too long ago, I woke up in the morning with some pain in my shoulder.   Fortunately I had just received the new topical product Deep Relief Ice Cold Spray and decided to try it on that morning as the pain wasn’t going away by itself.    I quickly sprayed the area where my shoulder was hurting and found that the mist coming out from the spray bottle was refreshing and cool on my skin.    At first I really thought that it wasn’t working much but after a few minutes I could feel the cooling formula working on my strained muscles.     It helped to reduces the inflammation and the pain I was experiencing and after a couple of hours it was gone. 

This new product from Deep Relief is very easy to use and you don’t need the help of someone else to apply it.   All you have to do is to aim on the area that hurts and spray.  Voilà!  You have just applied a nice dose of the new Deep Relief Ice Cold Spray. And the best part is that the touch free continuous spray format offers convenience when you have to treat an hard to reach areas.    Perfect when your spouse is not at home to help you apply it!

Deep Relief Ice Cold Spray is ideal for acute injuries or after an intense workout.   It will help reduce the inflammation just like ice would do.    The product is available at major drug stores as well mass and grocery retailers for the price of 9.99$.   Deep Relief products is a complete line of topical pain relievers that has been trusted by Canadians for over 50 years.

For more information please visit our website: www.deeprelief.ca.  You can also follow Deep Relief on facebook and twitter.

GREAT NEWS!

One of my reader will will a marvelous package from Deep Relief containing:

· 1 Dual Action Neck, Shoulder, & Back Pain Relief (hands free) value of $14.99

· Deep Relief Ice Cold Pain Gel 255g value of $8.99

· Deep Relief Ice Cold Spray value of $9.99

· Deep Relief Heat spray value of $8.99

· Deep Relief Yoga Mat value of $25.00

· Deep Relief cinch bag value of $10.00

The package has a total value of 75$.  The prize will be shipped directly to the winner from my contact at Mentholatum.  Note:  The prizing may not be exactly as shown as we are sourcing different cinch bags.

Contest open for Canadians only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thanks to Mentholatum for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and offering the giveaway for my readers. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Softlips

Winter is here and with it many might have issues of chapped lips.  It is wise to take the habit of applying some lip balm to protect your lips from the cold weather. I recently received some samples from Mentholatum which will help any sensitive lips out there to get the protection that is needed.  I have received a Softlips Intense Hydration lavender and a Softlips maxilip. 

What is Softlips ?

Softlips Intense Hydration Lip Moisturize with Lipidure Technology has an advanced, moisture attraction formula which provides superior hydration and protection by drawing moisture from the air and locking it into your lips.  Recent studies show that Lipidure Technology has higher moisture attracting and retention capabilities than hyaluronic acid, which is commonly found in other lip care products.   These products are filled with natural replenishing ingredients like shea butter oil, vitamin E and macadamia nut oil.  Three different soflips Intense Hydration are on the market: peppermint, citrus bergamot and lavender.

Metholatum Softlips maxilip is a double-layered, anti-aging lip balm.  The outer layer contains Ceramide which locks in moisture and provides effective protection for chapped and sensitive lips.  The inner layer is enriched with maxilip to help reduce fine lines, while an antioxidant helps to delay the aging of skin and maintain healthy and youthful looking lips.

My Thoughts

I will be honest with you.  I have seen these Softlips at the stores near my place.   I was curious and looked forward to review them.   I had picked a lavender Soflips Intense Hydration because I really liked the smell of lavender.  It has something in it that soothes me.   And I was curious about the maxilip as well.  

So when I received my samples, I immediately opened them in order to try them out.   The lavender Softlips Intense Hydration was smooth on the lips but I will admit that I was very surprised with the strong smell of lavender coming from it.  Though it did moisture the lips after application, I am reticent in using it again because of the strong lavender smell coming from it.  I am partly sensitive with strong smell and though I like lavender usually, I really find it was a bit too much for a lip balm.  However, some people wouldn’t mind the smell and might enjoy it better than me.  

So I opened the other product and I was pleasantly surprise when I tried it.   I enjoy having a lip balm that is large as I find it is easier to put on.  It reminds me of a tube of lipstick (which I don’t use often).    When you look at the balm inside you can see two different colors: a soft yellow and a white one surrounding it.  The product doesn’t leave you with an after taste and it is easy to apply.   Every time I use it I sense that my lips are smoother.   I really love the Softlips maxilip and I really recommend it to everyone.

