April Birchbox (sorry)... and, as always, hoping things will get better.

I swear it's always one thing after another with me & I'm always wondering, "When will the madness end?" I started this post back in April and here we are in June.  I have yet to start my reviews of my May Birchbox also.

Work has been keeping me on my toes and I like my shift but I am still adjusting.  Having a weekday off is good because I have been making as many doctor appointments as I can on those days, which I have many of, and that keeps me from missing work if they are available then.  Yet I feel like I am still catching up with things like errands on the weekend day off.  It feels like no matter what task I do in my free time that I am losing out on all the other millions of things I need, or want, to do that I'm not getting done.  Just thinking about it exhausts me.

Besides work I just found out last week that I have Lumbar Radiculopathy and need to start physical therapy to keep it from getting worse.  My cat Milton, who had surgery for an unknown type of cyst on the left side of his neck that kept coming back and was attached to his jugular vein in August of 2011, now has one growing in the left side of his mouth under his tongue.  Because of where it is and how old he is I am taking him in for surgery tomorrow morning.  Then yesterday, my central air unit decided it didn't want to give me air conditioning anymore.  So on Monday morning, after taking my cat in for surgery, I have to then call and see if I can get someone out here to fix my unit ASAP!  Bad things come in threes right?  Please, please, PLEASE let me have good news and good things happen from this point forward.

Oh, my endocrinologist appointments also keep getting pushed back and back but I was able to obtain some information on my last blood tests.  TSH normal at 1.02, cortisol and other things were tested came back in normal range, but low end of normal ranges.  I'll be able to get more answers when I go in, in July, as I have been feeling more on the Graves' end of how I've felt in the past, though I'm not losing any weight (damn).  There seems to be no happy medium with my thyroid issues.

Next weekend my BFF and I will be hitting up the Allentown Art Festival.  Stocking up on Makepeace Naturals candles and various other soaps, spices, and who knows what else!  Can't wait and hopefully I'll feel up to posting about it soon after.  Until then here's APRIL's Birchbox review...

~

April 2014 Birchbox Overview:

• Spa Therapy Sea Wrack body wash by Gilchrist & Soames.
• Healthy Grain Bars in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt by KIND.
• OI shampoo and conditioner by Davines.
• Gala's Gems Collection nail polish in Gold Struck by Color Club.
• Color Contrast Eyeliner in black by Sumita.

Spa Therapy Sea Wrack body wash by Gilchrist & Soames.

• Retails $15 for 8oz. 
• About the product: Committed to cruelty free products containing no parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA, or petrol-derived ingredients.  This body wash has a fresh scent of aqualeaf, sparkling citrus, and a barely noticeable hint of musk.  Infused with ingredients of Japanese sea wrack, honey, and brassica, this product is said to gently moisturize and leave your skin feeling smooth and refreshed.   
• What I thought: If you really look at the ingredients & compare, the top ingredients in this are almost identical to those body washes sold in drug stores & at Bath & Body Works. So the special ingredient that it's stated to be loaded with, it actually contains very minimal of the ingredient for it to make any difference.  The scent is lovely and it reminds me of a day at the beach, but it doesn't last long after the bath/shower. It lathers and cleanses average and I didn't notice it to be any more moisturizing than any other body washes I use.  Unfortunately, I wouldn't purchase this just for the scent at the price it's being sold for.  I'd get a stronger scent & the same cleansing from a drug store brand of body wash.
• I would buy it if it was cheaper. 

Healthy Grain Bars in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt by KIND. 

• Retails for $28.50 for 40, 1.2oz bars.
• About the product: The Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt bar is just what it says, baked from a foundation of 5 super grains.  This snack bar will tide you over with real ingredients that are GMO and gluten free.  They believe that if you cannot pronounce an ingredient, it shouldn't go into your body.
• What I thought: LOVED the taste as it gave off a great sweet and salty flavor.  The maple wasn't overpowering, there was just enough salt, and a crunchy kick.  The only thing I wasn't digging about it was the packaging as it didn't seem like a bar and more like a sticky, flattened mix.  Though it's the same size as most granola or fiber bars, I felt like I wasn't getting enough and wanted more right away.  I compared them to the Market Pantry sweet & salty peanut granola bars I'm eating and the calorie content and fat isn't much different but the saturated fat was twice as much in the KIND bars.  The KIND bars are also twice the price as those but the fact they are gluten & GMO free, have much more natural and healthier ingredients, 5% extra saturated fat don't bother me as much (considering it's still under 10% of the daily value).  Plus it tastes SO much better!
• I would buy these.

OI shampoo and conditioner by Davines.

• Retails $26 for 9.46oz of shampoo; $32 for 8.45oz of conditioner.
  
• About the product: These products both contain Roucou oil which is rich in beta-carotene, antioxidents that are similar to vitamin E, helps reconstruct hair, stimulate growth, prevent aging, and reduce cell damage from UV rays.  The conditioner also contains apricot butter to soften hair, is said to help speed the drying process, and protect against damage from heat and tools. 
• What I thought: My hair is short, dry and damaged from styling and bleaching it, & also dry from my hypothyroidism.  After the 1st use of the shampoo & conditioner I was amazed!  My hair was super, super soft.  It builds up quickly though so after a few days of use it seemed ineffective.  It's a great product to use as maintenance for healthy, soft hair. 
• I would be open to buying these.

Gala's Gems Collection nail polish in Gold Struck by Color Club.

• Retails $13 for 4 polishes.  Exclusive to Birchbox.
• About the product: Color Club® teamed up with Gala Gonzalez to create this polish collection. These polishes are vegan and cruelty free, having never been tested on animals.  They advise to apply a base coat, 2 thin coats of their polish, then a top coat.  Currently, you can only purchase them as a collection through Birchbox.
• What I thought: Their polish is great & if your nail is prepped right it will last. I got Gold Struck and it had more of a pink hue to me with a gold shimmer, some may even call it a champagne color. It was very cute but you will need 2-3 coats of the product for it to look good.  Like the other polish I got from them, it lasted a good week before I noticed any chips or ware.  I wish I could zoom in on the other colors to see them better, or just buy them individually because this is the color I would want!
• I would be open to buying this.

Color Contrast Eyeliner in Jamun by Sumita. 

