Best kept secret

OOOH CHILD, how did I forget to mention this little goody before now??
Shame on me!

Over Christmas, my family and I went to Cincinnati to visit my brother in law and his family.
His wife, Sarah, shared one of the best kept little secrets, called Groovebook, with me.
Groovebook is a free app that you can download onto your phone.
You upload 100 pictures at a time, by a certain date (you have a month to upload them)
and when that date is up, this company takes your photos,
puts them in an album for you, and mails them to your house!
Get this...the first album is free.
After that, you're charged around $3 or $4 a month.
If you don't make it in time to upload 100 photos, it's not a huge loss because it's so cheap
but if you do make the deadline, you have just gotten 100 photos, an album, and shipping for close to nothing!
Better yet, you can cancel at any time.

Something cool Sarah does, and is good if you have family out of town,
is when you fill in the address of where they are to mail it to,
you can add more than one address.
Sarah gets a book sent to my mother in law so she can keep up with her granddaughter through pictures.
Totally thoughtful!
I would assume this costs more, but that's something you'd have to look into, because I don't really know for sure.

I wish I had known about this gem sooner.  All of my best pictures are taken on my phone
and have been for years.  I wish I still had old phones so I could go back and get pictures from when my little girl was a lot smaller!  However, I know about it now, and I'm thoroughly enjoying getting these wonderful memories printed out while I'm sitting at home and not having to make a 15 minute drive to the closest Wal-Mart!

Here's the code to get your first album free! Your credit or debit card info will be asked for, but that's for future Groovebooks. Don't forget, cancel at anytime..if you want that first free one and then no more, cancel before you get charged!  But I'm pretty sure you're gonna love its convenience :)
You
Are
Welcome :)

LYLMTS (Love you like my tennis shoes)

As I've mentioned before, I'm a simpleton.
I wear workout clothes or sweats most days-
Comfort is obviously my first priority.
So don't think I'm about to lead you astray with today's post.

My favorite tennis shoes hands down has always been Nikes.
They're comfortable, durable, and stylish.
I enjoy wearing them walking,
running,
hiking,
at Refit,
shopping...
well you get the point. I loves me some Nikes.
I even started my sweet little 6 year old in them,
as they were her first tennis shoes.
However, as she grows older,
she likes to play.
And do the same annoying thing I used to do as a child and would always get fussed at for--
drag her feet, scraping the toes of her shoes along the ground.
The girl is rough on shoes.
When she began school and PE became her favorite class,
PLUS the daily outdoor recess,
you can bet your bottom dollar that I wasn't going to send the girl to school in Nikes.
They cost too much to get ruined halfway through the school year!
So the last 2 years, I have really been on the prowl for an alternative.
Cute, comfortable, and 'will-match-anything' kind of shoes.
For my 6 year old.
I'm an adult, I can take care of my brand names!

Kind of by accident, I discovered Athletechs brand at our local Kmart.
Sort of like my Wet n' Wild snobbiness at the beginning, I turned my nose up at Kmart tennis shoes.
However, we were in a rush and the girl had no school shoes.
I grabbed a grey pair and a black pair. There. That'll match everything.
She ended up loving them, the bright colors added to the shoes literally did match
every single outfit she wore.
Which was especially handy because in Kindergarten, she was required to wear tennis shoes DAILY.
She eventually outgrew them, so I went back to grab the same pairs in the next size up.
I LOVED THEM THAT MUCH.
I also grabbed a turquoise and lime pair because for some reason, those were popular colors in her closet at this time.
While I was at it, I grabbed an adult size of the exact same pair I bought for my child. ha!
How about that crow??

So let's take a moment and do some math. This is 6 pair of Kmart shoes bought within a year.
Versus, in my closet, 1 pair of Nikes, 1 pair of Adidas, 1 pair of Asics, 1 pair of UnderArmour,
1 pair of New Balance.
Kiah's closet...1 pair of Nikes, 1 pair of Sketchers, 1 pair of Reebok, and 1 pair of Crocs tennis shoes.
Hmm.

