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!

Goodbye 2013! Health update, life update, & December 2013 Birchbox!

2013 is coming to a close & what Hell this year has been.  I rang in, and am now leaving it with a foul taste in my mouth.  From jumping from one endocrinologist to another, multiple doctors & health problems of my own, having surgery to remove my thyroid, not being paid since the end of October, having a rough time getting multiple doctors to send off paperwork to each other & insurance companies, to being in a scary car accident on Thanksgiving.  Then on the 19th... my last living grandfather passed away early in the morning... I'm both sad & numb.

~

As far as my health goes, I am already seeing a slight improvement with the Armour Thyroid I have been put on.  I lost around 10lbs, I'm not as tired anymore (though there are days where I still feel beat up & need my 3 hour nap in the middle of it), I'm thinking a little more clear (though still get flustered easily), & the brush burn type pain is gone but I still have aches. 

Problems I am still having are that I'm still absolutely freezing cold.  I have the heat turned up to 73 in my home & my feet & hands feel like they are getting frost bitten, and at times I still get that sensation someone is applying ice to my arms.  My endocrinologist started me on an additional T3 medication, Cytomel, due to this, & since I started it, I feel itchy all the time & my skin seems more dry.  His response to every side effect is that is has nothing to do with the medication or my condition.  All my other doctors, and people I talk to who are going through what I am, say it does have to do with my condition & so I feel like I'm in a loop of trying to find someone who will help me!  When I last saw him I asked him if it was safe to add the T3 & if he checked my Free T3 / Reverse T3.  He said he did but when I got the lab test, it was only for TSH.  So he lied to me.  I also started randomly getting hot flashes again & my periods are all over the place (double, long & nasty, or short but always annoying).  My anxiety is still a mess, still nauseous a lot, & I'm still having on/off butt problems.  I'm also losing more hair than normal.  Not like handfuls or chunks of hair, but enough that it's noticeable.

I'm working with my job & doctors on getting back to work & will probably be released near the end of January,  They want to try a new anti-anxiety medication (I feel like I've tried every single one before) & so I was prescribed Lexapro.  Every daily medication like this I have tried gives me the same, crappy side effects & I always feel worse on them.

~

On the 21st I went to Rochester for Colleen's annual Festivus party.  The Betties exchange their holiday gifts, everyone gets "Bad Santa" gifts, we eat good food, get our drink on (though the ginger ale seemed to be the big hit this year), catch up on gossip & life stories, and have a lot of laughs.  It dissipated a bit early this year as there had been warnings all week of an ice storm.

Just one of many Festivus miracles!

Lucky we did leave when we had because by the time we reached home you could see how the ice was collecting on branches & power lines.  Then we had to deal with road closures & flooding the rest of the week.  The flooding didn't directly impact us, but we did have to take different routes to/from my family's home for the holidays due to road closures.  

Before Christmas, my mom and I have a few traditions.  One is going to see The Nutcracker ballet, but that always seems to be up in the air depending on weather.  We did get to go with my entire family this year & I love traditional ballet, especially when the BPO is doing the music live!  It was a few days after the car accident so I was a bit uncomfortable in my seat at times.  Also some lady behind me was coughing without covering her mouth.  Sure enough the next day I started a cough then, two days later, it had turned into a horrible head cold.  High temp close to a fever, coughing, snotty, chills & sweating, lost my voice.  I felt almost as bad as I did when I got that horrible illness right before I was diagnosed with Graves'.  Still recovering from that a month later.

The other tradition is making cookies.  Sometimes we make a few different kinds but this year we stuck to sugar cookies.  We made a few batches & in our 1st batch, we accidentally put on the frosting before we baked them.  It ended up bubbling up and looked a bit odd when we took them out.  So for our 2nd batch (pictured below) we put just the sprinkles & gel on before baking, baked, THEN put the frosting on.  Much better!

Then on Christmas Eve, my big Polish family always get together at my Aunt & Uncle's home to celebrate the holidays.  A bit upset she didn't make the pierogi this year (usually with cheese or mushrooms) but they do take a long time to make & she has had so much other stuff to do.  It's always nice to see everyone & share stories, good or bad.  I wish we would do things like this more often.

On Christmas day we went to my parent's, had breakfast of french toast, and exchanged gifts while watching A Christmas Story.  Chris & I went home for a break in between.  We then returned for a ham dinner, sparkling grape juice (that I'm now addicted to), and watched Elf.

Then this weekend, Chris' mother & sister came up from the DC area to visit.  We had dinner at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery then off to the Sabres game we went where we watched them beat the Capitals in a shootout.  By the way, we were all rooting for the Sabres!

Here's a few pics & then onto my Birchbox review!