• Retails $15 for 0.06oz.
• About the product: Created to be bold, easy to blend, and last all day & night.  Made to make the whites of your eyes whiter and ideal for use on the water line of your eye.  It is a soft wax pencil that will not tug on your skin when applying, and glycerine guards against irritation.
• What I thought: The color I received was Jamun (Deep Purple), though it gives off more of a brown look to it. It applied very easily and was easy to blend and smudge but then stay as the look you created. It lasted all day and wasn't irritating.  The price is even competitive to other liners out there so it's worth getting one in a color you like to see for yourself!
• I would buy this.

While I pondered weak and weary...

So this morning I went to see my neurologist to have some testing done as the last couple of years, on and off I've had problems with pain, numbness and tingling in my legs and feet.  Things would happen randomly and I would just forget to mention it.  Like, I would be walking and I'd get a twinge of pain in my lower back and it would feel like my legs were going to give out.  Or I would be putting on my shoes and when I would bend over I would get tingling and pain in the bottoms of my feet.  This might happen for a few days, then it might not happen for months.  So, last week at my check up I finally reminded myself to tell her.

Today we did a Electromyogram (EMG).  Well, the 1st part of it anyway.  In each leg, and parts of my lower back, needles were inserted to various points in the muscle to record her findings.  The very 1st needle was in the lower part of my left leg and, if anything, was just uncomfortable.  So I thought the whole test was going to be a breeze, but as it went on it got more uncomfortable and much more painful.

There was one part of the test where it hit a nerve in my left leg and pain radiated up my back.  My back gave out and I felt like I was falling, like that pain I would get in my lower back where my legs wanted to give out.  I went into work and the nerve pain still radiated in me.  Took some Tylenol and that didn't help.  The pain went up into my neck, my head was pounding, I was starting to get nauseous, light headed, and sensitive to light.  I just got out of a bath and am feeling better but still not great.  My legs don't hurt as much, my head isn't pounding anymore, though I still feel like there's a lump in my left, lower back.  Maybe some ice cream will make me feel even better.  :)

Next week we will do the other portion of the testing where she will test the electrical pulses, not as invasive.  She also is trying to get an approval to have an MRI of my lower back and legs done.  As of now we know there is some type of damage.  I do not believe this has anything to do with my autoimmune disease but we are trying to rule it out and now I have many more new and unanswered questions.

I'm not even 40 yet.  Why am I having all these problems?

In other news, my mom's ATC was on the RubberStampMadness facebook page for Cinco de Mayo.  Isn't it cute?  I'm not much into rubber stamping or ATCs but I have done a few.

Eventually I'll get to my April Birchbox.  I feel like I need to lay down and rest my legs & back more.  Until then... ice cream!

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration body wash review! #TheHerbalistas

I remember many years ago when Herbal Essences first launched their line of insanely fantastic and addicting smelling shampoos and conditioners.  I also remember at one point getting a body lotion of theirs but they don't make them anymore.  Maybe now they are dabbling back in body washes we will see that again.

When I received the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration body wash, before I even sniffed it, I was automatically a bit disappointed because I'm not a big fan of coconut-like scents.  After opening the bottle & taking a whiff, I was pleasantly surprised!  It's hard to describe.  There's that very fresh coconut smell that I get a hint of, like when you have coconut water or coconut milk, mixed with other beautiful scents I can't even put my finger on.  Like all of their other scents, it can be quite intoxicating!

Let's compare this to all the other body washes out there.  What makes this better & why should you but this?  First, you can buy it for $3.99 at Target.  Look at it this way.  Everyone is a fanatic over Bath & Body Works products.  Sure, they have a rotation of different scents every season and some that stay, some are discontinued, and some are brought back under different names.  The top ingredients in these washes are all the same, it's when you look at the additional ingredients, which there really is very little of, for it to make any difference in benefit to your skin, and those are the ingredients they are trying to promote?  Seriously, if you have a major skin condition you aren't going to use these anyway, or if you do you'll lather on a beneficial lotion afterward, like I do.

My point is, have you EVER smelled something by Herbal Essences you didn't like?  I didn't think so.  $3.99 at Target is a steal for 15.8oz.  Bath & Body Work body washes are $12.50 each for only 8oz and so even if you get their B3G3 deal, you are still paying $6.25 a bottle!  Have a 20% off coupon too?  Still $5 a bottle and you only get around 1/2 the amount that Herbal Essences is giving you!  Walmart shopper?  You can get 32oz for $6.97 right here!

Other key points?  Its lather was average & the scents lasts well after your shower or bath.  All of the body washes also have matching scent products ranging from shampoos to conditioners to styling products.  See it in your favorite store?  Take a whiff and let me know what you think!

~

This is my 2nd sample and share from Crowdtap!  With Crowdtap you can pick and choose what challenges or discussions to participate in, and apply for sample and share opportunities like this one where you get a sample and a checklist of fun things to do.  Another THANKS to Crowdtap for giving me this opportunity!

March 2014 Birchbox

March 2014 Birchbox Overview:

• Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint Mineral Sunscreen by COOLA.
• Green Tea Tropical, Chamomile Citrus, & Organic Earl Grey teas by Mighty Leaf Tea.
• Protect & Detangle by Beauty Protector.
• Rescue Balm All-Purpose Skin Salve & Lip Balm by Air Repair.
• Body Repair Balm by Skinfix.

Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint Mineral Sunscreen by COOLA.

• Retails $36 for 1.7oz. 
• About the product: This lightly tinted, mineral matte sunscreen with a SPF 30 is made with 70% certified organic ingredients, ideal for normal to oily skin, gluten free, and water resistant up to 40 minutes.  Best for light to medium complexions, after applied you should notice an immediate line smoothing, matte finish.  It's antioxidant infused and contains ingredients such as Vitamin C, organic rose hip oil, shea butter, and evening primrose to help calm, smooth and hydrate your skin.  Apply evenly over face in upward strokes.
• What I thought: Its silky texture reminded me of a face primer though its consistency was more whipped and mousse like so I was surprised at how lightweight this felt being SPF 30.  A little goes a long way and it was very hydrating without having my skin feeling weighed down!  It applied very smoothly, blended well into my skin, and I didn't notice any scent to it.  Though there was something about it where it didn't want to blend well with my concealer or foundation.  When used together, my concealer and foundation didn't settle well so it left my skin looking streaky.  I was also a bit disappointed as I received so little of it.  I don't think even 1/3 of the sample bottle was full so I didn't even have enough to last me 1 week, let alone a few days.
• I'd be open to buying this. 