In all, even if I am slightly bothered with the smell of the Softlips Intense Hydration, I think that the Softlips products are fabulous and very useful.   They are easy to carry in your purse of coat pocket for instant relief when you are outside during the cold season.  

You can find the Softlips products are your favourite store.

GIVEAWAY

Great news!   Mentholatum has agreed to give a nice prize for my readers.   One of my readers will receive a kit containing: a Maxilip, 3 intense hydration flavours, a cosmetic bag and a purse mirror.  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Mentholatum for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and offering the giveaway for my readers. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Deep Relief Heat Spray

If you are like me sometimes you will do exercises and then the next day your muscles will hurt.   Muscle aches and pains occur when your muscles are overworked or injured.   For me, most of the time is when I overdo exercising.    The pain itself arises from a muscle spasm – a natural reaction to protect the injured body parts by limiting their movement.   That kind of pain can also involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia (the soft tissue that connects muscles, bones and organs).  

A new product has been released on shelves throughout pharmacy and stores that would help you deal with these sore muscles.  The product will target the pain and provide relief for the muscles you have overused.   This new product is the Deep Relief Heat Spray.   Don’t forget that this will provide a temporary relief of the pain that is often associated to sprains, aches, strains and arthritis.   

How can you use it?   It’s quite simple actually.   On your first application, apply thinly and evenly since people experience warmth differently.   If you feel it’s not getting warm enough, apply another time.   Hold the bottle about 15 cm from the site of pain and spray.  

When I opened the bottle, I was surprised by the sudden smell coming out of it.   For me it’s a pleasant smell actually as it reminded me the smell of the peppermint candies my grand-mother used to have in her house.   Wow!  That was a trip through time.   She always had the pink peppermint candies in a bowl in her living room.   

Anyhow, turns out that I had a bit of muscle pain in my lower back so I asked my husband to spray some Deep Relief Heat Spray.   My first reaction was to be startled when the spray hit my skin.  Hubby immediately thought that it was because it was warm but no the spray residue was very cold at the contact with my skin.  Slowly though I could feel some warmth.  Though I have found that the warmth didn’t last very long compared to when you apply a product by hands on a sore muscle.   However, I was surprised to realized that the pain was subsiding and that within an hour the lower back wasn’t hurting much anymore.  So keep in mind that the spray will be cold when applying the product on an area which is causing the pain.  That way you won’t be as surprised as me…  *grin*   We usually purchase the gel type of product but this new innovation as a spray might be the way to go since you don’t need your hands to apply it!

GREAT NEWS!

I have received a fabulous prize for my readers.   Someone has the possibility of winning a pack containing:

• Dual Action Neck, Shoulder, & Back Pain Relief (hands free)
• Ice Cold Pain Gel 250g
• Sprain & Strain Relief Spray
• Deep Relief Heat Spray
• Deep Relief Yoga Mat
• Deep Relief sinch bag

The prize will be shipped directly to the winner from my contact at Mentholatum.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thanks to Mentholatum for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and offering the giveaway for my readers. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Healing Foods

Healing Foods – Eat your way to a healthier life
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Take control of your life and your health through what you eat with Healing Foods — an indispensable resource that shows you exactly what foods are best, and how to optimize their super-food potential.

With more than 200 healing foods, from carrots to clementines, and 150 easy-to-prepare recipes that heal, Healing Foods empowers readers to practice optimum nutrition, and shows how certain foods can be incorporated into daily life to target specific health issues.

My Thoughts

A few years ago, I had stumbled on a book highlighting the benefits of certain vegetables and fruits for people dealing with cancer.   I personally don’t have cancer but I thought it was a good idea to have written a book on the benefits of healthy vegetables to help fight a sickness that is rampant.   Imagine my delight when I saw a book in the new DK catalogue on healing foods.   Healthy eating can be beneficial for numerous sickness and ailments.  

The table of contents is easy to follow and well organized.  The first section of the book deals with the kind of foods that heal (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts, medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, cereals and grains, dried beans, spices, fats and oils, fermented foods, meats, oily fish, other foods like algae, seaweeds, and so on) while the second part of the book will highlight special recipes that will help you to heal various ailments you might have.   Now please keep in mind that though this book can suggest food that can help with healing,  I wouldn’t suggest that you strictly use it for complete healing.  I believe that it is wise to follow your doctor’s advices if you deal with a difficult illness.   However, I do believe that eating healthy will help the process of healing.  

