[REVIEW] ReserveAge Collagen Powders & Collagen Candy

     If you've had any experience with keto OR a large amount of weight loss then you've probably dealt with some sort of loose skin! I never thought I'd be one of those people, not because I didn't think I could have loose skin from weight loss, but that I'd ever make it far enough to get loose skin! When you make a plan and stick to it, you get rewarded for it! Anyway, so I was on the search for some collagen products and I was offered a chance to try some to review from ReserveAge! I'm so happy that I've gotten to try their products!

     The first product that I tried was ReserveAge Collagen Replenish Powder (Unflavored). I added it to my coffee and it worked great adding it to there. I love how well it blended in and just kinda melted into my coffee. I like the unflavored one so far probably the best because since it's unflavored, it's easy to add it into just about anything! Baking it into food or adding it to yogurt is also a suggestion, not just beverages!

     Next, I tried ReserveAge Collagen Candy (Sour Apple flavored)! I absolutely LOVED how the first thing it reminded me of was an over-sized pixie stick! I didn't personally like the flavor, but not because it tasted bad, because it still tasted good, it was just super sour!! I know a LOT of people who would LOVE it because it's sour though! They also have another flavor for the collagen candy, Cucumber Watermelon!

     Lastly, I was sent another ReserveAge Collagen Replenish Powder, but this one was flavored, Strawberry Hibiscus! With the strawberry and hibiscus combination, tasting it instantly brought me back to eat strawberry flavored PEZ candy!! Seriously, that's exactly what it tasted like! I tried it in my coffee and I didn't like it as much, but I did love it in my water!

     From their website, it lists the benefits of the collagen powders!

Reduces volume of eye wrinkles by 20% in 8 weeks*

Helps maintain skin elasticity and increases elastin production by 18%*

Increased pro-collagen production by 65%*

Helps improve skin smoothness on women’s thighs*

May help increase nail growth and decrease broken nails*

     I've been drinking these for a few weeks now and I feel like I'm really noticing a difference so to say that I'm in love with the products is an understatement. Next time, I'll want to try some of their other flavors though like they also have a Chai Pear! I'd also love to try their Collagen Replenish Chews! They have all sorts of different collagen products to keep you and your skin VERY happy!

Disclosure: I received these products for free so that I could review them. I was not paid for my review, there was nothing even mentioned of wanting it to be a GOOD review (obviously always hope that it is),  there was no obligation of me to give a positive review. These are my own opinions and I'm sorry if they differ from yours and your experience, but they are mine.

Happy MLK, Jr. Day!

     I'm having a pretty good day. How about you? Layla had her birthday party yesterday and it went well. Some friends came and some family came, it was a good day! Then today, it being Martin Luther King Jr Day, Layla had the day off of school! She also got a haircut on Saturday. It looks so cute! I'll have to get a picture of just her with her haircut!

    I have some exciting things coming up, a couple reviews, at least 1 giveaway, and I'm planning our next keto potluck meetup! How many of you have gone to at least 1 keto meetup? How was it? A lot of sponsors? I'd love to make it as great as it was last time, or better of course! We'll see how well it goes.

     I'm in a good mood today, but I didn't sleep specifically well. Rosalie has been sick the last few nights and gets super congested trying to go to sleep and I think she's passed it along to me. I woke up this morning and my throat was all scratchy! Sharing is caring, right? She's too cute to even be upset about it though! While sick, she's just been trying to be a little Momma today. She's been feeding her baby doll, comforting the baby, giving the baby kisses. See, even when we're sick, caring for our babies never stop! <3

Something in the air?

     You ever feel in your bones that something is going to happen? I mean, sometimes you might get a feeling that something is going to happen- you kind of get a feeling whether it's good or bad too. Well, I've been feeling it recently, I feel somewhere inside that something really good is going to happen for us, I'm not sure WHAT that something is, but all I can do is hope for the things it might be. I drink my coffee in the morning and then a couple hours later I make myself some breakfast along with making it for the kiddos.  Rosalie steals my breakfast, usually eggs of some form, no matter what I've already made her and her eating. It never fails though, she's gotta eat my eggs! I make scrambled eggs- she must have some too! I make baked eggs- she must have some too! If I made some just for her- she'd still need MINE! Babies/Kids are funny like that, you can have the exact same thing as them but they want what YOU got because since you're having it, it MUST be better! :P I made them cinnamon rolls and those seem good too, but whatever, she must eat it all. I'm happy she's not a picky eater though, at least so far that I can see!

