Sore muscles? Use a massage gun by Ekrin Athletics.

 

Like most adults I suffer from pain in my shoulders or back from time to time. Part of the reason my lower back tends to hurt is because my hips sit slightly uneven, which can cause a bit of lower back pain. The last time I went to get an adjustment they used a massage gun on one of my muscles for a minute before doing the adjustments due to my muscle being stiff that way they could adjust the spot properly. After having them use it on just that one spot. I wanted to try out one that I could keep at home not only for myself, but for my family as well to use when needed. I've heard a handful of great comments about massage guns & I've seen them all over in various stores near me, especially during the holidays. I was very excited when Ekrin Athletics wanted to work together on a review of the Ekrin 365 Massage Gun. 

First impression? Wow! It is crazy how quickly this helps relieve your sore and stiff muscles. I feel like I get an hours worth of a regular massage in about ten minutes with this. Depending on how stiff your muscle knots are it might hurt just a little at first, but once you work on the area around the spot it will help loosen it up and feel so much better. It is kind of funny depending on where you use it because if you talk it sounds like you are talking into a fan if you start speaking while using it. Have you ever gone for a deep tissue massage that is done by hand, then the next day some of the spots feel like you were hit in them? That doesn't happen with this, your muscles will feel relaxed. If you use it for a long period of time you might still feel a little tingly directly after, however that feeling will go away quickly. 

Everyone in the house enjoys using this, even the kids! Right after we received it I used it for a minute or two on everyone in the house to show them how it works and it was an instant hit. Later in the evening everyone was asking of I could use it on their backs, so I did then I got a turn. I slept so well that night with every thing in my back loosened up & surprisingly the next morning I didn't wake up with my usual back pain despite the odd sleeping positions I usually get into. I also tried this on my foot & even though it tickled it help relive sore feet too, plus you can also use it on legs & arms. It is super simple to use, the attachments just need a slight push and twist to lock into place. Then you'll click "On" and gently tap the top of the massage gun which will activate speed #1, if you want another speed you simply need to tap it again to change the speed.

It charges quickly and it seems to run for quite some time. There are multiple settings along with different speed settings along with different attachments. It comes with a guide letting you know which attachment is best for different areas of your body. The massage gun along with all of the attachments have spots in the carrying case that they rest perfectly in, it makes this quick & easy to put away and very convenient if you want to travel with this. I actually took this with over on a visit to my moms house, her back has been extra sore lately to the point where she thought something else might be wrong. So I told her about this massage gun that I had just received the night before we spoke & asked if she wanted me to bring it over and use it on her back, we figured it couldn't hurt to try. I used it on several different spots on her back and by the end of my visit she was already feeling so much better and wants to get a massage gun of her own as well. The only slight downside to something like this is that you can reach your neck/upper shoulders and also your lower back by yourself but if you have a spot mid-back that hurts it will be harder to reach on your own. Otherwise we love this! If you want to get this same model it can be purchased on their website for $179.99 or they have other models available at different prices. 

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Ekrin Athletics for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Glasstic Shatterproof water bottle Review & Giveaway!

 

For a long while we didn't have a water cooler so we bought cases of water from the store, however we quickly realized that not only was it becoming costly but it was also a HUGE waste of plastic! So we ended up getting a water cooler and lots of re-usable water bottles to fill up, but I am always looking to add more to what we use on a daily basis. I recently received the chance to work with Glasstic trying out their shatter proof water bottles. They are called shatter proof, but are they really?

After receiving these I was rough on them on purpose including dropping it from about shoulder height, a smacking it against the counter because I was curious how their claims stood up. They are indeed shatter proof, nothing happened to the glass what so ever. So how does it work? The Glasstic bottles have two layers, there is a plastic outer layer and a glass inner layer with a space in between the two of them. 

The space between the two layers isn't just there to protect the glass, it also doubles as a way to personalize your bottle. In the photo above is an example of how the bottle breaks down into four pieces, this makes it easier to clean all the pieces or to put an insert in. You can purchase a set of style sheets that are already printed and sized to your bottle, or you can create a master piece of your own to put in your water bottle.

My kids love that they can customize their water bottle to their own personal interests and that they can change it at any time. The bottle was a little difficult the first time we took it apart because the seal protecting water from getting into the empty space is a fantastic seal, but once you get the hang of how to remove the plastic it is very easy to pop in your doodles. 

The glass in the middle helps keep your water or drink cold while the plastic allows you to hold the bottle without your hands feeling cold. We also like that it has a lock on it so the lid won't randomly come open and it has a really nice handle on it. The bottles come in six different colors so you can pick out the one that suits you the best and customize it more once it arrives. I thought my daughters use of yellow paper with her purple bottle looked nice. The bottles are easy to wash and dry, so far we haven't had any issues with them.