Green Tea Tropical, Chamomile Citrus, & Organic Earl Grey teas by Mighty Leaf Tea.

• Retails for $9.95 for 15 pouches. 
• About the product: Mighty Leaf Tea was founded in 1996 by husband and wife team Gary Shinner and Jill Portman in San Fransisco.  They blend whole leaf teas with high quality herbs, fruits, blossoms, and spices to produce their signature tastes.  Their tea pouches are stitched with unbleached cotton, contain no glue or staples, and are crafted of 100% polyactic, corn based, compostable material.  They have won awards not only for their teas but also their packaging.
• What I thought: I love how you can see the ingredients so well through the silken pouches and I was able to get 2 cups of great tasting tea from each.  My favorite of the 3 was the chamomile citrus, pictured above.  I'm not a big fan of chamomile tea but the blend with a light citrus hint to it was great!  Of the 3, the Green Tea Tropical was my least favorite as I felt the tea was a bit too heavy and dark for my tastes.  Regardless, they were all full of great flavor and I'd love to try some more!  They have a lot to offer on their website including a rewards program and 2 free tea pouch samples with every order.
• I would buy this.

Protect & Detangle by Beauty Protector.

• Retails $21.95 for 8oz.
  
• About the product: This product is vegan, 100% paraben and sulfate free.  This leave in mist says it will seals your hair's cuticles, smooth, moisturize, and minimize frizz.  It will provide protection from UV rays and heat, safeguard your colored hair, and add shine.  Apply this weightless, non-greasy product after shampooing and conditioning your hair.  After towel drying your hair, hold the bottle 4-6 inches away from your hair, spray a few times, then comb through. 
• What I thought: I really wish Birchbox would have included this sample when I got their shampoo & conditioner samples to see how they all worked together.  It also had that same, great scent their other products have. The spray came out very wet over a small area so I found it hard to control where it was being applied.  I ended up spraying 3 spritzes into my hand and then worked that through my short hair.  Like their other products, this one left just a faint scent to my hair, a nice shine, and no frizz.  I felt it did do a good job protecting my hair from my flat iron as after use, my hair didn't seem so brittle and even looked healthier.  Unfortunately, I use another product that just seems to moisturize and protect my hair much better.  So if that one ever became discontinued, I'd seek out this one. 
• I'd be open to buying this.

Rescue Balm All-Purpose Skin Salve & Lip Balm by Air Repair.

• Retails $12.00 for 0.9oz.
• About the product: 100% natural without parabens, petroleum, or mineral oil, this product is made to be used anywhere you have trouble spots, including your cuticles, lips, and face, to help heal and soothe your skin.  This product is packed with ingredients you can identify such as beeswax, vitamin E, and oils of sweet almond, lavender, sunflower, shea, geranium, and castor.  Perfect for both warm and cold climates, its ingredients help relieve environmental stresses by locking in moisture.
• What I thought: I tried this before looking at the ingredients and the first things I noticed were how it smelled strongly of lavender and the texture of it seemed like petroleum, so I was surprised to see there was no petroleum in it at all!  Using it on my lips & cuticles I didn't get the long lasting moisturizing I was hoping for and so I felt like I was applying it way too much throughout the day on those areas.  I had a better experience applying it to rough, winter skin patches!  It helped soften and heal these areas.  My most favorite place to apply it?  You'd never guess but it was my nipples!  I did e-mail the company to ask if they knew if it was safe to use on them if you were a breastfeeding mother.  All they really advised was it was all natural but to consult with your doctor 1st before using it on them if you are.     
• I'd be open to buying this.

Body Repair Balm by Skinfix. 

• Retails $30.00 for 4oz.
• About the product: Skinfix believes in "Nature's Pharmacy" by keeping their products 100% steroid, paraben, phthalates, fragrance, and hydro-cortisone free.  This balm helps treats eczema, dermatitis, dry and itchy skin by providing immediate relief from redness and irritation with its medicinal, all-natural formula.  Packed with ingredients your skin will love such as aloe, beeswax, shea butter, and paraffin, it also contains key active ingredients such as zinc oxide, 2% colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, sweet almond & jojoba oils to help heal, calm, soothe, and relieve your skin.  Apply directly to affected areas, especially after bathing, or throughout the day for stubborn flare ups.
• What I thought: Not only do I battle with dry skin because of my hypothyroidism, but the winters here can be harsh on it.  Also, thanks to genetics and allergies, I've been dealing with eczema, adult acne, and keratosis pilaris.  I like to read through the other reviews and I noticed a lot of people didn't like the scent of this.  I actually did.  To me it wasn't medicinal at all and had a lightly sweet smell because of the oats, almond, and jojoba oils. Since there was only a little of it I decided to only use it on my trouble spots.  My shins, heels, elbows, and the tops of my lower arms.  I also used a teeny tiny bit on my face.  It seeps in right away but it  will feel like you have a light, powdery film on you.  If you use too much you will actually notice a white or cream colored film on your skin so take the time to rub it in enough and that will go away.  After a few days of use my skin was softer and less irritated.  After a few weeks of use my keratosis pilaris seemed to diminish.  The only thing it didn't do was heal the really rough spots like my elbows & heels.  This is still by far one of the best products I have used to help calm my dry & irritated skin!  A MUST for those with eczema! 
• I'd buy this.

I also got a small piece of Ghiradelli chocolate in my box this month in Intense Dark Cherry Tango.  I'm not going to do a whole write up about it though.  You can find their chocolate everywhere!  Though I will say their dark chocolate with cherry and almonds was pretty tasty and made me immediately wish I had more.  :)

Since I have been very happy with my Birchboxes I finally decided to sign up for the annual subscription.  Soon I'll have enough points to take a good chunk of change off of a bottle of Arielle BERRIMATRIX™ Intense Repair Complex.  That stuff was fantastic!

~

I swear I finished this a few weeks ago but I have just been so exhausted & didn't post it.  Thought I had something specific I wanted to write about, but with my brain fog lately, I'll never remember.  I seriously have to write things down as soon as I think of them these days or they will be lost, possibly, forever.  Plus I got my Ipsy bag yesterday & my April Birchbox today so that kind of reminded me to finish this up. 