The book also highlight the dietary benefits for different health areas for the food and recipes presented in it.  Consequently, you will see special icons that will inform you how the food and recipes can help you.   The icons are for heart and circulation, digestion, urinary, respiratory, detox, metabolic balance, immune support, energy boost, muscles and joints, skin and hair, mind and emotions, eye health, men’s health and women’s health.

 

As soon as I received this book, I explored it and was telling my husband and kids about various food that would be beneficial for us.  One of the food that heals that I was surprised to learn about was the Aloe Vera.   I wanted to purchase one because I knew the benefits it had for healing small cuts.   But I hadn’t had the time to go to the store and purchase one.   But I was surprise to learn other benefits for the plant.  Apparently, it contains potent antiviral substances, it helps ease bronchial complaints and it helps balance the intestinal flora.  The page on the Aloe Vera also suggest a quick recipe to make juice from the plant.  Not long after reading this information, I headed to my local Home Depot and purchase the biggest Aloe Vera they had.   Knowing that I have a tendency to have bronchitis I knew this plant would be a great addition for my house.   Besides, the plant has also anti-inflammatory benefits to help you deal with allergic conditions and has potential in helps with conditions like arthritis (which I sometimes have to deal in my hands and feet joints.).

I seriously think that Healing Foods is a great book to have in your home.  Not only will you learn how certain food can help you heal but you can have interesting recipes to do as well.  

Healing Foods is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

    

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes from DK Canada.. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Life After Baby

Life After Baby – Rediscovering and Reclaiming Your Healthy Pizzazz
Written by Victoria Dolby Toews
Published at Basic Health Publications

About the book

Life After Baby touches on key aspects of a woman’s life to help readers redefine themselves in a healthy way as they adjust to a myriad of post-baby changes — body and soul.

With an engaging and easily accessible style, health writer Victoria Dolby Toews helps moms navigate their new life after the arrival of a baby. Like a road map to the altered terrain of life once a baby becomes part of the family, Life After Baby touches on key aspects of a woman’s life to help readers redefine themselves in a healthy way as they adjust to a myriad of post-baby changes—body and soul. Filled with sensible, sound, and realistic advice—grounded in the latest research—Life After Baby offers an array of down-to-earth tips on issues new mothers grapple with every day, such as:
• Losing the baby weight
• How to supercharge Mom’s nutrition
• Fitting exercise into Mom’s daily routine
• Rediscovering beauty basics
• Reviving passion
• Fighting fatigue
• Overcoming stress
A comprehensive guidebook for new—and longtime—mothers, Life After Baby brings a welcome measure of honesty and sanity to the discussion of how women can rediscover and reclaim their health, their verve, and their joie de vivre after a newborn joins their family.

Who is Vitoria Dolby Toews?

Victoria Dolby Toews, M.P.H., is the coauthor of several books including the User’s Guide to Glucosamine and Chondroitin, The Soy Sensation, The Common Cold Cure, and The Green Tea Book. She lives in Oregon with her husband and children.

My Thoughts

My kids are way past the baby stage with ages ranging from 4 1/2 to 11 years old.   With four kids in the house, I am quite busy.    Our baby stages are long gone for now.  However, I have received a book -Life After Baby- that covers how to rediscover and reclaiming your healthy pizzazz.

So I decided to discover the book in order to know what it was all about even though I wasn’t in that stage of life anymore.   The book contains ten chapters as well as an appendix on herb and dietary supplement safety.  Here’s what the chapters cover:

Losing the Baby Weight; This chapter covers the importance of exercising to loose the baby weight.   The best advice in this book is to purchase a pedometer.   I know if might sound silly but having a pedometer will help you track the number of steps you do in a day.   Honestly I wish I had this advice when I had my kids…
Kitchen Table Woes; This chapter encourages the new mom to continue to eat well even after baby is born.   There are even a section on how to avoid BPA.
Supercharge Your Nutrition;  The author will emphasize the importance of eating fruits and vegetables as well as her point of view on organic foods.  
Supplement Savvy; Vitamins can be beneficial to your body.  However, too many of something that is good can also cause some problems.  Discover how beneficial some vitamins can be and how much would be the ideal quantities to get.
Fitting in Exercise; Exercising is a great way to loose that baby fat on your body.  This chapter will highlights everything you need to know about exercising from how to start and what to eat to help you stay energized.
Rediscovering Beauty Basics;  This chapter covers tips on how to have a great skin, luxurious hair, though nails, and a healthy mouth.
Reconnecting with Passion;  After having a baby, life continues and that also means your sex life.  This chapter will help you reconnect with your spouse on the intimate level.
Fighting Fatigue; Having a baby can drain your internal batteries.   This chapter will give your tips and tricks on how to fight fatigue and stay alert – even when you still have to get up to feed the little one!
Stress and Sanity; What is postpartum depression and how to deal with it?  This chapter will cover how to recognize postpartum and the stress in your life.    Being a new mom can bring some anxiety in your daily routine.  This chapter will also help you to deal with reducing the anxiety.
After-Baby Health Concerns;  This chapter covers a variety of health issues that could happen after you had  your little one.