Their bottles are $19.99 each but until the end of November they are having a 25% off sale, you also have the chance to enter to win a bottle of your own right here on my blog. 

PRIZE ALERT:
Use the Rafflecopter below to win a Glasstic bottle of your own!

This is open to US Residents only! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email! 

This giveaway ends on 12/02/2020

Giveaway entry question: Leave a comment telling me if you'd use one of their style inserts or if you'd create your own! If you are going to create your own, what is something you might design?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Glasstic for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Sneak in a workout at your desk with DeskCycle! + Giveaway

Between working full time, cleaning, running errands, taking care of my family, blogging and squeezing in a little me time to enjoy a video game or book, it can be hard to find extra time to do a full work out. DeskCycle has a fantastic solution that will help you squeeze in some more physical activity during your daily routine. Their cycle is just the right size to fit under your desk or in front of your sofa so you can peddle while you are working, watching tv or even reading. I received the DeskCycle 2 to test out for a review.

When it arrives some light assembly is required, you will need to attach the base legs, pedals and the monitor to the main body of the cycle. The assembly was easy and it didn't take long to put together before I was able to use the cycle. The monitor that helps keep track of how fast you are going, calories burned, time spent on it, etc. can be attached to the main body itself or it comes with a stand that can be placed on the top of your desk along with a longer cord to connect everything, so you can keep an eye on your progress. The pedals have an adjustable height so you can keep them at nine inches or ten inches.

The DeskCycle has eight different resistance settings so you can make it more challenging on yourself as you are cycling. It is easy to adjust using a dial located at the back (the part closest to you) of the cycle as you can see below:

My computer desk isn't completely open at the bottom as I have shelves on both sides of where my legs go so I got really lucky and this cycle just barely fit under my desk width wise, height wise it is perfect. My legs usually get a little restless when I am sitting at my desk and because of it I usually sit cross legged which isn't the best thing to do, so I like having this under my desk as it not only allows me a chance to add more physical activity to my day but it helps keep my legs busy.

The foot pedals have a strap so it can be adjusted to your shoe size, however I don't generally wear shoes when I am at home so there is a bit of extra space between my foot and the pedal even on it's tightest setting. Otherwise the foot pedals are comfortable both in shoes and without. The DeskCycle is light weight and easy to move, so I can grab it from under my desk and put it next to the sofa when I am playing a video game with my husband. My kids also enjoy using this they think it is a lot of fun, and enjoy seeing how fast they are going by watching the monitor. Does it actually feel like you are getting a work out in? Yes, you'll be working and moving both legs which helps blood flow and helps you burn calories while sitting instead of just sitting stationary. It also helps your joints because it helps prevent you from feeling stiff after sitting in your chair for a long stretch. When you get up you can tell you were cycling, all without getting sweaty!

Overall I am pretty happy with the DeskCycle 2, it is quiet while in use so that you don't bug anyone else who might be in the room. The base legs help keep the cycle steady so it isn't rocking side to side or too wobbly while you are using the pedals. I think it is easy and also fun to use! I wish I had one at work as well. If you are someone who uses a fitbit or similar app to help track your progress DeskCycle has a free app that syncs up with your cycle (I believe you need to directly plug it into your phone to transfer the data, I haven't actually used the app) so that you can keep an eye on your daily, weekly and even monthly progress.

PRIZE ALERT: 
One lucky reader is going to win their own DeskCycle 2.

This is open to residents of the US Only. Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email! Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page. 

This giveaway ends on 11/09/2019

Giveaway entry question: Please leave me a comment letting me what your favorite DeskCyle feature is.

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Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by DeskCycle for the review & giveaway free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

These headphones are great for road trips with kids!

**This was not a paid post. My honest opinions were used, they are solely my own and they may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by CozyPhones for the review free of charge.**

Finding the perfect pair of headphones can be a pain sometimes, you might find one that has a great sound quality but the shape of the ear bud hurts your ear. I personally like headphone ear buds with the little squishy covers that can be shaped but they can be kind of pricey and the covers may pop off or become ripped. I recently found a different alternative to traditional headphones, they are called Cozy Phones which are small round ear buds concealed in a fabric head band.



For a review I was sent a black cozy phone ($18.97) from their original line plus the Unicorn and Panda ($19.97) from their kids line for my kids. The headbands have a soft mesh material on the inside and fabric on the outside giving you a comfortable experience. They are corded which some may not like but they do also offer a new line of cordless Cozy phones, I personally don't mind because I am not doing anything super crazy while wearing them so the cord doesn't get in the way.