Last Thursday was the 1st time I had to take time off of work since my return because of my autoimmune disease.  Since I had awoke in the morning I felt awful.  Sometimes I can't even describe it.  It was almost like it just felt like my body was shutting down.  My head hurt, my body ached, I was exhausted, nauseous, too hot then too cold, couldn't concentrate.  After 1/2 of day of being in the bathroom 3 times already, barely able to scarf down lunch and I couldn't even finish it, then realizing I was probably going to have to go to the bathroom again another 3 times during the remainder of the day because I just felt so ill, I decided to go home.  I wasn't going to be productive or be able to concentrate on anything at that point anyway.  My cat, Milton, was happy I came home early and got all up in my face for a bit then curled up next to me.

I am happy to say I felt better on Friday, though not perfect, I made it through the day at work.  This week I've made it through every day fine but I have been insanely exhausted.  I'm really curious where my levels are at currently though my next blood tests are not scheduled for another month.

Well I better post this before I fall asleep, or my mind gets sidetracked again.

Today's bath consisted of:

• The Phoenix bath & body wash by Not Soap, Radio

For those of you who just don't get it...

The last time my friend was in town staying at her mother's, I went there before we went to do some shopping & shenanigans.  Her mom's like a 2nd mom to me, always making me eat and making sure I'm doing well.  She knows about my thyroidectomy and my struggle to get better.  This was right after I learned my TSH had shot up to 9, and though I'm still way better than I was in the past, immediately after being asked how I was doing, I responded, "Not too well," explaining how my level just spiked and how I have no clue why.

The conversation then took an argumentative turn.  She told me I was relying too much on my doctors & how I needed to stop all my medication and then she kept trying to push a progesterone cream on me because it was "all natural" and she "knew what I was going through."  Mind you she thinks I'm going through early menopause (thyroid disease vs. menopause) and has never been treated for a thyroid condition.  I explained how yes, my sex hormone levels could have something to do with my condition, but the hot flashes I was having after my surgery had since gone away, many months ago, and my periods are back on track.  I also explained how I made my new doctor check those hormone levels and they came back normal.  The last thing I need to do is take a supplement and throw the normal levels off causing more problems for me.  I told her how, due to my TSH being at 9, that made me understand why I was currently feeling like crap, and how I upped my dose of thyroid medication and we're also now looking into my adrenal gland function.  I tried to tell her how I cannot just stop taking my thyroid medication, how it could kill me if I did, and she just wouldn't accept it.

I broke down in tears.

I've had a few people ask me about stopping my medication to see if that would help, or tell me that maybe once I feel better I should stop taking them and I always try and explain to them how I can't.  Some, I think, get it.  Some, I think, act like they get it and then just drop the subject because they probably think I will just not listen to what they are trying to say anyway.  Then there are those that try and argue with me.  Not even to stop taking the medication permanently, but they cannot understand why I will not even try temporarily.  I started taking Armour back in October 2013 and, though I stated before how I am feeling better overall, my levels went from low, to normal, to low, to high! I still haven't even found a good dosing to keep me level yet!

So, the other day, Mary Shomon had posted on her Facebook page something that I feel EVERYONE needs to read.  If you just don't get it, maybe this will help.

"Type 1 Diabetics (an autoimmune disease) REQUIRE insulin to survive. Lack of insulin - a crucial hormone - will kill them. So far, there's no "natural" non-prescription source of insulin, no herbs, no vitamins, or supplements that can provide them with the insulin their bodies requires to survive. They require prescription insulin to live.

Human beings MUST HAVE THYROID HORMONE TO SURVIVE. Over time, a lack of thyroid hormone will eventually be fatal. There is no trusted "natural" non-prescription source of thyroid hormone, and no herbs, no vitamins, or supplements that provide the actual thyroid hormone our bodies require to survive.

While in a subset of cases, borderline thyroid problems can be caused by iodine deficiency/excess, goitrogenic foods, gluten intolerance, inflammatory diet, etc. -- most people who are hypothyroid are already looking at damage to the gland, which means the gland is unlikely to produce enough thyroid hormone, and may not be "fixable" or able to improve its hormone output. And for those whose gland is surgically removed or radiated (RAI) - they have little to no thyroid function at all, meaning no way to produce thyroid hormone.

I'm sharing this, because I'm concerned when I see people say that most of us shouldn't take thyroid meds, or "I don't need them, no big deal" etc.

If you read a success story -- or see marketing pitches -- about "I'm not taking any thyroid meds and I'm doing fine by doing x, y, z" or taking this or that supplement, that's wonderful for those folks, and there's no doubt that for a subset of people, food/diet/supplements may be able to put their thyroid into a normal range and/or resolve their symptoms.

But if you have had thyroidectomy/surgery to remove the gland, if you have long-standing hashimoto's with atrophy or destruction of the thyroid gland, if you have congenital hypothyroidism, if your gland has shrunk, etc. then all the diet/nutrition/supplements in the world are not going to make a missing or entirely dead organ to grow back or start working again. Those things can help with residual symptoms, definitely, and be the difference between feeling so-so and feeling great.

There is a profound difference between someone with mild borderline hypothyroidism and a TSH of 6 deciding not to take meds, and someone who has no thyroid going off meds, which can be fatal. I also want to caution you that in 20 years, I have heard from dozens of thyroid patients who said they went off their prescribed meds because they didn't want to take them, or they wanted to do it "naturally" and thought they were doing well, until they started to notice that they had gained weight, cholesterol shot through the roof, they didn't realize that miscarriages were connected, etc.

In one case, a woman who had no thyroid decided she didn't want to take her meds -- and it ended up where she couldn't drive, couldn't work, slept 20 hours a day, was so puffy she could barely move, her heart rate had dropped to about 40 beats per minute, and she was so addled she didn't even realize that she headed into a myxedema coma, and was slowly dying...she just laid in bed sleeping most of the time. Thankfully a friend recognized what was going on -- she hadn't taken her meds in a year at that point -- and if the friend didn't haul her deliberately into the ER as an emergency, where they found she had a TSH over 400, they said she was about 2 weeks away from death from organ shutdown.

Taking thyroid hormone is NOT like taking a Tylenol.... it is replacing a crucial hormone that we require to live. I just want to make sure that folks understand that this isn't a do-it-yourself casual health issue that's no biggie -- it can have some serious repercussions, it can cause loss of pregnancies, people have been wrongly institutionalized at mental hospitals, and it can even be fatal if we don't get the right treatment."

If you know someone with an auto-immune disease, unless we ask you, please do not give us advice.  We will be more than happy to answer any questions you have to the best of our ability.  We may not always know the answers as many of us still have many of our own unanswered questions and we are still learning ourselves.  The best thing you can do is listen, educate yourselves, try to understand, and support us!

