And The Winner Is...

There were 47 total entries in the Seasource Detox Spa giveaway (46 who entered here, and one who entered on the main blog because she couldn't leave a comment here). I used random.org, and the results are in:

The 10th commenter down was Karilee, so congratulations Karilee! You've won the purifying sea soak! I'll send you an e-mail, and get you in touch with Claire so that the two of you can exchange information and you can get your prize.

For everyone else, definitely check out Claires site and don't be afraid to e-mail any skin care questions you may have to her there. She is wonderful, and I can't recommend the Arbonne products enough!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and good luck next time!

Seasource Detox Spa

My entire life, I have been cheap when it comes to skin care products.

The truth of the matter is – I've never been overly vain. I am a girl who can happily put on a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt and walk out the door with just mascara and blush feeling pretty darn fantastic about how I look.

Or at least, I used to be that girl.

After a year of trying (and failing) to get pregnant though, I felt like I had lost sight of who that girl was.

Suddenly, I was incredibly self conscious. About my body. My skin. And my overall look.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I no longer had faith, confidence, or trust in my body at all. In its a ability to simply do what it was supposed to do. Or perhaps I really did age 10 years in that one. All the stress and hormones and heartbreak could certainly account for the different version of me I was seeing in the mirror.

All I knew for sure was; something had to be done. And my bargain cheap skin-care products needed to be the first to go.

Which is when my friend Claire approached me about Arbonne. Arbonne skin care products are botanically based, pure, safe and beneficial.  They are hypoallergenic as well as paraben, mineral oil, animal by-product and chemical free. Claire had recently become a consultant and swore she had the product for me. The RE9 skin care line.

I was sold. Literally, without much convincing at all, I was purchasing the entire starter kit.

And I have since purchased second and third rounds of most of the products. I loved it that much.

The RE9 line is not what I’m reviewing here today though. Maybe at some point I will on the main blog (since that is a product I have purchased entirely out of my own pocket, and one which I truly believe has contributed to the youthful and exuberant girl I am once again seeing looking back at me in the mirror), but this post here isn’t about what I’m using on my face.

No, it’s about another Arbonne product entirely. The Seasource Detox Spa Kit.

(Courtesy of myarbonne.ca)

You see, this friend of mine mentioned a few weeks ago that she wanted to do something nice for me. And that she was hoping that I in turn would write a review of the product line she wanted to send me.

At first (I have to admit) I was hesitant. Reviewing products isn’t really my gig. It’s not something I’m overly interested in doing, and I can pretty much guarantee that I won’t be doing a whole lot more of it in the future.

But the products in this kit sounded like something I would actually love to try. Even more, they sounded like something I wouldn’t likely ever purchase for myself simply because they felt more like luxuries than necessities.

And I am still a girl who tries to determine whether or not each and every purchase I make is a need or a want.

Still… A chance to spoil myself? To indulge in some of the luxuries I wouldn’t otherwise have treated myself to?

I guess I wasn’t that hard of a sell!

And even better, Claire was offering to do a giveaway for all of you if I would be willing to do the review.

Which was something I couldn’t really pass up now, could I?

When the kit arrived, I’m pretty sure I reacted as though it was Christmas. I was pulling out box after box of goodies and squealing over all the potential.

And over the last week, I have gone through and tested out everything in the 7-Day Detox Renewal Program Set. Which leads me to now… The point when I tell you how much I loved it all.

Because that’s the honest truth – I loved it all!

And after spending hours upon hours pampering myself Saturday (still at the height of my period pain) I have to tell you – I love it even more.

The set itself contained: Foaming Sea Salt Scrub, 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil, Detoxifying Rescue Wash, Sea Mud Face & Body Mask, Purifying Sea Soak, Fortifying Hair Mask, Re-Mineralizing Body Lotion 24H, Renewing Body Gelee, and the Dry Body Brush.