~

December 2013 Birchbox Overview:

• Protect & Shampoo / Condition by Beauty Protector.
• S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting™ Polisher by Grand Central Beauty.
• Harlem Lights Collection Nail Polish in Baldwin Blues by Color Club®.
• Chocolate bar in Pop Corn Pop by Chuao Chocolatier.

• Protect & Shampoo / Condition by Beauty Protector.  About the product: I'm reviewing them together, since they work together.  Both have pearl powder in it, which contains conchiolin, that is claimed to act like keratin.  It's written on the bottles that both are vegan (though some vegans would not agree with that due to the pearl powder, also the honey that's in it), with claims of being moisture reviving, providing UV protection, are color safe, smooths hair, enhances volume, seals cuticles, & adds shine.  What I thought: Loved the scent as it reminded me of a sugar cookie.  Like a cross between Aquolina's Pink Sugar & Fresh's Sugar Lemon scents, though not as sugary, sweet, or lemony as the scent it left on my hair was very faint.  Using both the products together, just a quarter sized amount each time it lathered nicely.  I got great shine, bounce, conditioning, and volume though the volume didn't seem to last a full 24 hours.  I did use the shampoo on its own one day & it was a nightmare on my short, bleached hair as it left it extremely dry & matted.  Together though, they are fantastic!  I'd be open to buying these together, NOT separately. 

• S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting™ Polisher by Grand Central Beauty.  About the product: This product says it will exfoliate, tone, hydrate, & peel, remove dead skin, unclog pores, reduce redness, smooth your skin & give you anti-aging benefits.  It's a waterless formula with natural botanicals including watermelon, orange and lemon extracts.  Instructions advised to use up to 3x a week after cleansing but before applying any masks or moisturizer.  Apply a dime sized amount, massage into skin for 30 seconds, then you can either leave the product on or rinse it off.  What I thought: It actually has a nice, light floral scent to it and the consistency was like hand sanitizer, wet but gel-like.  When applying it dries very quickly so I could only massage it for about 10 seconds before it felt like I was just rubbing my dry face.  When dried, it left little, clear beads on my face so, instead of washing the product off, I decided to brush the beads off and then go about my normal routine by applying my moisturizer.  If I didn't use a moisturizer after applying, my face would feel tight and very dry so I didn't get any hydrating benefits from this.  I'm sure the cold, winter weather isn't helping but after a few weeks of using this, I ended up with dry, flaky skin patches.  I'm going to put the rest away & re-visit using the product during the summer months.  I wouldn't buy this.

• Harlem Lights Collection Nail Polish in Baldwin Blues by Color Club®.  About the product: Color Club® 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.  The color I got, is described as an indigo blue.  What I thought: If you get it right, you really could apply one coat of this as the thin coat I applied left pretty good coverage.  Some spots near the nail bed were thin & could have used a 2nd coat though.  I've had it on for a week and 1/2 now & the usual chips I get around the tops of my nails are no where to be found, nor do I see any cracks in the polish yet!  I'd also describe the color more of a flat, dark denim.  I'm not too keen on the color but it has great shine & lasting power!  Another thing I noticed was that the scent it gave off was no where as strong as some other polishes out there.  I'd buy this, but in a different color. 

 

• Chocolate bar in Pop Corn Pop by Chuao Chocolatier.  About the product: Chuao (pronounced chew-WOW) Chocolatier is a Venezuelan chocolatier based in the USA, pioneering in "fusion chocolate" with all natural ingredients.  The bar I got is described as mixing puffed whole grains, toasted corn chips, popping candy and a sprinkle of sea salt in creamy milk chocolate.  What I thought: Another fine sweet & salty treat that BB has provided me with!  It definitely reminded me of chocolate covered popcorn without those terrible hard kernel pieces.  The milk chocolate was creamy and divine with a little crunch.  The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the popping candy in it.  The pieces were very fine & I really only noticed them after most of the chocolate had dissolved.  So it's nothing like putting a whole package of Pop Rocks in your mouth (you know you did this as a kid!).  Upon eating it you kind of go through the thoughts like, "This is good!  What's that?  It's weird... but I want more!"  Even though I wasn't too keen on that part of it, I would still buy this bar again because it was just so interesting.  Check out their site too because they have so many other different products & flavors to choose from.  I would buy this!

Oh I also forgot though it's in the picture, I got some sticker that you're supposed to put on your phone to promote that they now have an iPhone app.  Well, I'm one of many who doesn't have an iPhone.  I just found that to be a waste.  Send me one when you get an app for my POS android.

~

I really hope & pray you all have a fantastic New Years!  If you are drinking, please STAY SAFE and get a cab!  That goes for any night out on the town!  My plans are still up in the air, though where ever I may end up, I'll probably be asleep on a couch before midnight.  I have a lot of new & interesting stuff to try out & write about, and a million things to do in general.

Happy bathing & wishing for a better 2014!