Love. Faith. Hope.

Almost a year ago, I was very sick and never thought I would ever regain total control of my health. Needless to say, I was down and out - and very scared. My diabetes took on a very scary turn, and was slowly affecting my kidneys, liver and even my heart. During those times, I had nothing to turn to but my faith and no one else to hold onto but my family and closest friends.

The "Love Came Down" collection reminds me day in and out of how faith and love can move mountains and heal broken spirits.

A year later...I am still here - with a clean bill of health.

Happy. Healthy. Loved.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." -  Luke 2:11
 

I remember all the positive things that kept me going when I was very sick, every time I look at the beautiful collection that  Dayspring was kind enough to share with me.

Love, beauty, happiness - they all exist in great abundance. We just have to open our eyes and hearts to witness and experience them.

Please visit  Inspired Deals, for more beautiful products that promote inspiration and encouragement. These products and this website in particular is very near and dear to my heart, because it truly is a home for the hearts of women.

Disclaimer: All the products in this showcased in this blog entry were sent to me for free by Dayspring. However, I was not compensated for my opinions - they are all my own.

Low Carb Recipe: Coconut Flour & Milled Flaxseed Peanut Butter Cookies

I am an ex-diabetic who's always on the lookout for low carb products that I can incorporate in my daily meals. One of my latest finds is Coconut Flour - which ranks very low in the Glycemic Index. It only has 6 grams of effective, slow-release carbohydrates per serving and as you can see these carbs are mostly fiber.

This product is ideal for diabetics, ex-diabetics and for those who are simply conscious about their health and over-all well being. It is gluten-free - and we all know that gluten is highly allergenic. It's also high in fiber, which aids in the absorption of sugar in the blood stream and lowering cholesterol levels. It effectively aids in the prevention of heart disease and diabetes. Lastly, it is loaded with protein - which is very helpful in weight loss.

Here's one of my favorite "Coconut Flour" Recipes: Coconut Flour and Milled Golden Flaxseed Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Cup Sifted Coconut Flour
  
• 1 cup natural peanut butter (it has a reasonable amount of carbs and nuts in general is a healthy snack alternative)
  
• 1 and 1/2 cup sugar substitute
  
• 4 eggs
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
•  1/8 cup Wildroots Milled Golden Flaxseed (click on this link for more information on the health benefits of Flaxseed) Note: This is an optional ingredient but I love adding it to my batter because of the flavor and the added texture.

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven at 375 degrees fahrenheit.
  
• In a bowl, mix sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt and peanut butter.
  
• Gradually stir in Coconut Flour and mix well.
  
• Add optional ingredient (a personal favorite of mine) - Wildroots Milled Golden Flaxseed.
  
• Drop by spoonfuls on a baking sheet/pan lined with parchment paper. Make sure the cookies are 2 inches apart. Note: Indentations on the cookie were made using a fork.
  
• Bake for about 14 minutes.
  
• Let it cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

Our health is in our hands but we need not deprive ourselves of the things we enjoy eating, just because we have to be conscious of what we should ingest. It's always a matter of doing your homework and looking for healthier substitutes for ingredients that we're used to cooking with.

Disclaimer: I’m no health guru, dietician, what-have-you. I’m just a normal consumer and an “ex-diabetic” who appreciates honest feedback about products that I use on a regular basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Product Review: NYC Individual Eyes Palette

I received this NYC Individual Eyes Palette from Influenster, and it's one of the many amazing products inside the Beauty Bloggers Voxbox 2012. It was a pretty interesting kit, because it had all the essential eye products that you’ll need in one compact palette.

I have always been loyal to my favorite high end brands - so naturally, I didn't know if I'd like this product/brand or not. Also, some of the product were all over the palette (may have been caused by shipping), so I did not know what to expect as far as the quality goes. I have never used this brand before so I was also very interested in the pigmentation of each individual eye shadow color.

Pros and Product Highlights:

• The suggested retail price for this palette is $4.99 – very affordable!


• It has 4 eye shadows that were respectively labeled (contouring, highlight, crease) according to how/where they should be used which makes it ideal for pros and beginners alike.


• This little palette also comes with an eye base/primer and an illuminator. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised at how these two components work – the quality is good! I have been using the illuminator on my face as well, as part of my “contouring” routine. I really like it!


• The eye shadows are highly pigmented – what you see is what you get.