My favorite product out of the entire kit was actually the Foaming Sea Salt Scrub. I’m a big fan of exfoliating to begin with, and so I really love a good scrub. I used to use a Sea Salt product years ago, but it was discontinued and I never found anything I liked quite as much. Until now. This scrub left me feeling fresh and exfoliated without feeling dried out. I’ve been using it every single day since I got it!

The same goes for the Re-Mineralizing Body Lotion. In Alaska, my skin has a tendency to dry out very quickly. I feel like I’m typically slathering the Aveeno on every single chance I get. This body lotion worked wonders though. I liked it especially because it wasn’t greasy, but it still left me feeling moisturized throughout the entire day. It soaked right into my skin, and then continued to work its magic hours after I had put it on.

The Body Gelee was the product in the kit I could most see myself bringing along for a tropical vacation. It had some sort of cooling component in it, and as soon as I used it I longed to be slathering it on after a day spent on the beach. I obviously don’t get as much sun as I would like up here, but after a day taking in some rays – this product would be an amazing post-shower refresher.

The Purifying Sea Soak came in incredibly handy Saturday, as I navigated the depths of that special time of the month. I had been in pain and feeling generally crummy for the last 24 hours, so making up a bath with this was just what the doctor ordered. I felt like I could sense my muscles relaxing and my low back letting go of whatever pain it was holding on to. I pretty much hung out in that bath until my skin had turned into a prune. Just reading and relaxing and letting the detoxifying properties take over.

Once I got out, I slathered my face, neck and shoulders with the Sea Mud Face & Body Mask. I had been a bit hesitant to use it so liberally (especially since I have a roommate, who I feared would come home only to discover me half naked and covered in green goo), but I loved the results. It rinsed away with ease as soon as I got in the shower, and left my skin feeling tight and smooth.

The detoxifying rescue wash is meant to be used for the hair, face, and body. I’m always a little wary of products that claim to be good for your hair and your body (as I do tend to be a bit picky about what I put in my very curly hair) and I have to admit that as far as shampoos go – I do prefer my Pureology. But as a body wash, it definitely does the trick.

The Fortifying Hair Mask is another story though. It left my hair feeling silky smooth, and I could absolutely see myself using it one or two times a week as a deep conditioner.

As for the massage oil… Well, let’s just say that it was definitely put to use. And I am absolutely a fan!

I have to say, I’m not sure that Claire knew just how much she was going to be brightening up my world when she sent me this kit. But a day of pampering was exactly what I needed this weekend, and now I’m feeling refreshed and clear headed and yes – even a little detoxified.

So, now’s the part where you can get a chance to try one of these items for yourself.

Because we could all use a little pampering, right?

I’m going to try to keep this nice and simple for anyone interested in entering – mostly because contests aren’t really my thing either!

Just leave a comment here letting me know which one of the products out of the Seasource Detox Spa kit you would most like the opportunity to sample for yourself. Don’t forget to include your e-mail address so that I know how to contact you if you win!

With Memorial Day coming up, I’m going to let the contest itself run until June 1^st. I’ll post the winner here as soon as I get the chance after that, but I’ll also e-mail them personally to let them know they’ve won. From there, Claire will be in touch in order to get you the product you chose.

And if you have any skincare needs at all, I can absolutely recommend Arbonne. Check out Claire’s website, and feel free to e-mail her through the website if you have any questions. I can personally attest to the fact that she was incredibly helpful and amazing when I was trying to figure out what to do for my own face.

And I couldn’t be happier with the results!

Being Your Own Advocate

Last month Kenmore asked for my biggest health challenge. This month, I'm sharing my Genius Tip on how I overcame that challenge!  Kenmore is on the search for everyday genius & each month they are giving away $3,000 in Kenmore gift certificates and a chance to have the best Genius Tip turned into an Ad!  Enter your Genius Tip Today!

As I told you all last month, knowing when to question (and when to trust) those in the medical community is a constant struggle for me. After a few bad experiences, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. Feeling like no one really had my best interest at heart.
Which is when I started fighting for myself.