     I have not stopped wanting to be on here talking to you all, but sometimes I think of all the things I want to write and then not sure how much everyone else wants to hear. I can't tell if I'm just rambling on things I want to say or people will find it funny quirky. I hope for the latter. I need to write down some of the conversations that I have with the kiddos because they are funny!

     I was talking to my friend yesterday about how my kid is smart (and all kids in general) and it's fun & interesting watching the wheels turning figuring out how different things work. Rosalie doesn't have a ton of experience with using a spoon on her own, but yesterday she was using it eating macaroni & cheese like a champ. Like she's known how the whole time and it was just a breeze. After watching her do so well, when she got tired of eating the food, she just flips the spoon and tries putting the handle in her mouth and then I thought, there we go! That's more of what I was expecting to see! :P  Rosalie's personality is really starting to come out and she's so silly and amusing to watch! She can't say many words, but last week we were at the store and I kept saying "Girrrrrrrl" to Layla and then Rosalie kept repeating it back to me, "Girrrrrrl" and then I just couldn't help but laugh her bringing out some sass!

     Well, I leave you wonderful readers with that for now and maybe I can get some writing in later or tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

Happy National Keto Day!

     Today is National Keto Day! Yay! I've been doing keto for over a year now and I'm pretty happy to be living this lifestyle and pretty thankful for it too! It's helped a lot and while it wasn't entirely for the weight loss, it's definitely an added bonus! I used to faint sometimes because my sugar would get low, but I haven't had that issue since being on keto. 

    In other news, I wanted to post yesterday, but I had a massive headache for over half the day. I still felt like I wanted to do so much but it was just temporarily putting me out. Since today I'm feeling a lot better, I'm even more pumped and motivated today! I got a stove stop smoker yesterday and I cannot WAIT to try it!! We have an outdoor smoker, but it hasn't been great because it's one of those Wi-Fi ones and we don't always specifically have the best Wi-Fi connections for it so it's always going off and on. Needless to say, we don't like the smoker! I didn't realize when I bought it that it worked ONLY solely while connected to the Wi-Fi. I just thought it was nice feature that you could check your times on your phone through the app and what not-- wrong! Anyway, lesson learned though. I look forward to trying the smoker that came yesterday though. I'm just excited about a lot of things, really!!

     I've been in a funk (blog-wise) for years it feels like and I can definitely say that I'm out of it based on how I've been feeling a lot lately! I feel like I'm ready to take on the world right now! I'm ready to product review with full force again! I absolutely get passionate about telling people how I feel about products whether it is good or bad. If I try a product and it's awesome, I love letting people know! It's just like when I find a good deal on something- I just CANNOT keep it to myself! I must share with the world!!

Hello, 2020! Happy New Year!

     I'm hopeful that this year is going to be a good year! I mean, surely everyone HOPES that. I know there will be ups and downs, but overall I hope it's still a good year! In our household, this morning it started off well so far- I woke up and got nice hot shower. I started drinking my hot cup of coffee- Cinnamon Sugar Cookie flavor! My kids are still asleep in bed! I guess, I'm just in a good mood waking up grateful for the things that I have rather than the things that I don't! I hope to take down my Christmas tree today, it's bad luck to take it down before January 1st and I didn't think I needed any of that so I waited! I was talking to my sister-in-law about this very thing a few days ago, we're considerably very lucky-- we have a roof over our heads, heat, hot water, etc.. clothes, extra things like internet and phone, Netflix.. I mean, I could list everything we have that some people may not, but that's just silly- the point is that we are very lucky for what we DO have! So, I'm trying to have a better outlook on the things to be grateful for rather than the not's! I think that's my New Year's Resolution this year, to be more positive thinking rather than just the down side! It's real easy to just look at the down side.

     Anyway, I hope all of you are having as good of a morning as I am today! 

What makes you grateful this morning?

Hey There!