Cons:

• The colors don’t flake or bleed around the eye area when used in conjunction with the eye base/primer and MAC’s Fix Plus. It smudges/bleeds under the eyes a wee bit (where I like putting extra color before using a kohl pencil to line my lower lash area – hope I made sense!) if you don’t use setting sprays like Fix Plus or Skindinavia.

DISCLAIMER: I did not purchase any of these products. They were sent to me by Influenster for review and blogging purposes. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Creative Bioscience 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge….Here I Come!!!

Almost a year and 185 pounds ago, I was a full blown type 2 diabetic who had no clue what to do to address this health condition. I started with turning my eating habits around and hitting the gym religiously with my favorite workout buddy - my husband. After months of regular gym routines and healthier meal choices, my weight went down from 185 to 148 pounds (hurray!). My doctor informed me that according to my latest blood panel results, my blood sugar level was that of a normal person’s numbers. I was also informed that I am no longer a candidate for any heart conditions and that my blood pressure was back to normal.

Everything should have been well and dandy after all this right?! Well…not exactly, because according to my endocrinologist, I still have a certain percentage of body fat that I have to lose in order to attain that clean bill of health that I am aiming for. I’m 5’6” and a healthy weight for my frame is around 125 to 130 pounds. Try as I might though…I seem to be stuck at 148 pounds and I cannot figure out what else I need to incorporate in my routine and lifestyle to lose those last 23 annoying pounds. If my reasons all bordered on vanity – I wouldn’t have cared that much. But after experiencing a lot of health problems due to diabetes (e.g. protein leakage, kidney problems, heart and blood pressure concerns…to name a few), I was bound and determined to be healthy and stay healthy.

These frustrating issues that have been weighing heavy on my mind lately, have all been answered when Creative Bioscience contacted me to be a part of the 90 day Weight Loss Challenge. I guess I was in the right place (errr…more like cyberspace) at the right time and I couldn’t be happier!

I was asked to choose a product from their website and blog about why I chose it. I decided to accept the challenge and chose... *insert drumroll here* Raspberry Ketone 1234! They have plenty of other wonderful products to choose from but I picked Raspberry Ketone because it addresses my weight loss and health goals. This is a supplement that I see myself taking on a regular basis.

For those of you who don't know what Raspberry Ketone is, it's the characteristic in raspberries that gives it its distinct flavor and aroma. It's also been proven in a few studies to help release fat and store less of it – PERFECT for my health goals! It was shown in a 2005 study to protect the liver against fat build up in mice who ate a high-fat enriched diet.

My main goal in this 90 day challenge is to drop 23 pounds and to significantly lower my Body Mass Index numbers. Creative Bioscience 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge….here I come!!!

If you're a blogger and want to be a part of this challenge as well, you can go visit this website:

Creative Bioscience 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge

I'll keep y'all posted on this health journey - so stay tuned!

Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce Product Update and Giveaway Winners

I do not have enough good words to say about Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce and the company behind this new-found kitchen staple of mine. Their products are great and the people behind these culinary elixirs are wonderful individuals. Click here for the complete product review.

Since we got our complimentary bottles for the review, me and my husband have used and incorporated it in so many recipes. We specially love using it whenever we bake or grill meat  on our Foreman and traditional outdoor grill.

A few days ago, I received another packagel from Country Bob's. I was so excited to see that they sent me a barbeque/grilling set! Fortunately, we still had some ribs...so me and my husband wasted no time and put our new toys to work!

PHOTO ABOVE: The Grilling Set sent by Country Bob's

PHOTO ABOVE: We used Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce as part of our marinade mix.

I was fortunate that  I was given this chance to do a product review on a product that I am proud to write about and endorse. I am also excited to share this culinary experience with the winners of my "Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce Product Giveaway'! The winners were electronically picked via RancomPicker.com and they are:

Thank you to those who took part in this giveaway and congratulations to the winners!

Disclaimer: These bottles of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce were sent to me for product review and blogging purposes. I did not pay for these items, nor am I getting monetary compensation for posting an honest review about this product. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Product Review : Bath and Body Works Candles

How much do I love candles?! Let me count the ways…

Kidding aside…I have always loved “smell good stuff” in my home. I think I have them all – plug ins, oil warmers, sprays and my personal favorite – candles! There’s just something soothing and romantic about lighting candles. It instantly transforms the atmosphere in any room – which is why I have always been a candle fanatic!