~

You can follow Mary through the links below!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thyroidsupport/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ThyroidMary
http://www.thyroidcoaching.com/
http://www.thyroid-info.com/
http://thyroid.about.com/

All is not normal in my autoimmune world.

I just saved a stinkbug in my window.  It wouldn't climb onto my hand so I had to force the little bugger onto a piece of paper then released him onto my back porch.  Thought you'd all like to know.  :)

So lately I've been exhausted.  Not just exhausted.  EXHAUSTED.  I tweeted the other day how a trip to Target just wiped me out & jokingly stated how I was going to take a 3+ hour nap.  Well, it turned out to be a 5 hour nap & I only woke up because Chris woke me up.  I just haven't had the energy for much of anything lately.  Well I found out why today.

So, going through my last few labs they looked like this:

11/11/2013

• T4 - 12.0 High (Normal Range 4.9-11.7)
• TSH - 0.192 Low (Normal Range 0.400-5.000)

Points to hyperthyroidism.

12/16/2013

• TSH - 1.347 In Range

No other tests done so inconclusive.

1/24/2014

• T3 - 207 High (Normal Range  75-165)
• Free T3 - 4.8 High (Normal Range 1.7-3.7)
• TSH - 0.157 Low

Points to hyperthyroidism.

So I changed my endocrinologist around the last blood test & hadn't had another one done until March 3rd.  I was actually going to wait until a week later, but I had just been feeling so crappy that my primary suggested to get it done right away.

3/3/2014

• TSH - 9.38 OMG WAY TOO HIGH!

Points to hypothyroidism.

So that answers my question as to why I have been insanely fatigued and sleeping like a bear that woke up way too early from hibernation lately.  *sigh*  The T4 was off also but I forgot to get a copy of the lab because I really had my answer with the TSH being that high.  I don't think it has ever been that high before & I am surprised at the dramatic increase!

So my Armour is getting upped to 120mg & I have to have blood work again in 6-8 weeks.  We also tried to do a test for my adrenals but for some reason they couldn't test the sample they received so I have to have that redone.  They also want me to test my blood sugar to see if it's too low at times.  I have been tested for diabetes before & those came back negative so I think they are looking for hypoglycemia now.  I don't really know.  All I know is that my body is trying to kill me.

Thyroid, I know you no longer exist in me but I HATE YOU!  :(

Spring with a zing. Review of Cherie Blossom by Harvey Prince.

Thanks to Birchbox, I had this great opportunity to try out Harvey Prince's new Cherie Blossom Eau de Parfum & tell you what I think.

I'll try to build this up for a better understanding to those of you who have never experienced the seasons of the New England and Mid-Atlantic states.  Though I do sympathize with the insane storms everyone has experienced this winter, we are used to these type of things.  It doesn't mean we particularly care for it.

~

Spring is in the air!  Monday was in the 40's and Tuesday hit 50º!  That's shorts weather here in Western NY.  Birds were chirping, the ugly, dirty snow piles were melting and I could see the grass!  I was even getting that feeling of wanting to do some spring cleaning.  Then on Wednesday it was in the 30's and this happened...

Over a foot of snow & our 2nd blizzard of the year.  Being a Buffalonian I can't complain & I really don't complain if it snows after the holidays unless it's May.  I'm happy to say that's rare.  And just to give more perspective on the weather here, Thursday's high was only 17º, yesterday the high was 54º, and right now it's snowing outside.  Yay spring!

I stated a few things in my last post about why spring isn't my most favorite season, but I also posted some things I like about it.  Right before summer hits & the humidity of it kicks in, there is a time I love where it's warm enough to open the windows, I can hear the spring peepers singing in the creek out back, everything becomes very lush & green, I can enjoy my breakfast on the back porch, and there's this sweet smell of nature in the air.

THAT, my friends, is the time of year we anticipate after the long winter and Harvey Prince's Cherie Blossom takes me there.  It's a romantic, comforting, and uplifting scent of Somei Sakura, grapefruit, vanilla, and cool musk.  What I love about this is the sakura scent is very soft on my senses, the grapefruit gives it an uplifting zing, and the vanilla & musk are comforting, extremely light, and not overpowering.  Spring with a zing is a great way to describe it!

So it gets the thumbs up from me, but what about those who are close to me?  Everyone really liked it & I didn't hear any complaints when worn.  From my friends I got, "Oh that smells lovely!  What is that?"  I also got the thumbs up from my boyfriend & he is completely honest if he doesn't like something.  Usually I can tell by his facial expression before he even tells me.  My mom even liked it but said, "Don't wear that around your dad."

Which brings us to its strength.  If you are hypersensitive to floral scents or not a cherry blossom fan, stay away.  One spritz to your pulse point is enough as it goes on strong.  Yet if you do end up loving this fragrance, there is a downfall to it.  The fragrance doesn't last very long.  I thought I was just getting desensitized to the scent, but after just a few hours I would see if others could smell it & they couldn't.  The do have a rollerball of the scent that you can purchase, good for travel and application throughout the day.  Overall, it's a lovely fragrance that makes me long for a warm and beautiful spring.

~

Harvey Prince's fragrances are crafted in the USA, 100% hypoallergenic, not tested on animals, and free of benzene, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, triclosan, and GMOs.  They are fair trade, using only fine ingredients with no toxic chemicals.  You can purchase their fragrances direct or through Birchbox.  Learn all about them here!

Thanks again Birchbox!  :)

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Is spring in the air? Also February 2014 Birchbox review.

How is it already March 9th?  People complain how short February is but really, only by 2 days.  Why does it seem like it's a whole week shorter?  On top of that... daylight savings.  I love summer, autumn, winter, but spring is my least favorite of all seasons.

Sure, there are things to look forward to!  Bright colors, spring flowers, and the fact I can start wearing my nice shoes again without having to worry about the snow and salt.  What I hate most about spring is dirty snow, 30º temperature changes that sometimes occur in the matter of 24 hours, daylight savings.  Did I mention daylight savings?  Yeah, I hate that in November too.

Spring in WNY.

Winter killed my knee high boots this year also.  My poor boots lasted through a few good years & now I must say goodbye.  So I am on the hunt for some nice, heeled, cheap boots.  Cheap because the last time I spent $50+ on a pair, they didn't even last a full season.  I think I paid only $20 for the ones I must now send to the garbage.

Winter destroys all shoes here.