I know, I know.. it's been awhile, but I've been busy babysitting kiddos, being a Mom, and still going strong doing keto!! I've gone past my ketoversary so that was exciting! I've been doing it for over a year now! I've lost weight, still not where I want to be, but I feel like I've come a long way! This is just the first of many posts and activeness to come from me again. Since I've been so busy, I wanted to make it easier on myself so I asked for a Chromebook for Christmas... and what do you know, Santa (my mother-in-law) brought me one!! I have so much to do on here, like all these goals going on in my head and I'm SO excited about getting them done! Now that I have the Chromebook, it makes it more accessible to blog more without a problem so that was the goal for me! :) Anyway, I just wanted to put that out there but I'll start posting more!!

2 Months on Keto and counting

            Yesterday marked 2 months since starting my keto journey. It was Valentine's Day so I was nice and made Jed & Layla lasagna. I rarely ever make it and they loved it! I still did good by me and ate eggs & turkey sausage. It doesn't sound as good, but I very much still enjoyed it!
            I'm feeling great! My scale isn't always changing and I'm okay with that, but I feel like changes are always happening. My stomach is by no means even close to flat but I feel it tightening up all the same. I'm not entirely sure why that is though at the moment, but I'll take it. I've lost a total of 19 pounds since I started my journey. I'm within 10 pounds of my first goal and that's to be less than 200 lbs. It's been a VERY long time since I've been below 200 pounds. It was before Layla was born (10 years ago), when I got pregnant with her I was at 180, then dropped down to 170 from all the morning sickness and then packed it all back on during my pregnancy and then some and never got rid of it. My highest weight was weighing in at 260.8 and I felt awful. I'm not going back that direction and I'm so happy to be making a change in my life to make myself healthy. Doesn't matter if it was on a keto journey or another one, my goal is to be healthy. I don't want to  have to worry about dying at a young age because I decided to eat bad things all the time! I don't eat perfectly even still, but I'm trying to do better with what I'm putting in my body.
            Some days it is a lot more challenging! Challenging to not take the easy way and just pop something in the microwave that is extremely unhealthy for me, but again, quick and easy. I've been really good about not detouring right now, but there's not very often that it isn't a struggle. To be clear, I don't feel like I'm depriving myself of food by no means. It's more of a struggle with how lazy I am, but I'd like to get more active as well. Not just with making my own food, but I'm SO looking forward to warmer weather so I can go for walks. I would now, but right now, I'd have to drag my 6 month old out into the cold too.
            I'm currently in the process of planning a keto potluck meetup. I'm really excited about doing it! I also can't wait to try some keto products/companies- not specifically for the meetup, but in general. :) I haven't lost my excitement for my journey.

Happy Birthday, Layla!

Layla is 10 years old today! I can't believe she's already 10!! Layla has her disabilities but she's a strong little girl that doesn't let any of them stand in her way! She'll have surgery this summer and like everything else, she'll be the warrior that she is and get through it! She's an absolutely WONDERFUL big sister! She's always trying to be so grown up! She tried telling me she was 13, she's trying to age faster- really she could slow down before I lose it!! :P I love her so much, my first baby girl! <3 I need to make her cookies today because she was wanting them! :D 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAYLA MCKENZIE!

My Story starting with Keto

Why did I start the keto diet?

           Well, I have multiple problems that I thought if the keto diet could help me on- that’d be great! I have PCOS, Plantar Fasciitis, Acid Reflux, Degenerative Disc Disease, Obesity, Low Blood Sugar and trouble controlling how much I eat- especially when I’m bored or distracted- I used to much on a lot but not because I was really hungry for it. I don’t have specific expectations but I’m tired of feeling fat! I don’t mean specifically the number on the scale, but you know when you go to lean over and your rib bones are trying to poke through to other places and it just makes you feel all around lousy? Yeah, THAT feeling I don’t like! All in all, I wanted to be healthy and I figured be healthy first and the weight will follow, happily.

What changes have I noticed so far at 1 month in?