Everyone has a different shaped head which means not everyone will have their ears in the same place as others so how do you make sure the ear buds are actually on your ears? There is a small slit and opening in the back of the headband where you can user your finger to move the ear buds to the exact spot your ears will sit while wearing the headband. I haven't had any issues with the ear buds moving or slipping away from my ears while wearing these which is nice.



The headband itself isn't too tight, I found it to be a wonderful fit. My ears didn't feel like they were being smashed nor did I feel like the headband was going to fall off which was nice for working out plus it helped hold my hair in place and keep my head cool. If you feel like your headband is getting to nasty due to sweat you can remove the ear buds and machine wash the headband, due to the mesh inside I would probably air dry them but thus far I haven't needed to wash it.



Since the headbands are fabric and the ear buds are flat disks you are able to fall asleep while wearing these and wake up without sore ears from having head buds in for too long, which makes them perfect for road trips with the kids. The sound quality is fantastic, when I have my mp3 player turned up all the way it keeps it loud but still at decibels that protect your ears.

prAna clothing Review!

**This was not a paid post. My honest opinions were used, they are solely my own & they may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by prAna for the review free of charge.**

When I am not working or out running errands I pretty much live in my yoga and pajama pants because I enjoy being comfortable. I was recently asked if I wanted to participate in a campaign for some great products for a company called prAna who specializes in yoga, travel & adventure clothing, when I saw their yoga pants I knew I had to accept the offer and say yes so I am now a #prAnaMom. prAna offers sustainable, recycled, fair trade certified and hemp items. Why was I so excited over their yoga pants? I love the funky and cool designs they offer and feel in love with the Juniper yoga pants. For the review I was asked to select one bottom and one top, can you guess which bottoms I choose? Top wise I decided to go with the Daria Sweater Hoodie in black.

Let's review the pants first, the Juniper yoga pants retail for $89 and are made from 53% Hemp - 42% Organic Cotton & 5% Spandex and come in three different colors, it is available in a XS-XL. Hemp fabric makes this pant naturally UPF 50+ and odor reducing. They have a fitted leg with a flare bottom and an elastic waistband. Out of the three colors the pants come in I selected the Blue Kali because my favorite color is blue and I enjoy the design of the pants, one thing I noticed when wearing these yoga pants vs a pair that are one solid color is they seem to really emphasize your legs and butt. The pants are extremely comfortable and strangely enough they help keep you cool and warm at the same time. It is still pretty hot here during the day but I am perfectly comfortable wearing these during the day, and at night not only has it been cooler but we generally keep our house at 75 degrees so it gets a little chilly in the room at night and these help retain the warmth which is nice. I get sad having to take these off to put regular pants on to go to work hahaha, I want a to own a few of their other yoga pants now as well. The stitch of the pants are great, the only thing I would change is the very bottom where the foot area is it has a raw edge hem detail which I am not too crazy about but I do love the flair bottoms it almost makes me feel like I am going out to a disco or a nightclub, normally I don't go out in my yoga pants but I have actually gone to the store wearing these because of how comfortable they are I didn't care if anyone gave me funny looks. I also noticed that they have stitched the pants to give it added strength and stretching ability in the crotch area which is great for when you are doing yoga, working out, etc.

Now onto the Daria sweater hoodie. This hoodie retails for $89 and is available in a  XS-XL in four colors, it is made from 55% Organic Cotton - 35% Merino Wool - 10% Nylon. This isn't normally the kind of shirt I would get for myself but it looked so cute online I wanted to test it out and it is very cute in person and has many features I love, however I underestimated my skin and even after running this through the wash is super itchy on my sensitive skin. What drew me to this shirt is that it has a front kangaroo pocket which is perfect for keeping your hands warm during the winter, and it has a cute fashionable hoodie plus the arm holes aren't your typical short sleeve like shirts normally are instead they are cocoon sleeves. The shirt fits comfortable and fits well. prAna would like to invite you to watch their video for Why Organic CottonMatters | Sustainable Clothing Movement

Want to get a pair of Yoga pants of your own? You can use code TMF17SW until October 19th to receive a 15% off discount of your prAna purchase. (not valid on sales items)

DirtyBird Energy Giveaway & Review!

**This was not a paid post. My honest opinions were used, they are solely my own & they may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by DirtyBird for the review & giveaway free of charge.**

I usually review a lot of bath and skin care products that are geared towards women, but it isn't too often I post reviews for men or neutral products so I am hoping to change that soon starting with this post. I recently learned about a company called DirtyBird a creator of energy soaps and the name of the company along with how their product packaging drew me in. They sell three different soaps that come in a reusable container.