I love “matching” my candles to what season it is but I have to say that my favorite ones are the fall and winter scents from Bath and Body Works. When I saw that this “colder season” staple of mine was included in my Influenster's Beauty Bloggers Voxbox 2012, I was in “smell good heaven” because not only did they give me a mini candle for free…they also included a coupon that I could use to purchase up to 5 candles at a discounted rate.

Hurray for the candle aficionado in me!

PHOTO ABOVE: I was supposed to use these in December - in time for the Christmas Season. However, I love these scents so much and couldn't help but light them - which explains why they're all used up now! "Sparkling Icicles" has that clean, winter smell that I am absolutely in love with. When I have this scent lit up, I am reminded of pine trees, snow...and Christmas!  "Frosted Cranberry", on the other hand, has that fun/festive berry scent that I really like. It has the right amount of tang and does not smell overly sweet - it's definitely worth checking out, y'all!

PHOTO ABOVE: "Nutmeg and Spice" was the mini candle that Influenster included in my Voxbox. Most of the candles that I purchase from BBW are made by Slatkin & Co. but this one is by White Barn. The smell of this candle is absolutely divine - it smells like pastries, cakes and desserts. It has the same undertones as Vanilla Snowflake (another winter favorite of mine)...with hints of its namesake coming through (nutmeg and spice).

PROS AND PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

• The packaging of these candles are awesome. They look like home décor even without candle sleeves!
  
• The quality of the candles are stellar. The smell is great from the first time you light it up ‘til the very last drop of wax in the container.
• There’s no “candle wax smell” when you light these babies up. That’s probably one of the reasons why I prefer BBW Candles over the less expensive ones that you normally find in stores or groceries.
  
• Bath and Body Works offers good customer service – and on those rare occasions that you don’t like how a candle you picked out smells like, you can always go back and get it replaced with another scent. It happened to me when I picked out the “Pineapple and Mango” scent. It just didn’t work out for my smellers so I took it back and had it replaced hassle-free. Customer Service can make or break a product – so kudos to BBW coz y’all are doing a wonderful job on keeping your customers happy and satisfied!

CONS:

• It is pricier than some candle brands out in the market – but BBW always has great sales and coupons! Also, the price is at par with the quality that you’re getting…so I’m a happy customer, regardless.

WOULD I PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN?

I’ve been a Bath and Body Works gal for years on end…and their candles are one (out of many) of my favorite items from their store. So without a shadow of a doubt…I will buy their candles again…and again…and again. I’m sure y’all get the point – lol!

DISCLAIMER: I did not purchase all of these products. Some were sent to me by Influenster for review and blogging purposes. The other candles were purchased at a very discounted rate using coupons sent by Influenster. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying.  My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Dallas/Fort Worth Haul

Me and my husband occasionally go to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to shop, splurge and spoil ourselves a wee bit. I won't bore y'all with details on where we went, what/where we ate, where we shopped and all that. I'll share photos of the goodies that I bought tho - because it's always fun to "exchange notes/tips/favorites" with my lovely readers via blog posts. However, my DSLR ran outta juice somewhere in between snapshots - so you have to excuse the quality of some of the photos that I took. I had to resort to using my backup camera, 'coz I wanted to finish this entry before I completely forget about posting it - lol!

I am almost out of my favorite contouring palette - NARS Orgasm Laguna Bronzer and Blush Duo...so I got another one.

We don't have a local MAC store in my area...so every time we go to the Dallas/Fort Worth Area, I always stock up on stuff that I'm running low on (and then some).

I got another bottle of Fix Plus and Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.

I also got three shades of lipstick - Viva Glam III, Velvet Teddy (my FAVE shade) and Ruby Woo (I am all out of this color so I had to get a new tube). I'm still well stocked on my other makeup staples - so that was it for me, as far as MAC products go.

Our next stop was at LUSH. Thank goodness I was blessed with a patient and wonderful husband because my "baby, I just need ten minutes 'coz I know what I'm getting" turns to forever when I'm at this store. I love my bath stuff - that's my only excuse. *silly grin*

These are the stuff that I ended up purchasing from Lush - my bath and skin care staples.

I got two more bath bombs to add to my stash - Big Blue and The Enchanter

I also got more "Fresh Farmacy" - it works great on my face specially during Winter Season.