           For starters- I’m feeling good. Like I don’t think that I’m physically thinner, but mentally I feel thinner. I’m not sure if that might make sense to any of you, but that’s how I’m feeling. I’ve lost 12 pounds in the last month, but only really 2.5 in the last 2 weeks, which is perfectly fine- I’m not pushing to lose a specific number by a specific day as I think that can just throw me (or anyone) off on the real goal which is still to eat a healthy amount of food! I haven’t had a problem with acid reflux since I started doing keto. I’ve noticed that I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the foods I shouldn’t be eating. Since I’m making myself something different from everyone else in the house, I’ve noticed I’m eating better than I was before. Not just from doing the keto-lifestyle stand point but I’m making better eating choices or eating more in general. I used to skip breakfast and lunch most days and then eat “crap” for dinner. Now, that’s not saying that I’m making the BEST choices in food but I feel I’m doing pretty good! I’m staying below my carb limit and meeting my protein goal for the day or pretty darn close! Oh! I’ve also noticed my energy and motivation levels are really up there! I have so many goals. My ambition to cook more things is going up each day, I’m actually finding it fun!

Is it hard to stay keto or have you struggled at all?

          I don’t feel that it’s hard to stay “keto” for the way I’m happy doing it. I hope to improve my food choices as I go but I’m pleased with how I’m doing right now. I’ve struggled to drink as much water as I should be. It’s not like I’m drinking pop instead- I just have never been the kind of person who drank a lot… of anything. I don’t mind drinking water at all, just trying to build up to drinking as much as I should be. At first, I struggled more not eating the snack cakes like Little Debbies, but the more time that moves on, the less I really want to snack on things. I was snacking on some pork rinds the other day and I didn’t even really feel like snacking on them so I stopped. So at the moment, I’d just say that my biggest struggle is drinking enough water but I’m making a conscious effort to drink more!

Do I plan to do keto for forever?

           I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t. I don’t plan to try to lose weight for forever, eventually I’ll want to maintain when I get to a healthy weight, but I don’t see any reason why I would even want to stop living the keto-lifestyle. I’m enjoying it being the way that I eat and that’s not to say I won’t ever eat a food or meal that isn’t “keto-friendly” but right now, I see no reason to be off of it.

Do I plan on switching to just low carb at some point?

           I don’t have a definitive prediction on this, but again, at the moment, I don’t foresee going off the keto-lifestyle. I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s one of those, don’t fix it if it’s not broken things but we will see.

Am I tracking weight or inches?

     
           Right now, I’m tracking weight, Fat Percentage, and BMI. I’m not very good at doing the measurements or I would probably track it too. I’m not putting too much thought into the number specifically as again, I think that’s just going to throw me off on the real goals here, but I like tracking them to see the overall progress later looking back. I’d like to look back on it and see, this was the journey and only the start.. I have the rest of my life to live- my adventure has only begun!



          Well, that’s all the questions that were come up with right now, if you have any of your own, I’d be happy to answer them :) This is just me starting on the keto-lifestyle. I'm only a month in, I'm not claiming to be perfect- in fact, the opposite but this is my journey so far.

Who Am I?

        Well, my name is Sara. Nickname is “Icey” and it’s been my nickname for so long that I got it tattooed on me when I turned 18. I’m now 30 years old and I have 2 daughters. Layla, who will 10 in 2 weeks. She has gone through a lot more than I’d ever care for, but we’ve gotten through it and she’s a pretty tough warrior. She’s had surgeries for Chiari Malformation Type 1 (decompression surgery that was considered brain surgery because of where it was located) and a few years ago, her appendix had ruptured. That was quite a bit scary because it could have been fatal, but she really lucked out that an abscess had formed around it and contained it. We (her doctors and myself) didn’t think it was her appendix at first because we expected her to show signs of being in a lot more pain than she acted like. But like I said, pretty tough warrior! She has a surgery already planned for this upcoming summer. She has scoliosis and it’s now at a 62 degree “S” curve. She also has an intellectual disability so while she may almost be 10, she doesn’t act or think like a typical 10 year old. She can be hard to understand what she’s saying if you’re not around her enough. She also has a sensory processing disorder mostly tactile. She has a problem with brushing her hair, brushing her teeth, touching her feet, touching her hands sometimes unless it’s on her own terms. Next, I also have a 4-month old daughter, Rosalie. She’s teething like crazy right now drooling everywhere. She spits up/throws up all the time. I’m not sure why yet but I’m mentioning it at her next doctor’s appointment which is in a couple days. She’s starting baby foods so that’s fun. She wants SO bad to be on the move- trying to do things that she’s just not supposed to be doing yet but she acts pretty determined to do them if she can! I’m also married to Jed. We’ve been married for 9.5 years so far. :)  Rosalie already seems to be a Daddy’s girl because he can walk into the room and she instantly smiles! Layla can be a little bit of both Mommy’s girl and Daddy’s girl, but really, she’s a Papa’s girl for sure!!