I went on a hunt yesterday & found a nice pair but they didn't have it in my size.  It's hard to shop for a pair online because, depending on the brand, I range from a 7.5 to an 8 size, also I sometimes can't zip the leg up because I have big calves.  Instead, I came home with a top & base coat of Seche Vite because it was BOGO at Sally Beauty, and a photo box from Michaels to put my craft ribbons in because they were all busting out of the old container I had them in.  I may venture out later today to continue my hunt.

~

February 2014 Birchbox Overview:

• Healing Oil Treatment by Agave Healing Oil.
• Full Exposure Palette by Smashbox.
• Full Exposure Mascara by Smashbox.
• Glycerine Hand Therapy™ in Morelia Monarch by Camille Beckman.
• Color Changing Nail Polish in Ride 'Em Cowgirl by Ruby Wing. 

 

Healing Oil Treatment by Agave Healing Oil.

• Retails $40 for 4oz. 
• About the product: Created by Beverly Hills hairdresser Fernando Romero, the sugars from the agave plant will help hydrate, restore, and rejuvenate your hair in this lightweight oil.  There are no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.  It's also said to help with color restoration.  Additionally, it's blended with coconut, vanilla, sunflower, safflower, and Madagascar baobab seed oil to help nourish and transform your hair's outer layer.  Use a dime sized amount and distribute through damp hair, roots to ends.  It can also be used as a body oil.
• What I thought: Immediately after putting a small amount in my hand I noticed a sweet scent from it which reminded me of papaya.  The scent quickly went away after applying it to my damp hair.  I didn't try using it as a body oil because I received such a small sample.  I can tell you it's the lightest feeling oil I have ever used and I think when I am done with the other hair oils I've been using I'll switch to this permanently.  The price is average & it left my hair soft, silky, and feeling super healthy. 
• I would buy this. 

Full Exposure Palette by Smashbox.

• Retails for $49. 
• About the product: A collection 14 shadows, both matte and shimmer, ranging from nudes to black.  After 9 years of researching over 5000 eyes, the palette has a guide to help you identify your eye shape and master your best day, night, and defined look.  It also comes with a double sided brush and deluxe sample of their Full Exposure Mascara.
• What I thought: I'm a fan of Smashbox shadows & have actually bought them for friends in the past.  Since I got this in my Birchbox, I didn't get the brush & just a small amount of the shadows in squares on a paper palette.  I do love the natural colors, they blended well, & were fantastic at making my eyes pop!  It lasted a full day without going dull or needing touch ups.  A little dusting of the matte shadow gave nice coverage but I had to apply more pressure to get the shimmer shadow to transfer to my brush and eyes.  Overall, it's fantastic but the shimmer left little, stray sparkles around my eyes and cheeks so those shades would be better for a night out instead of using it for a day at work.
• I would buy this.

Full Exposure Mascara by Smashbox.

• Retails $19.50 for 0.38oz.
  
• About the product: Just one coat of this mascara should lengthen, thicken, and help curl your lashes.  It is paraben free with olive oil to help condition, and both natural and synthetic waxes to keep it from smudging or causing flakes.  Smashbox claims a 104% increase in lash volume, 32% increase in length, and a 34º increase in curl. 
• What I thought: Another mascara.  (*sigh*)  It's really not bad.  No smudging, no flakes, one application does give good coverage, a little clumpy when applying probably because of the brush design.  So the lengthening was nice, adding volume OK, curling effect I didn't even notice & still felt the need to use my eyelash curler.  It's average.  If there weren't so many other mascaras I have tried, I might put this on my want list but I'm just not feeling this one.  Plus, when removing, it gave me those raccoon eyes so I had to put a little extra into my makeup removing routine.
• I wouldn't buy it.

Glycerine Hand Therapy™ in Morelia Monarch by Camille Beckman.

• Retails $13.95 for 6oz.
• About the product: Superhydrating moisture for your hands that is never tested on animals.  Massage product onto hands as needed throughout the day to restore moisture with the help of ingredients such as glycerine, vitamin E, aloe vera, almond oil, and botanical extracts.  Morelia Monarch is a scent of green tea and amber, over vanilla orchid.
• What I thought: It's a very thick cream and a little went a long way with this.  After applied, it soaked in quickly to my skin leaving it well moisturized throughout the day without that greasy feeling.  I didn't feel the need to apply it as often as other hand moisturizers I have used.  I also ended up using it on my elbows.  It's well priced for the benefits it gave my skin considering around 2-3oz of good hand care creams through Bath & Body Works costs around the same as 6oz of this.  The only thing I didn't care much for was the scent.  The amber stood out too much for me and though I love green tea scent, it was drowned it out.  Looking through their site, there are many scents to choose from.
• I'd buy this, but in a different scent.

Color Changing Nail Polish in Ride 'Em Cowgirl by Ruby Wing.

• Retails $10 for 15ml.
• About the product: Vegan & never tested on animals, Ruby Wing offers a large variety of polishes that change color in sunlight.  From glittery to scented, these polishes are non-toxic, environmentally safe, and they believe in giving back having supported causes such as GLADD and Autism Speaks, to name a few.  Ride 'Em Cowgirl is a glitter gold with iridescent specks that should change to a fiery orange when in sunlight.
• What I thought:  I had put 3 coats of it on each nail to get good coverage & that got me a lot of compliments.  People thought they were professionally done or that they were the sticker/wrap polishes.  Winter here doesn't give us a lot of sun and I had almost a week of it just being its pretty gold shimmer, which was nice, but it made me think it was defective.  Then one day as I was leaving work, the sun came out & it turned this very pretty copper color instead of the fiery orange it was advertised as!  It took a bit over a week for it to start chipping and most of it removed by peeling it off. (OK, I know this is not good for the nail!)  The rest took a bit of elbow grease to remove, as do many glitter polishes.  It was really fun when it actually changed color and a lot of their polishes have a dramatic change, not a subtle one.  Birchbox said it had a slight floral scent to it, but I never noticed any.  I think it would be fun to wear it more in the summer.      
• I'd buy this!

~  

 

I'm going to be honest.  I'm sick of receiving & writing about mascaras.  Because I have received so many though, and my friend had asked me about a good mascara, I think I'll eventually post about my favorites.

I've had so many ideas & I have a lot of posts started but my hypothyroidism has been kicking my butt lately.  I'm back to sleeping way too much and so I had my blood tests done early in hopes of catching something.  Even though I have been exhausted, I can say I don't feel nearly as bad & run down as I have in the past.  This is a great sign though still no where near to perfect or where I want to be.