There I was, with a doctor putting a consent form for a hysterectomy in front of my face. Even though he had yet to give me any official diagnosis. He was ready to just go in and cut out whatever the offending problem may be. And it was at that point that I was finally able to stand up and say “Something here isn’t right!” That point when I finally realized that no one knew my body better than I did.

So I moved on. I found a doctor I trusted. One who understood that my desire to be a mother truly reigned above all else. A doctor who got that I wasn’t yet ready or willing to let go of that dream. I basically put her through a rigorous interview before I allowed her to cut. Before I trusted her enough to succumb to anesthesia so that she could get in there and figure out what the real problem was.

That relationship has continued for the last 2 years. She and I discuss the options. We go over the information she does and does not know. There is never pressure for me to make decisions or do things I’m not comfortable doing. Only ever information.

And when she hit the point where she didn’t know if she could help me any further, she told me so. And gave me her blessing to seek out the help of a specialist for my next surgery. Someone who might be more equipped to handle the extensive spreading of disease I had been experiencing. She is still the person I go to for female needs outside the realm of endometriosis. But she was able and willing to tell me when she no longer felt that she was the best person to be treating this disease for me.

And for that, I will forever be grateful.

I found a doctor who I trusted, and in turn – she gave me the power and knowledge to make my own decisions.

And at the end of the day, I think that’s what it comes down to. Surrounding yourself with people in the medical community who you trust, and then voicing your desire to make these decisions for yourself. To be informed and educated, and to then be given the power to choose what you can and can’t live with in terms of treatment.

I also stepped outside of the Western medicine bubble. I pursued other options. Alternative options. I added to my circle of practitioners an acupuncturist and a naturopath. I tried things I never before would have thought I would try. I gave credence to options that before would have seemed crazy to me.

I gave it all a chance.

And today, my western medicine practitioners and my alternative practitioners work with each other to provide me the best integrated treatments possible. Because I fought for that. Because I demanded it.

Because I was my own advocate.

My doctors now know that I would prefer not to resort to certain medications. That when at all possible, I want to treat my body in a different way. They know I rely on them for the surgical end of things, and that I will not hesitate to make a call to them if something seems wrong, but they respect my decisions to pursue the alternatives as far as actual treatment is concerned. I rely on them to diagnose and when necessary – cut – and I rely on my alternative practitioners to provide treatment options that I can live with. Ones that don’t leave me tired, and sick, and feeling worse than I did to begin with.

It hasn’t been easy. It has required communication and an ability to stand up for myself. It has required I become educated and voice concerns whenever possible. It has required me to be strong enough to know when to trust, and when to question.

So that would be my genius health tip. Be your own advocate. Research. Learn. Speak up. Ask questions. Take your health (and the health of your family) into your own hands and don’t be afraid to say so if something just seems off to you.

Most of the time, those in the medical community really do have your best interest at heart. But at the end of the day, no one knows your body and what you need as well as you do. Remember that.

And don’t be afraid to be your own advocate.

Last month Kenmore asked for my biggest health challenge. This month, I'm sharing my Genius Tip on how I overcame that challenge! Kenmore is on the search for everyday genius & each month they are giving away $3,000 in Kenmore gift certificates and a chance to have the best Genius Tip turned into an Ad! Enter your Genius Tip Today!
For me, my genius health tip is that you have to be your own advocate.
But I want to know what your genius health tip is - and I want you to share it here.

What is your Genius Tip? Kenmore wants to know, and is giving away up to $3,000 in Gift Certificates and a chance to have the best Genius Tip turned into a TV Ad! Visit their Facebook page and enter today!
Share your quick genius tip with us:

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kenmore. The opinions and text are all mine.

Knowing When to Question (and When to Trust) the Medical Community

I used to be a believer in the American medical system. I got my shots when I was told too, popped whatever pills I was handed, and blindly trusted that the doctors in charge of my care always knew what was best.