        Recently I’ve started doing the Keto “Diet.” To be clear, this isn’t a temporary change for me so feels weird to say diet because that’s what I think of when I hear the word. I’m changing my eating habits though however to a keto-lifestyle.
         I’m a photographer when the opportunity arises, but I’m definitely not “established” and that’s alright. I still enjoy doing it when I get to. I’m getting into card making a lot more as well as making envelopes and stationary and I’d like to make postcards at some point as well, but not sure if I’ll do that so much as have them made with photos that I take. We’ll see.
         I used to extreme coupon, but I had a lot of stock of a bunch of things, but I just got wore out trying to do it so much so now I just coupon more like a normal person. I also used to product review a bunch, but when we found out that Layla needed her first surgery, I got into a pretty big funk that I’ve had a lot of trouble getting out of- more than just blogging and product reviewing. However, that’s one thing that I’ve noticed since having Rosalie and starting Keto, I’m feeling more motivated and energized again to do things again! I also used to make money online- nothing huge but sometimes could be very nice & helpful around Christmas time and I’d like to actively get back into that when I’m able. One thing at a time though so I don’t overwhelm myself with every single thing that I’d like to be doing. I need to utilize better time management. :)

So many changes

Since the last time I've wrote, I feel like so much has changed. I have added a new baby girl into our family this year. Layla will need surgery on her scoliosis this upcoming summer. I'm no longer going to the gym and have started the ketogenic lifestyle. I have so many goals and things to accomplish and one is to get back to blogging and reviewing products like I used to. I used to love it, but then Layla had the brain surgery and I had trouble shaking that sudden news and it scared me- even after she had it, I just stayed in a blogging funk that I just could NOT shake off! It's time for more changes just as there have already been so many. I need to make a new banner for the page too. :) I look forward to the next chapter with you guys! :)

New Beginnings

Well, I'm sorry that I've neglected the blog for so long but I hope to actually get back with it now. <3

We moved last weekend so just feels like a bit of fresh everything! :D I think it helps to get out of a rut. I hope to get back a lot of things in order. More like I'm determined to do just that! Sometimes it just feels like it's all coming together! <3 I'm very excited about things coming up! So try to stay tuned... those that may still be here ^_^

Week is Ending!

Well, everyone likes Fridays... I'm not sure that I'm going to like mine... I have leg workouts tomorrow and it IS rough! I'm looking forward to doing it though because I know how much its helping in the long run! Dan, the gym manager asked me today if I made another blog post SOOO here I am- making a blog post! :P I do truly love all of the support that the staff at the gym give! They root you on while you go even when you yourself don't think you can go anymore. My first day training, another member, didn't know me but passed by and said "Keep up the good work!" I was amazed! Whenever I thought of the gym, it was always very intimidating to me. The fear to be judged. Then I thought, well, if they judge me for trying to change- that's on them- not me. BUT I didn't need to worry anyway or at least not at my gym. I got welcomed to their gym family and I feel at home <3

On the road to healthier me

Okay so at the beginning of this year, I decided to make a change. While everyone else was making New Year Resolutions- I was not. I didn't want to make a New Year Resolution and then feel pressured that that was why I was doing it! No! I needed to make a change, I'm obese and it doesn't feel good. I didn't just *need* to make a change, I wanted to! That's the biggest thing for me... I always thought, "I need to eat healthier....... buuuuuuuuuutt I really don't want to stop eating all the good stuff" Well, now I'm too the point in my mind set that the good stuff while I still enjoy the taste-- isn't good for me and it'll take some adjusting but I'm willing to find other foods that I can like just as much (or will learn to love as much) that are healthier for me. I do not *just* want to LOSE the weight... I want to be thinner, yes, but what happens after I've lost all the weight that I want... do I go back to old habits?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I'm making a lifestyle change... 'til death do us part! I'm looking forward, not back. 