My favorite - The Godmother

Freebie Soap - Rock Star. I love most of Lush's products but I don't know how I feel about the scent of this soap. It smells too much like Play Doh (uuuh...or a rubber eraser?!)  to me. It's a freebie tho...so no hard feelings!

Lastly, I got more "Buffy" (I got my husband hooked on this too) - an exfoliant and body butter that you can use while you're in the shower. It's specially great during the winter season because our skin tends to be VERY dry during the colder months.

I also bought more shower/smell good stuff and hand soaps from Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret.

I'm a "smell good fiend" and I stock up on hand soaps from BBW when I have good coupons and when they have crazy sales going on.

Me and my hubby also went to Trader Joe's to get some of his favorite healthy snacks and a few of my favorite low carb treats.

My favorite treats from Trader Joe's: low carb chocies and "no carb" irish cheese

I couldn't resist getting this owl organizer from Barnes and Noble.  I love OWLS and  I can never live without an organizer. I know I have my iPad, laptop and there's all the technology that I can/should take advantage of - but I'm old school and I can't seem to remember things unless I jot them down!

It's a treat for the li'l kid in me...lol!

Thanks for droppin' by and I hope y'all enjoyed this post!

Product Review: Palmolive Fresh Infusions

I was stoked that I got picked to review a second Voxbox from Influenster. This time, the box I received was called "The Newest Premium Dish Soap Voxbox" and it had 3 big/full sized bottles of Palmolive Fresh Fusions Dish Washing Liquid - one of which is meant to be shared with a friend. Palmolive and Influenster were also very generous because they included 5 coupons in the box, that my friends/loved ones can use.

Here's a few photos of the box and goodies that I got:

 

I do rely on my dishwasher to do all the "washing" for me - but then I have pots, pans and delicate stuff that I prefer to wash by hand. Regular stuff goes in the dishwasher and some stuff goes in the sink for hand washing - pretty simple chore repertoire, right? Add sensitive skin/contact dermatitis in the equation...and simple chores aren't that simple anymore. Gloves don't really help my plight, because it only aggravates my skin. So I am left with no other recourse but to pick mild products that will play nice with my hands - so to speak.

PROS AND PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

• This dish washing liquid is surprisingly mild to my ultra sensitive hands and that's always a big plus in my book!
  
• It comes in 3 sophisticated smelling variants: Ginger White Tea, Lime Basil, Lemon Thyme. As far as my nose is concerned...these dish washing liquids almost has that spa quality to it - specially when I used it to soak some of my pans in hot water. It just smells so soothing...so Zen.
  
• It may be gentle to my hands but it's really tough on any kind of "gunk" left on my pots and pans - which was a very pleasant surprise to me.

CONS:

• It costs more than your cheaper/regular dish washing liquid - anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar  more. I mean, the extra cost is not enough to make you cringe but there is the glaring fact that it's slightly more expensive than your regular dish washing liquid. My hands love it tho - so I will probably buy more when I run out...with coupons of course. *wink*

DISCLAIMER: I did not purchase any of these products. They were sent to me by Influenster for review and blogging purposes. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Product Review: Not Your Mother's Curl Defining Cream

 

As I mentioned in my Influenster’s Beauty Bloggers Voxbox 2012 blog post, my hair is very confused. It can go from perfectly shiny and wavy/curly one minute...to poofy and dry or limp and straight the next. I'm pretty sure that the weather and humidity level (or lack thereof) here in Texas plays a major role in my hair's mood swings, so I am always on the lookout for products that can fix this dilemma.

"Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream" (it's quite a mouthful, i know...) is part of the Beauty Voxbox 2012 that Influenster sent to me for product review. I was so excited to see this product in my box, because I have never used it before and I am always very eager to try hair products that can potentially tame the wild and moody beast that I fondly call "my hair".

Photo Above: My husband trying to take a snapshot of my long hair. We used a smartphone - which explains why my curls weren't really captured in this snapshot. But anyway...I was very happy about how my hair looked like after using "Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream". I thought it had more body and definition.

PROS AND PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

• This product provides just the right amount of moisture. It doesn't leave that overly greasy residue behind like some other curl shaping products do.


• It is so delicious smelling. This hair product is infused with Grapeseed and Jasmine...and it doesn't have a tacky/overpowering scent. Instead, it has fruity undertones - I love it!