January Birchbox review & ramblings of a hypothyroid gal.

January 2014 Birchbox Overview:

• Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk by Klorane.
• Three Whishes Body Butter in Pomegranate by Whish.
• Fruit Pigmented Mascara in Black Tea by 100% Pure.
• Resist C15 Super Booster by Paula's Choice.
• Tea in Mint Mystique, Blackcurrant, & English Tea No. 1 by Ahmad Tea.

Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk by Klorane.

• Retails $19.50 for 3.2 oz. 
• About the product: This sulfate, paraben, & sodium chloride free product claims to add volume & texture, soak up oil & sweat, and extend the life of blow outs and color to your hair, while oat milk & rice starches will soften it.  Hold product approximately 10 inches away from head & spray onto your roots.  Leave in for 2 minutes, then brush out & style as usual.
• What I thought: First off, you know those air cans that they sell that blast air out of them?  That's what it felt like when trying to apply this to my hair.  Having short hair, it coated all of it (not just my roots) & it made it harder to manage to get the look I wanted.  I applied it per instructions & tried using it on clean hair, hair with product in it, hair I didn't wash after a few days.  Every time it just made my hair feel more dry, full of product, & blown out over proportion.  I can see how this might work well with longer hair but pixies be warned!  If it wasn't such a blast of aerosol I might be okay with it because I could control the use better.  I gave the rest of my sample away.
• I wouldn't buy this. 

Three Whishes Body Butter in Pomegranate by Whish.

• Retails $24 for 5 oz. 
• About the product: It claims to soften, smooth, replenish & firm your skin.  It's packed with organic ingredients including aloe, shea butter, raspberry butter, seaweed extract, & rice bran oil.  It states rice bran oil is a super anti-oxidant that is 30 times more powerful than vitamin E and studies show it helps prevent skin cancer & improve sun screen efficiency.
• What I thought: I loved the way it smelled!  It wasn't too overly sweet like a lot of fruity body butters I have tried.  Unfortunately, its great ingredients & scent do not make up for the lack of benefits this gave my skin.  It was just too watery for me to consider it a butter and a little does NOT go a long way.  The sample was used up very quickly and the moisture didn't last long enough for me in this wonderful, dry, winter weather we've been having here.  It's mediocre at best & there are too many other, better, body butters & lotions out there that are more moisturizing & last much longer on my skin.
• I wouldn't buy this.

Fruit Pigmented Mascara in Black Tea by 100% Pure. 

• Retails $21 for 0.24 oz.
  
• About the product: Like the name of the brand, this product is 100% natural and vegetarian.  With a long list of ingredients packed into this mascara, you'd expect there to be some unknown substance hidden in it.  Instead, with ingredients like powdered coffee beans, blackcurrant, raspberry, & blackberry extract, organic green tea (and the list goes on), you can feel safe actually knowing what's inside the bottle you have.  It claims to lengthen, separate, thicken, & gloss lashes, while being water and smudge resistant. 
• What I thought: I was really excited to try this even though it's like, my 10th mascara I've gotten between Birchbox & Ipsy.  The wand for application in the sample is NOT what is pictured with the actual product and I think this is where my problem came in.  The sample brush was a lot fuller & soaked up a lot of the product so when I removed the wand from the bottle, it took most of the product out with it.  Then when I tried to put the wand back in, a ton of the product ended up all over the place & I had to wipe it away.  Gone to waste.  I got it in Black tea & it had a berry smell to it.  Due to the brush it came with it clumped like crazy on my lashes when applied.  It took some elbow grease to get my lashes looking well but it eventually looked good, lasted long, & the color stayed on well with no flakes.  Removed easily also!  I'd like to try it directly from the manufacture next time in the bottle and with the wand that it is intended to be used with.
• I'd be open to buying this in the future.

Resist C15 Super Booster by Paula's Choice.

• Retails $45 for 0.67 oz.
• About the product: Ingredients include 15% stabilized vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to help you reduce redness, fade dark spots, acne scars, stimulate collagen production, reduce wrinkles, brighten & firm your skin.  Apply 2-3 drops of this to your serum or moisturizer, or use alone on your skin & you should see a difference in a few weeks.
• What I thought: There's no scent & you use very little of it.  I can't use it alone as it dried up way too quickly on my skin.  So taking from its advice, I ended up adding it to my argan oil I use, occasionally my moisturizer.  My skin became a little bumpy at 1st after using, which is typical when I try new products & change up my routine, but a week later it went away.  So it has been a few weeks & it probably helped me  maintain healthier skin, but not enough to notice any difference.  Still have 1/2 a bottle so I'll keep using it to see maybe if there's a benefit of using it a little longer.  As of right now, I just don't feel it's very effective in any way and could do without it in my routine.
• I wouldn't buy it.

Tea in Mint Mystique, Blackcurrant, & English Tea No. 1 by Ahmad Tea.

• Retail price varies; see list at Amazon.com.
• About the product: Ahmad Tea is a UK based family business which started in 1657.  They are a member of the United Kingdom Tea Council and belong to the Ethical Tea Partnership.  They taste over 600 cups of tea per day to make sure they are providing the best quality tea to its customers as it is exported to over 70 countries.
• What I thought: I got this in Mint Mystique, Blackcurrant, & English Tea No. 1.  They were all great & very fresh teas but the Mint Mystique was the best!  I'm the kind of person who loves to leave the tea bag in the tea & ignore the seeping rules so I can get a ton of flavor.  Some herbal mint teas are too pungent, drab, or stale, but this mint with green tea was so soothing & fresh!  Blackcurrant, & English Tea No. 1 are more common teas but you can definitely taste the quality in them.  I can't wait to try some more!
• I'd buy this.

See what I did there?  Let's hope I remember this format for my next post.  You have the product info with retail links, the retail price & size, about the product & use, my specific thoughts, & then if I'd buy it or not.  This ends my January Birchbox experience.  So if that's all you're interested in, you can stop reading because I'm going to ramble on about my life next.

~

Well, I'm FINALLY back to work.  Due to being out for a little over 6 months I have to go through re-training.  I'll admit, I was annoyed at 1st, though I understand their reasoning for doing so.  Now, being 2 weeks in, I'm glad I'm going through it again.