So I started changing how much I was eating. I have a big problem with when something tastes super yummy to not go back for seconds... and I also have an issue with wasting food so if I got a bunch of food on my plate-- I felt that I needed to eat it until it was gone, not just until I was satisfied. Then I added working out with videos, but I began to learn quickly while they're great.. I currently need some guidance on what I need to doing. So, my next was to get a gym membership. It was especially nice for me to be able to do that because my insurance pays me back so much a month if I go at least 8 times a month. So seemed like an extra perk even since I wanted to do it anyway! I signed up at Anytime Fitness (that is 24 hour gym so no excuses, right?) and the next day I met with the Fitness Director. We did a training session and I quickly realized that at least for awhile, I really did need a trainer. It's not that I wouldn't lose weight without one but I wouldn't lose it in the right places and gain all the muscle that I want too. Like I said in the beginning, I don't want to be just skinny. I want to be healthy but to also get fit!

There was a woman on the news this morning for here in Indianapolis, who was 347 pounds and lost 170 pounds in 1 year! I want to do that! Not so much about the 1 year but she was heavy and got thinner and now she's leading Zumba classes and such. She talked about how much pain she was in that she could barely walk. I didn't get that bad but it is painful to walk sometimes in the morning when I wake up or whenever I stand up from a sitting position, but once I get moving it goes away.  I'm kind of hoping that I'll do something with my success once I reach it like that! Either way, I'm not giving up on me and I feel really good about it!!

I started at 260.8 on January 5th. I just weighed myself tonight and I'm at 252.4. Normally I wouldn't be so open about how much I weigh and need to lose but again, time for a change. I need to own it. *BUT* I'm moving away from it so I don't mind so much too.

This was me over the summer. 

Making a come back

I'm very excited to be coming back now after a LONG break, but I feel like it's starting all to come back together, ya know? Sometimes you just know when the tides have changed! Layla is recovering now after now having had her 2nd surgery in her life. About a week before Halloween, Layla was sick for 3 weeks. She had 103 degree temp for 11 days and then we ended up at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis for 6 days while they determined why it was that she had such a high fever. It turned out that her appendix had ruptured 4-5 days before ending up in the hospital. We were SO lucky that it had created an abscess around her appendix and didn't go all through her body because that is when it could have been life threatening! I'm SO thankful for how it happened rather than how it could've been! It's now been removed though and she is doing better! It was a bummer that she had to miss 3 weeks of school but it was out of our control and we're just trying to bounce back now!  Anyway, so that's kind of where I'm at.. trying to back from different things stronger than I was :) It's a process but I'm ready!

Secret Outlast Xtend has a Secret!

I've tried deodorants before and some I've liked and others just don't have the protection length as I'd like. I like when you walk past someone and don't have to worry about, goodness, did I smell bad? I hope they didn't smell me-- NO one wants to think about those things just simply from WALKING!!  I really think Secret's brand name is really fitting for them because I'd have to say they have supplied the best deodorants for me in the past. Their Clinical Strength I really loved and now they have Secret Outlast Xtend that is just as great! I had the pleasure of being able to try it for free for an honest review from BzzAgent and I'm happy that I was able to participate! Secret has a secret but I don't know what it is but I do know they have got it going on when it comes to deodorant and I will continue to buy their brand! The Secret Outlast Xtend last from when I put it on after my shower through past going to sleep when I could still smell it on me just as fresh and it continues to last the next day until my next shower! I don't know any of other brand deodorants that *actually* last that long as of yet. I got the Invisible Solid one and it went on smooth as can be and the best part of it that I liked was when getting dressed- it didn't smear onto my shirt like some deodorants do!