• It does what it's supposed to do - and then some. After using this product, I find that it's all I really need to have my hair's waves looking the way I want them to look the whole day. I'm too lazy to use curling irons and blow dryers - so this product is perfect for me. I normally take bubble baths or showers at night...and I am happy that even after a rendezvous with my sheets and pillows, my hair still looks good the next morning.


• It works for sensitive scalps too.  I have very sensitive skin and when I use a product that's too harsh or greasy - my scalp lets me know right away. I was hesitant to use "Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream" at first because of my sensitive skin. I didn't want my scalp to flake up...or itch...but I wouldn't know if this product would work for me if I won't give it a chance, right? The good news is...my scalp loves this hair cream too. *big happy sigh of relief*


• It's affordable. A 120 ml bottle costs around $5.99 at Ulta...so I'm guessing it's around the 5 to 6 dollar range in other stores (e.g. Walmart, Target, Drug Stores, etc.).

CONS:

• For people with long hair like myself, a 120 ml bottle won't go a long way. You have to saturate your hair with the product, so you can get your desired effect. Ergo, that's a lot of $5.99's along the way.

WOULD I PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN?

I like how the product smells like. I like how it makes my hair look like. So in all honesty...I would probably buy it again. Low maintenance hair = priceless.

DISCLAIMER: I did not purchase any of these products. They were sent to me by Influenster for review and blogging purposes. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Product Review and Giveaway: Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce

I have heard a lot of good things about Country Bob’s from my Blogging Community and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about the company and their products. I was fortunate to be among the bloggers chosen by the company to try out their “All Purpose Sauce”.

I was very excited to receive my complimentary bottles because me and my husband are both in low carb diets and eat a lot of lean meat. I have to be very creative in the kitchen because “no carb and healthy eating” should not mean dry, boring and redundant meals.

When my all purpose sauces got delivered, I had to take it for a taste test right away because I wanted to check what the flavor profile's like. I was pleasantly surprised about Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce’s robust flavor. It has the right amount of tang which makes it easy to work with and incorporate in most dishes – even side dishes!

Below, I have posted photos of a couple of dishes that I made with Country Bob’s All Purpose Steak Sauce. I always tweak traditional recipes or substitute them with low carb ingredients in accordance to me and my husband’s lifestyle/meal preferences.

Fried Bread with Chicken, Avocado Slivers and Baby Spinach:

Usually, the recipe for this fried bread calls for flour. I used a combination of Coconut Flour and Wildroots Milled Flaxseed as healthier and low carb substitutes. I used Country Bob’s All Purpose Steak Sauce to marinade the chicken and come dinner time, all I had to do was “grill” it on my Foreman. I added some baby spinach and avocado slices to my concoction for more nutrients and a healthy dollop of omega 3!

Baked Turkey Meatballs with Sauteed Low Carb Pasta:

I used Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce to season my ground turkey…and boy oh boy…was it YUMMY! I also sautéed some Dreamfields Low Carb Pasta on the side with a few drops of this wonderful culinary elixir from Country Bob’s.

My husband’s verdict on Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce: “Can we get more of this sauce when we run out?!” *burp*.

My verdict on Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce: They weren't kidding when they say this sauce is "all purpose" because you can use it on anything and everything. Your only limit as far as using this in the kitchen would be your imagination. It definitely is worth checking out and buying. I know for a fact that I'll be buying another bottle when I run out - it's that GOOD.

Please do check out their products at your local stores' barbeque/sauce isles or through Country Bob's Website (click me). They have a variety of products that would suit your culinary/bbq-ing needs!

PRODUCT GIVEAWAY:

Do you want to win your own bottles of  Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce?! 

The company was kind enough to sponsor my very first giveaway, so that my lovely readers can try this amazing All Purpose Sauce. There will be two (2) winners for this giveaway and each one will receive two (2) bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce. The giveaway is open to US Residents only. This raffle starts today (October 22, 2012) and ends on November 5, 2012. The winners will be announced on a separate blog entry - so keep checking my blog for updates!

All you have to do to qualify is "like" this post and tell me what you are looking for when purchasing all purpose/barbeque sauces (e.g. price, specific flavor profile, ingredients, etc.) by "leaving a comment below" .

Thank you for dropping by and GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: These bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce were sent to me for product review and blogging purposes. I did not pay for these items, nor am I getting monetary compensation for posting an honest review about this product. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.