Always.

Then, I started getting sick. Really sick. Constantly sick. Daily pain. Missing periods. Fatigue. And a general sense that something was very very wrong.

I had just moved to Alaska, and didn’t previously have any health care providers up here. So I picked up the phone and called the number of the first gynecologist’s office I could find. Being new and having no real preference, I agreed to see the first doctor they could get me into.

After all – I trusted the system, and I trusted doctors. I trusted that I would be sent to someone who would know immediately what was wrong with me. Someone who would know how to treat me. Someone who would get me feeling better in no time.

What I got instead was a doctor who initially didn’t listen to me at all. One who told me it was all in my head. Who explained that I had just moved 3000 miles north, and this was all an effect of the stress from that.

I didn’t feel stressed. All I felt was pain. And sickness. But… this was a doctor. And he was telling me it was all in my head. So maybe? Maybe it really was.

Rather than questioning this doctor, I questioned myself. After all – he was the one with a medical degree. Certainly he knew best, right?

Only, I didn’t get better. In fact, my symptoms just kept getting worse. And month after month I found myself back in this doctor’s office, pleading for answers.

From there, he handed down a variety of diagnoses, culminating in what he finally decided was likely ovarian cancer. He agreed to do surgery, and set in front of me a consent form for the removal of my ovaries.

Then, and only then, did I begin to question. How we had gone from all in my head to cancer was beyond me, and his insistence that my ovaries needed to come out and that I would need to give up on my future dreams of being a mother was too much for me to handle. I finally took the leap and sought out a second opinion.

But that was seven months later. Seven months of pain, frustration, and no answers. Seven months where I did what I was told and failed to question, solely because I believed in the medical system. I believed that doctors knew best.

Since that time, I have come to realize how very little is known about my disease. It has been made blatantly clear to me that there is no rhyme or reason to what treatments do and don’t work for certain patients. And once a doctor runs through the gamut of “typical” treatments to no avail, they don’t usually keep looking. Instead, it’s almost as if they move on. To patients they can help. Ones who don’t prove to be so difficult to cure.

There are good doctors and there are bad doctors, but none of them are infallible. None of them are the perfect practitioners we all seem to want to build them up to be in our heads. There is a line there. A point when you have to question their knowledge. Their abilities. Their understanding of you and your body. But… there is also a point when you have to trust them. When you have to believe in their education and experience and trust that probably do know more than you. A point when you have to believe in the care they are providing.

And since my diagnosis, this truly has been my biggest health challenge. Knowing when to question (and when to trust) those in the medical community has proven to be a constant struggle for me. Knowing which side of the line to fall on proves almost impossible some days. A regular battle in my head where the consequence of choosing wrong stands to be huge.

Some days, there really is no clear answer. And at one point or another, we will all be there. Facing down medical decisions for either ourselves or someone we love. Trying to determine if the doctor standing in front of us is one we should trust whole heartedly, or one we should question every step of the way.

It’s easier said than done. Knowing when to trust, and when to move along to someone else. Someone who hears you.

It’s been a challenge for me, but one I like to think I’m learning to overcome.

I’ll share my tip for how with you next month, but in the meantime –

What is your biggest health challenge?



One of my biggest health care challenges has been learning when to trust (and when to question), those in the medical community. As a society, we are typically taught that doctors know best. They have more education, more experience, and more overall health knowledge than most of us. Questioning someone with that level of authority can be difficult. But at the end of the day - no one knows you and what is going on with your body as well as you do. And when a doctor is prescribing a treatment plan that just doesn't seem right to you... it can be difficult to know when to speak up and question.
Next month I'll be sharing my genius tip about how I have learned to deal with this challenge, but in the meantime - join the conversation!

What is YOUR biggest health challenge?

And for a chance to win the new iPad2, 'like' Kenmore on Facebook and let us know in your reply here.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kenmore. The opinions and text are all mine.