Things I Love: My Facial Moisturizer

Since learning more and more about organic and toxin-free products, I know there is all kinds of junk in daily goods that we don't realize.  Still, I was shocked this morning to hear from my mother about an article mentioning the potential correlation between sleep issues and your night cream/facial moisturizer.

Say what?  Yes, you read that right.  Let me explain.

Some facial creams (as well as cosmetics and body lotions) use caffeine as one of their ingredients since caffeine is known to reduce puffiness and wrinkles.  That may be all fine and good if you put your cream on in the morning, providing you don't have a caffeine sensitivity, but what happens when you put it on at night?  Anything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body.  And here's the really mystifying thing - - manufacturers are not required to disclose how much caffeine is in their product(s). 

Is it worth it?  I would say not.  Let's think about it . . . there are enough distractions come bedtime.  Normal stress of the day.   Thinking about everything I need to do the following day.  Thinking about finances.  Wondering why my neighbors are banging around in their apartment at wonky hours.  Endless, right?  I certainly don't need anything more to attempt to obstruct my sleep.

There are so many reasons I love my Radiantly You Facial Moisturizer and this is yet another reason to get warm and fuzzy over it.  No caffeine!   And no chemicals I can't pronounce.  No preservatives.  No colored dyes.  No testing on animals.  No warning label on my product.

I have rosacea, meaning I suffer with extremely sensitive skin.  If you look at me funny, I might break out.  I have had issues with other products in the past, making me break out or making my skin dry and raw.  Yuck.  Radiantly You began working on day one.  It comes out of the jar like butter, super smooth and it feels wonderful on your skin.  And a very small amount goes a long way.  No more irritants and no more dry patches.  I'm a happy camper!

Would you like to purchase your own Radiantly You Facial Moisturizer?  Message me or go here!

Why You Need a Stand Up Desk

Photo: www.officesupply.com

Way back in 1999, I had the fantastic luck to be rear ended on my way to work., resulting in whiplash.  Bad enough at the time but I now have back and neck problems that still plague me.  The only upside to that whole thing was my Honda was in the shop for two weeks and I did get to drive around town in an Infiniti. 

But I digress.  My job requires me to be on the computer the majority of the time.  Sitting in front of the computer for close to eight hours a day is not the best thing when you have a testy back and neck.  It's also apparently not the best thing if you have a spine in excellent condition.  Add to that roughly two hours a day sitting in the car, any time spent sitting each day for meals and then time spent sitting while reading or watching tv and . . . it's a lot of time on your backside.  I actually figured out how many hours I was spending each weekday on my butt and it was depressing.

Enter my chiropractor, who gave me a list of exercises for my desk as well as tips to get up at least once an hour.  Good in theory but after one session of desk exercises, that involved me stretching my neck and mouth by holding my mouth open as if I was silently screaming (a lovely display that was witnessed by a client meeting happening at the time), and the fact that when I was working on a deadline I couldn't necessarily stop and take a break every hour, something had to give.  He told me that I really needed to be working at a stand up desk.  I had heard of them and heard good things about them so I requested a note to pass along to my office to make it happen.  Fast forward a few weeks and I'm ready to report on how a stand up desk is working for me.

The first few days were a little rough on my feet.  If you're not used to standing a good portion of your day, your feet may let you know about it by quitting time.  Mine were achy and sore.  The addition of a good mat around my standing desk helped.  I also kept a back up pair of shoes in my tote bag, just in case I needed to switch them out.  I also purchased some Dr. Scholls inserts for my shoes.

Similar to my Happy Hour Bar Stool

Once my feet got used to standing, it was a breeze.  I found that I stood the majority of my day while working.  I do have a drafting type desk chair suitable for standing desks - - it's fondly known as my Happy Hour Bar Stool - - that I use for ten or fifteen minutes increments once or twice a day but most of my day is spent standing (as we were designed to do.) 

I feel that I am more productive at work.  I have more energy.  Since I am already standing, it's easier for me to go retrieve something or take someone papers.  I don't suffer with the dreaded 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. crash, yawning and desperately looking at the clock.  I'm not irritable during the day.  Okay, not as irritable at times.  I don't return home from the office with all the energy of a dying car battery and crash on my sofa before 8 p.m.   I don't eat as much at lunch and I'm not starving and ready to chew on my own hand by the time I park my car at home.

Maybe best of all, my back and neck pain has diminished significantly.  The ever present tension I had around my shoulders and neck?  Gone.

I can't imagine going back to a traditional sit down desk.  No way, no how. 

What about you?  Do you work at a stand up desk?  What are your thoughts?

Welcome To My Blog!

Hello new friends and welcome! This is not my first foray into the blogging community - - I have been reviewing books over at Psychotic State Book Reviews for about six years (wow, has is been that long?) but I decided that I needed a new platform to accompany the all natural products I use and the wonderful healthy living tips I see. So here we are!

A little about me . . . I went through a divorce recently which ignited my desire to change my life and get healthier.  I had gone from a condo to a 3 bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom apartment and then (with the divorce) a one bedroom apartment.  Quite a change.  Because of that I am very interested in downsizing and living in smaller spaces.

Around the same time I was surviving my divorce, moving and starting a new job, my cousin introduced me to Radiantly You products.  I bought a few, thinking I would help her out and with no idea that it would radically change my life.  After purchase I began reading up on all of the toxins and chemicals that are present in many of the daily products I was using previously.  That information, combined with the incredible nature of Radiantly You's products, led me throw out my "over the counter/grocery store" bottles and jars I had and make the change.

Now I use products that are all natural - - no toxins and chemicals - - and not tested on animals.  I have also changed my eating habits and decided that I don't need so much "stuff".   Big changes but good ones.

I hope to share information on these changes, as well as tips for healthier living and the book reviews I still do (I have very eclectic reading tastes!)

Thanks for joining me on the journey.  Let the good times roll!