So, I began Refit this year.
This class is a very fast paced, high intensity class
That requires, at times, quick movement of the feet.
I started class in my New Balance.
This particular pair was made for running.
For refit, though? Fail.
Next, my Nikes. My ol' reliable Nikes.
C-. They were okay but a little too heavy for fast movement.
Next, Asics.
I could not lift my feet off the ground. I stayed beats behind the whole hour. Like wearing cement.
Fail.
Underarmour.
Most light-weight shoe ever. Definitely not an issue there. However, there was not enough sole in them and my feet were sore and uncomfortable after class.
C+.

And where did I go in search of the perfect Refit tennis shoe?
Shoe Sensation? Shoe Show? Shoe Carnival? B & H Shoes?
No.
KMART.
This is insane.
And yet, the pair I bought that day, I have wore 3-4 times a week to class
every time, since I've gotten them.
And not only that,
I wear them on days I don't have class as well.

Have they taken the place of my all time favorite Nikes?
I'm not sure, but they are definitely heading that direction!

Makeup 911, what is your emergency?

Well it's April 13th.
2 days til the dreaded Tax Day.
Well, dreaded if you owe in. And we did.
So, readers...you are gonna get quite the DL on deals,
cheap alternatives, and all that good stuff.
Oh who am I kidding?
I've always been cheap and I'm always prowling for a good deal.

This morning I posted on various social media networks
and took a "poll" of what you wanted to hear about.

My Favorite mascara reviews? Expensive vs cheap

or

My Favorite Makeup Review

which...when applied..looked like this:

So who won?  Well, it was pretty close.  I decided to combine the two and tell you about both.

Call me a people pleaser, I don't care.

So first things first, the mascara:

My natural hair color is blonde. Like, super blonde.

Which makes my eyebrows and eyelashes just as blonde.

I'm also very fair-skinned. So combined, I basically look like an albino in my natural state.

Mascara is a must for me. Otherwise, you can't tell I have lashes.

So I'm really quite picky and looked long and hard for mascara I liked.

I've found 2 that have rose to the occasion.

First, lets get the bad news out of the way.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara is my TOP go-to.

I found it at Ulta for (deep breath)...$22.

Yikes.

I DO NOT PAY $22 for any kind of makeup. Foundation would be it. NOT MASCARA.

But I did.

And you got what you paid for.

It made my short blonde eyelashes look longer, thicker, and just..pretty.

I like my mascara to be a little thick, so I used one coat. Moved on to other makeup 

and came back for a second coat.

Perfect.

My cheaper alternative, the one I use around April 15th, is actually really good as well.

Conveniently, I can find it locally, whereas the other, I cannot.

Wet n' Wild MegaVolume. I know. It's the "cheap stuff." $6. AT THE DOLLAR STORE.

I stuck my nose up in the air about it too.

But readers, be convicted and converted because you will be hearing more about this brand!

My friend, Megan, actually sold me on it by gifting me some.

Free was the only way I'd try it. And now I'm hooked.

Anyway, I don't think I dare yet to go out there and say its better than smashbox,

but I do only have to use 1 coat to get the thickness to my liking. Just sayin'.

(If you're on the fence and looking for something in the middle of those two, Kmart handles Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express which is also fabulous! It's been a while since I've purchased it but I'm thinking the price range is somewhere between $8-$12.)

Moving on to my other makeup!

Something I actually get a lot of compliments on is my skin tone.

Thank you ALL, and I cross my heart, hope to die that I appreciate it,

but honey, it's all in how the right foundation works for you!

Granted, I've been very blessed and fortunate that my dermatologist solved all my acne problems

in college.  I took something that is now illegal haha but it worked! Thanks Accutane!