In all, I think there are interesting tips and tricks in this book.  However, I would caution my Christian readers that this book is now Christian based and might contain secular advices.   I would strongly suggest that you take the suggestions that you are comfortable with and leave the ones you don’t like.    Essentially, this book will encourage new moms to move more, eat healthy and take care of themselves in order to avoid some future health issues like depression, weight gain and so on.   If you are a mom-to-be and want to make sure that you stay healthy after baby, I would like to suggest that you go check our the book Life After Baby as it does contain interesting information.

As for the book I have received, I have recently learned that a dear friend of mine is expecting her first child, so I will pass the book over to her and I know it could be very informative to her.

Life After Baby is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Twooth Timer

TWOOTH TIME

http://twoothtimer.com/

About the product!

Using Twooth® Timer twice a day  Helps your kids fight tooth decay!

• Recommended by dentists and hygienists. No batteries needed.
• Helps reduce dental bills by improving dental hygiene.
• Works with all types of toothbrushes - manual and electric.

Easy to use! Simply turn the top to the ‘2’ and begin brushing. Stop brushing when the bell rings after two minutes.

http://twoothtimer.com/free-downloads.html

Our Thoughts

This is a very ingenious item that every family should have!   As soon as the package was open, my kids almost jumped on it.    This timer is very well used in our household since it come through the door.

The timer has the design of a tooth and will count down the two minutes needed to clean your teeth properly.  Any child – or adult – can use it by just cranking it to the number 2 two and letting go.  My suggestion is to prepare your toothbrush in advance and then use the timer.

My kids are enjoying using the Twooth Timer – my oldest son who uses the bathroom in the basement almost wish he had one as well.    To be honest, I almost wish I had one too in our Master Bedroom…  *sigh* 

My kids product tested this original product the first night it was in our house.  They have been using it since them.  Every single day of the week they will crank the timer and brush their teeth.    I was personally curious to see how it feel to brush my teeth for 2 minutes.   I thought I was doing a good job on mine…   Ah!    So I prepare the toothbrush, crank the twooth timer and started to brush.     I wasn’t looking at it while it was counting down the time.   At one point I thought I was almost done the two minutes and check it out.  There was still one minute left to go!   Really!   To be honest, brushing your teeth for two minutes is a long time.    If you look seriously at the time you spend brushing in the morning and evening – do you think you brush them for a whole two minutes?   I have come to realize that I wasn’t.    When I was done with the two minutes on the timer, I realized that my teeth were very clean – almost squeaky clean to be honest.   

My only disappointment now is that one of the kids has dropped it on the floor in the bathroom and now the buzzer is not working anymore…      I also found the timer soaked with water a couple of times.   It still works and counts down the two minutes needed to brush your teeth properly! 

This is definitively a product that I would recommend to everyone – young and old!

The Twooth Timer is available directly from their website for the price of 10.99$ plus shipping.

Good News!

Want to win a Twooth Timer?   The company has agreed to send one to one of my readers.

Simply tell me your routine for tooth brushing and how often you visit your dentist!

This entry is mandatory. Don’t forget to include your email address in the comment.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1) Like Twooth Timer on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
2) Follow Twooth Timer on twitter and tell me about it.
3) Subscribe to my RSS feed on the right side of this blog and let me know about it.
4) Like Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook and tell me about it.
5) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! on twitter and like me you twitter name.
6) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! with Google Friends on the right side of this blog and tell me about it.
7) Follow me via Networked Blogs on the right side of this blog and tell me about it.
8) Tweet about this contest and give me the link about it. (Daily Tweet) (1 entry per day)
9) Blog about this contest and give me you link (3 entries) – Give me your link and enter three times in the comment section.

Don’t forget to include your email for each steps. No email means I will have to pick someone else. I need to be able to contact you if you win! Random.org will be use to determine the winner. You will have 24 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to my contact which in turn will ship the prize to you!

Deadline: Aug 6th , 2011

Contest is open to US and Canadian citizens.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.