**I received this product from BzzAgent in exchanged for an honest and unbiased review. I was not paid for my opinion!**

Back to the Basics with Welch's Refreshingly Simple Juice - Peach Mango

I got to try Welch's Refreshingly Simple juice- Peach Mango flavor from BzzAgent. I've had all sorts of different flavors of juice. Even the "100% juice" flavoring is never the same- sometimes it's sour because it's supposed to be all 100% juice so no sugar added even though it also tastes like they took the natural sugar out as well or they made the juice with fruit that wasn't ripe. Or you'll get juice that is supposed to 100% juice but isn't actually 100% juice and you might as well be drinking kool-aid that is loaded with sugar. The Welch's Refreshingly Simple juice is perfect as it tastes full of flavor that it keeps it very simple in it. It tastes completely natural like I'm eating the fruit in my hand without ever a sour taste! It is sweet, but not too sweet. I was very hesitant about the juice when I got it for these reasons- I had no idea what to expect but I'm very glad that I did!! I will be trying the other flavors and based on the "Peach Mango" one that I had, I feel that I will be just as impressed with the rest!! Natural without the sour!

**I received this product from BzzAgent in exchanged for an honest and unbiased review. I was not paid for my opinion!**

Hello My Friends ♥

So I did a bit of revamping or at least have started and will probably continue a bit until it's finished! ^_^ I had been in a funk long enough and I feel like I'm out and ready to go all in coming back stronger than ever! There will be changes happening and I'm excited to share them with you as they happen! I'm so excited and happy to be back... I will be writing reviews again and sharing MORE things with you of making money online, recipes, other good information, and just stuff about LIFE. I think that will help me stay a bit sane :D

Blessing in Disguise

I *hope* that this is a blessing in disguise. I don't like it anymore than if it wasn't. So, as you know that we went to the Neurosurgeon for Layla on Thursday. I went in with a list of questions, but when the Neurosurgeon came in, he had already seen the MRI results and showed us what they looked like, etc. Then he proceeded with now we need to talk surgery! It was a thought that it MAY be needed but I think I was a bit more on the optimistic side of it because all my questioned revolved around if she didn't need surgery and restrictions to not make it worse, etc. So it just seemed from then on, I was baffled, I didn't have any questions because the ones I had were now irrelevant! Needless to say, Thursday was not a normal day for any of us, my mother in law went with me and we heard the doctor and understood but I believe that our minds were protecting ourselves by not allowing us to fully grasp the situation. My 4 YEAR OLD daughter is going to undergo brain surgery. There's no good way to look at it except that the doctor who is doing it (we looked him up!) is good at what he does since he's apparently the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the hospital that we're taking her to! There WAS good news however, he believes that her scoliosis is caused by her Chiari Malformation (why she's having the surgery) so he believes that after the surgery AS SHE GROWS that it will correct her scoliosis (the blessing in disguise because that means she *may* not need surgery to place rods in her back for the scoliosis.) It probably won't fix it 100% but if it improves it dramatically and no complications happen from the surgery then I'm very happy. But as Mom, I'm terrified! I'm happy that she has a GOOD doctor to take care of her, but it still is what it is and scares me to death. So, if you would, on October 16th, the day of her surgery, just put out good vibes out for her whether it be prayers or whatever it is that you practice, I would appreciate it! My little girl has gone through so much and I know it still could be far worse, but I don't like when ANY kid has to go through so much so early in life.

Thanks for reading :)


Sara

Wish Us Luck!

It's been a little crazy around here so I haven't wrote a review this week, but I'm not forgetting about any of you readers! I'll write a review on Friday, but I've been a little anxious for what is to come tomorrow! I have a 4 year old daughter, Layla who has scoliosis. She had been complaining of pain in her back so I made sure to mention it to her Orthopedic Surgeon about it. He said that was something that they take very seriously-- when they start complaining of pain. So he said that he wanted to have a MRI done! We had the MRI done last month and they called back with the results-- She has been diagnosed now with Chiari Malformation Type 1. So, they led us to a Neurosurgeon who we meet with tomorrow morning! It's for a consultation and in the visit, they'll be able to tell me whether Layla's case is mild or severe. I hope it goes well! I've been scared out of my mind since I've found out that she has it! I knew nothing about it but then reading what I could on the internet is terrifying! At least tomorrow, I'll get some answers about Layla's particular case and either be worried about what IS happening or NOT worrying about what isn't happening for her! Either way, I'll be informed and that sometimes is just the biggest helper! It's not fun NOT knowing!

So if you could be so kind to keep us in your thoughts or prayers! I'd appreciate it!