                            
For my review I received all three soaps to test out for a review. The original bar of DirtyBird is a caffeine and peppermint infused soap bar designed to help give you an energetic burst to start your day off right. This is the bar I think smells the best out of the three, it kind of reminds me of spearmint bubble gum. Relax is a aromatherapy blend of Lavender & Chamomile with Ylang Ylang, although it is made with lavender and chamomile but it smells like black licorice to me. Last but not least is Recover which is designed to be used after working out, a long days work, etc  it not only helps get rid of dirt and dead skin but it also zeroes in on bumps, bruises and inflammation for a speedier recovery with Arnica, Eucalyptus and Rosemary extracts. It will also open your sinus passages because it smells like vicks rub. The formula they use makes it to where it is almost a cross between a bar of soap and a bar of lotion, the leather is thick, creamy and it really moisturizes your skin.



Pros:

•  The soaps all smell pretty good, at first the scent is little over powering but after you leave the lid off for a bit the smell isn't quite as strong which makes it more enjoyable. 
• The bars are a great size that are easy to hold onto and the bars have a great lather to them. 
• Leaves your skin feeling lovely and leaves you in a good mood after a great bath. 
• Each bar retails for $5.99, between the size of the bar and the container this is a great price.

Cons:

•  The reusable containers are hard to get open and I would assume even harder with wet hands so if you plan on keeping them in the container I'd leave the lid off.

PRIZE ALERT:
One lucky reader is going to win two of each soap bar from DirtyBird.

This is open to US residents ONLY!!! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!
 Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.
Giveaway entry question: Which soap bar do you think you'd like the most?

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Tani Giveaway & Review!

**This was not a paid post. My honest opinions were used and are solely my own & they may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by Tani for the review & giveaway free of charge.**

Home is my sanctuary because I can do what I want and wear what I want without having to worry what anyone else thinks, if I want to workout in my Pajamas I can! A company called Tani creates and sells a number of comfortable clothing pieces you'll never want to take off, why? Their products are made from a fine silk that is soft, smooth and cooling. For my review I was able to select one top and one bottom of my choice, I selected the Silkcut long sleeve shirt retail $75 and the GO Power Leggings retail value $145.

Both pieces are comfortable as can be, the silk material is one of the softest materials you will ever wear and it hugs your body just like a second layer of skin. The material is pretty stretchy but bounces back into place after being worn, it washes and dries well without any issues. My biggest issue is the materials are thin enough they are extremely see through and leave almost nothing to the imagination. You don't even need to bend over in these leggings to show the world your bottom side and what underwear you are sporting for the day, I don't have a big butt so I don't think the issue is that my backside is stretching the materials too far. Unless I am working out in home I won't be wearing these out of the house unless it is under a skirt. Even with the see thru nature of these I plan on working out in them because of how comfortable and soft they are (I work out in my bedroom at home, no need to worry gym goers!) it almost feels like you aren't wearing anything at all. The long sleeve top is perfect for wearing by itself or under another shirt as a second layer which I plan to do this winter.

PRIZE ALERT:
One lucky reader is going to win a Top & Bottom combo of their choice!

This is open to US/Canadian Residents! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!
 
Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.
 
Giveaway entry question: Please visit Tani (link of rafflecopter form) and leave me a comment letting me know which top and bottom you'd like to win. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spa Finder Giveaway!

Sometimes after a long and stressful day at work it is nice to come home and relax in the bath, or curl up with a good book. In order to keep sane and keep the blues away I think it is nice to pamper yourself at least once a week whether it is an hour by yourself to read, take a nap or getting your nails done at a spa you should treat yourself. I plan on going to get my nails done soon using one of my birthday gifts. One of my favorite ways to pamper myself is to relax in a nice bubble bath with a bath bomb and some bubble bath, or going to get a massage or my nails done when I can afford it.

Along with enjoying pampering I recently started doing Yoga and I highly enjoy it so I wanted to make this giveaway dedicated to both pampering and yoga so I am giving away a cute pair of yoga socks along with a $25 Spa Finder gift card good at any of the spa or beauty salons listed on their website. Summer is coming so remember to carry chap stick with you, drink lots of water and use lotion on your skin to keep your skin looking it's best during these dry summer months.

GIVEAWAY ALERT:
One lucky winner is going to win a $25 Spa Finder gift card + Yoga socks

This is open to US Residents ages 18+, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning.

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: What do you like to do to pamper yourself?

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