Anyway, beyond that, I have a red skin tone. Like, to where if I don't wear foundation, 

I'm relentlessly asked if I'm sunburned.

So another thing I'm super picky on is foundation. 

As I've mentioned before, I like the "cakey" makeup. 

I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Arden and Merle Norman.

When finances are good.

Lately, I've been using something a youth at my church introduced me to,

and I'm finding that it's actually more flattering on me.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous. 3 in 1 foundation + spf 20 sunscreen (825 is my color)

It not only covers the red, but a huge perk is that it matches my skin perfectly.

I usually get one shade darker than what I am to cover the redness. But with this, I don't have to.

Out of a 5 star rating, I'd give it a solid 5.

Powder that I pair with this is Covergirl Trublend. Translucent fair. Hmm, must've been stuck in the wrong spot..because I grabbed one out of the medium slot. But it's okay because I apply it with (LISTEN CLOSELY.. THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!) a makeup brush and not the included pad.

Makeup brushes are so underrated but they're the best thing since sliced bread, ya'll! 

I want a huge set of brushes but right now I'm only totin' 2.  

My eye pallet was a gift from Megan, Wet n Wild Comfort Zone. 

I wear browns in my lipstick so this pallet was perfect. And Megan put that thought into it. (high five!)

I'm a total novice at eye makeup so the fact that the shadows were labeled where to put what,

made this a breeze to use. Love it. I also apply it with an Elizabeth Arden makeup brush, angled.

I finished off my lips with (what else?) Wet n' Wild Natural Blend Chapstick.

Let me indulge in this product for a moment.

This Rite-Aid sale item lasted me a long time..so long in fact, that the name of the color has worn off the tube (the # is 103 on the bottom). But this stuff is tinted, so it goes on the color of lipstick. With the benefits of chapstick. LOVE it. However, the color is a tad off from what I'm shooting for so I grab some lipstick my sister gave me (Expert Last Lip Color NYC in 'Sugar Plum') and apply it right over my tinted chapstick. Combined, the perfect color, for me anyway.

OOH- and I lied in my picture when I added my Smashbox clear primer. I MEANT to use it and forgot, but I did want to share. I got this goody in a sample box. It's just a great base for your makeup and makes it stay put longer.  I don't use it daily, but I do like it when I know it'll be a long day and I need my makeup to last into the night.  Don't know the regular cost of this stuff, but it's good!

There ya have it.  No extravagant brands you've never heard of.

I'm pretty simple.

I'm definitely no makeup artist and if you run into me in town, I've most likely got on workout clothes.

But I do enjoy deals and I do like dolling up on occasion.

And I LOVE sharing my favorites.

Let me know if you try any of these out and what your thoughts are!

Everyone's different..my favorite may not hit the mark for you and that's okay!

But together, we can conquer this and find that true favorite--the one that gives you the same feeling that the perfect prom dress did!

these boots are made for walkin'

So, I normally wouldn't be a Sunday blogger
But as I dressed this morning,
I thought my shoes were too cute not to share!

Let me inform you that my normal, everyday shoes are either tennis shoes, boots, or flip flops.
I can't walk in heels.
I bought these little goodies for church
Because I figured I could bear them that length of time since its mostly sitting.
My sister works at this cute boutique
And I saw them on their IG page.
Upon hearing they were true to size
I ordered what I normally wear in tennis shoes, a 7.
I loved them even more in person.
I saved their debut for Easter Sunday..last weekend..
And have already wore them 4 times since!
They're surprisingly comfortable,
Easy to walk in despite the higher heel than I first anticipated,
And look super cute with everything I've paired them with (leggings and an oversized shirt and a dress..the boutique also pairs them with cute shorts and rompers)

I have insanely short legs and maybe it's my imagination
But I think they make them look a little longer.
The heels give me a good calf workout,
But not in an uncomfortable, limping kind of way.
If you'd like to look into owning a pair of these classy, diverse ankle boots, check out their IG. You can order online or they have other locations.