I still have a lot of stuff fresh on my mind so I've been helping some of the new trainees when needed.  At times, I don't want to seem like I'm not paying attention or participate by being quiet, but I want my new co-workers to be the ones answering the questions.  I've been using these systems for the last 10 years & these are completely new to most everyone else in my group.  I'm also not a know it all.  Things have changed since I left so I'm learning.  I feel as if the weight that was on my shoulders from my illness since I left has been lifted.

~

So that brings me to my health.  I'm still on the Armour, but adding the Cytomel was putting me in a hyperthyroid state so we dropped that.  I'm still struggling a bit between my body feeling hot & cold, but at work I have my blanket for when I'm cold, and a personal fan for when I'm hot.  My bigger issue right now is my fatigue.

I can keep myself awake at work, though close to when we leave I just want to fall asleep at my desk.  The later in the day, the harder the struggle is to keep my eyes open.  Mornings are OK but I tend to have worse brain fog then.  When I get home, I try as hard as I can to stay awake but usually end up konking out for a few hours on the couch from exhaustion.

I saw my new endocrinologist & explained everything to him.  He thinks I should stay my course on the Armour, but when I have my next blood tests done we are going to look into adrenal fatigue & also my progesterone levels.  Something my last endocrinologist didn't even bother to look into.  He told me to see my OBGYN, & they told me to go back to my endocrinologist, causing a big back/forth between doctors.  Then the more I read up, the more I realized these things were all part of my endocrine system & so, my endocrinologist should have been the one looking into it.

I do have to say things are SO much better now than they were before and after my thyroidectomy.  I'm hoping the day will come where I'm completely back to "normal."  Though I'm on my 3rd endocrinologist now, my last one was a big help & I do appreciate all he did for me.

~

Hmmmm... what else?  January 6-7th we had, what I consider to be, a mini blizzard.  I posted a video of the sideways snow blowing in my backyard.  We had our annual bowling day with my Dad's side of the family which is always fun.  On Valentine's Day, Chris & I had a nice dinner at Faletta's.  (Still no ring.)

Things have been good.  Did have a downer that is just causing more hoops to jump through, but 2014 is starting off really well.

This weekend's post has been brought to you by Bath & Body Works' Pink Chiffon collection.  I hope you are all well.  Happy bathing!

Spread Posibilities... with the NEW Hershey's Spreads!

So if you've been following me on Twitter or Facebook you've probably seen a bunch of posts about a new product Hershey's is coming out with.  Simply called Hershey's Spreads, they come in 3 flavors: chocolate, hazelnut & almond!

Crowdtap gave me an opportunity to test it out & I received the hazelnut spread from them.  I was hoping to receive it before Festivus, Christmas & New Years as I had some baking ideas & that would have been an ideal time to "share" with others personally.  Unfortunately, I received it just after the new year.  So, even though the parties are over & done with, I got to try it with some things at home with my boyfriend & will share with the world of the internet the goodness of it.

The 1st thing I noticed is it's just like Nutella.  So, I'm the kind of person that's going to do some comparing.  It smells the same, tastes the same, spreads the same.  So what makes Hershey's Spreads better than Nutella?

Which is which?  Can you tell?  If you click on each one it should open a new page & make it bigger to compare.  Oh, & the URL should give it away.  :)  Almost everything is the same (serving size, calories, etc.) except for a few things.  The big thing for me was that, per serving / % daily value, the Hershey's Spread had 10% less saturated fat!

Initially when opened I could smell more hazelnut than chocolate.  Then, depending what I used it with, sometimes I would pick up more on the chocolate, & other times, more on the hazelnut.  The consistency was a tad thick so it might tear apart soft bread, but if warmed, it will spread more easily.  Please don't heat up the plastic jar it came in.  A spoonful or two in a small sauce pan on low heat will do the trick!  Below are some pairings I used it with.  I'll save the best for last!

• Toasted Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich:  I initially tried this on soft white bread but it wasn't that easy to spread & I ripped the bread apart.  After toasting the bread, the warmth of it softened the spread & it spread more easily.  Using it with peanut butter, it kind of drowned out the hazelnut in the product but all together, with the bananas, it was so yummy!  The next time I will just use the spread & forget the peanut butter.

• Pretzels:  Salty & sweet!  What's better than that?  The chocolate taste came out more with this pairing.  Because it is a bit thick, if you dip the pretzels in the jar it came in, you might end up with a lot of broken pretzel pieces left in it.  Best soften it up a bit before dipping your pretzels in.

 

• Coffee & Hot Cocoa:  Really easy.  Take 1 spoonful & stir it in!  Watch how easy it is right here in my short video.  I really thought it would be good in coffee considering it's hazelnut & the 1st ingredient is sugar but it left it pretty bland & I ended up adding more sugar to it.  It gave the coffee a hint of hazelnut but wasn't as great as I expected it to be.  The hot cocoa on the other hand ended up super creamy & tasty!  I just used one of those dried packets of cocoa, added hot water, a spoonful of the Hershey's Spread & it was like getting a hot cocoa from a cafe!  It made it THAT much better!  Try it!
• Waffles:  Just spread it on like butter.  The only problem for me was that it was just dry.  I like having my waffles where they are crisp but have that juicy bite when you drown it in syrup.  Even if I added syrup it didn't do much for me.  On the other hand, my boyfriend really liked it, without the syrup.

 

• Banana Bread:  Skip adding the chocolate chips & walnuts in the bread as the Hershey's Spread with chocolate & hazelnut will do the trick!  My boyfriend baked up a fresh loaf for us & spreading Hershey's Spread onto a warm piece was delish!  Next time I'm thinking we can somehow incorporate the spread into the bread that's baked.  Hershey's has a recipe for a Chocolate Banana Snack Cake on their site I may need to try out in the near future!

 

• Popcorn: We air popped a bowl of popcorn & added a little butter & salt.  I took 2 heaping tablespoons of the Hershey's Spread & melted it in a small saucepan on low heat and it quickly became a fondu-like consistency.  One spoonful probably would have been enough.  I took the melted spread & drizzled it onto the popcorn & it was amazing!  I do have to say that our fingers got messy eating the popcorn but who cares!  It was really easy & quick to make.  It left us wanting more when we were done!  A definite must try!

 

A little of this stuff goes a long way!  Hershey's has a lot of recipes on their site that are more baking related.  I think the next spread I want to try is the almond one!  You can definitely "Spread Possibilities" with Hershey's Spreads!  Keep your eyes out for this in your local grocer!