#winning

Well, to update since I went MIA for 2 years, I've hit the jackpot.
Or that's what it feels like anyway.
As I mentioned in a previous post,
I was born with a metabolic disorder called Phenylketonuria. Or PKU for short.
(As kids, my neighbor thought PKU stood for Protein Kills U..which essentially defines PKU..so it was clever and I always try to share it.)
In November of 2013, I began participating in a study called Prism 301.
Essentially, the medicine (which is given through a pre-dosed syringe)
is called PEG-PAL. (PEGylated recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase or ‘PAL’)
It is an enzyme replacement for the aforementioned (in previous blog) enzyme that doesn't work properly in PKU patients.
That 'phe' that doesn't break down and covert into that healthy tyrosine for us? Yeah, Peg-Pal breaks it down.
And turns it into ammonia. And we excrete that dangerous phe through urination.
We, in turn, take Tyrosine in the form of a supplement pill.


So that's the medical side of it. Here's my results from it and why I feel as if I've won the lottery.
To manage PKU, the phe level goal is to be less than 6 mg/dL.
I don't think I've seen a level that low since middle school.
Mine stayed in the teens.
And when I started the study...29 mg/dL.
Now..as a child, when these levels aren't controlled,
short term effects include irritability, lack of concentration, lack of comprehension,
fatigue, headaches and so forth.
Long term effects include loss of brain cells, the decline of IQ points.
Not maybe. Definitely. That's what phe does to the brain.
When PKU isn't caught soon enough, like at birth, mental retardation (and I use that term medically, not as a derogatory term) is guaranteed.
As an adult, levels this high..like at 29 where mine were,
short term effects are definitely in play.
Long term? There's a good chance of dementia at an earlier age than when it normally would occur.


So, as I said, I started this drug in November.
It was a slow process, working my way up to full dosage.
This was a foreign thing entering my body and my body tried to fight it at first.
Nothing terribly bad happened...minor side effects.
My level lowered..25, 19, 9.5, 8.11 mg/dL.
And I'm currently waiting to hear of my most recent level, taken this week.
Keep in mind, to maintain this special PKU diet,
it is a strict regimen of fruits and vegetables, with a protein supplement drink to top it off.
Since November, I have been eating like YOU, reader!
Pizza, burgers, chicken, peanut butter, hot dogs! 
It's been divine!  And the future prospect of attending a cookout this summer
where I can indulge in more than just chips??? 
*girly squeal!*


This study, this Peg-Pal.  It's a miracle. It's allowing me to be "normal."
And not only that, but be normal while getting me back to healthy levels, under 6,
so I can have the most fulfilling life ahead of me.
I have God to thank for giving the people at BioMarin
the recipe of Peg-Pal for me and others like me.


This is my lottery. This is my jackpot. 
#winning




http://www.bmrn.com/pipeline/clinical-trials/pku.php

you can thank me later

It has been a ridiculously long time since I've blogged on here.
To be honest...I have forgotten all my login info and password so had my phone not had me signed in already..you would've probably never been graced with my most recent passion.
Refit.
Never heard of it? Neither had I.
It's a dance cardio class..a little similar to zumba I guess. In that it is to music.
It's not technically dancing, although there are a few dance moves in there from time to time.
It's more cardio inspired workout moves at high intensity..to the beat of positive-value music.
Oh how I wish that accurately described it.
It's fun. It's fast paced. It's a great environment
With a family feel
And I proudly bring my almost 7 year old
And she has a blast as well.
It's for all shapes.
All sizes.
All levels of fitness.
You should definitely look into it.
YouTube Refit Rev for a preview.
But don't stop there.
One of the greatest things about Refit
Is how good it makes you feel, body and soul.
Seriously guys...SOUL.
you get a feeling that a YouTube video can't give you.
Look for a local or nearby class.
Try it one time.
You'll fall in love. :)