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Play Hard, Be Seen – Zapped Outfitters – My-Kid-Approved Outerwear (which is hard!)

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First, I’m going to tell you that Zapped Outfitters sent me a rain jacket and ball cap to trial and write about so this is a sponsored post. BUT…if you know me AT ALL, you know I don’t promote products unless I love, love, loooooove them.

And Zapped Outfitters?! I will support this company all day, every day. 

Why? Because it’s awesome. The Founder is awesome. The clothes are awesome. The products are awesome. The work they do is awesome. And my son actually LOVES their stuff. 

So, why am I so excited about his? BECAUSE! Zapped creates cool, hi-vis clothing, reflective backbacks, durable kids reflective shoes and so many more cool products I cannot wait to get my hands on!

Where do I begin to even start to tell you about this stuff?

Hmmmm…okay…last year my son and I were heading to an early-morning hockey practice. It was raining, it was cold, it was pitch black. We were walking through the parking lot in the dreary weather and my son almost got nailed by a truck in said parking lot. It could have been because it was early and the driver hadn’t had his coffee. Or, most likely, it was because my son was wearing a black rain jacket and black pants and the driver didn’t see him. 

Holy heart attack city, right? Blech. What an awful feeling. The good news is that he didn’t get smooshed that day.

Since then I’ve been on the lookout for a great jacket with some reflective material. But…my son is SUPER picky. A lot of times kids with anxiety have tactile sensitivities. Things just don’t “feel” right on their body and Owen is definitely a tactile kid. Sleeves are often too tight or too short or the material inside is too insert whatever-tactile-issue here.

So, when I heard about Zapped Outfitters, I thought, “YES! This could be it!”. But, I had my reservations. Because…well…did I mention how picky my kid is?

We received the rain jacket and ball cap in the mail last week. I opened up the package and…HOLY SMOKES…this stuff is niiiiiiice. Like…really, really nice. My son instantly picked up the reflective ball cap and said: “This is now my favorite hat”.

Excuse me, what?

YES!

 

So, then the real test came. I had to get him to try on the jacket. It looks super cool, the reflective material is really interesting and you can’t see it unless a light is shining on it…but fit and how it feels is important to my little man.

And…SUCCESS!

He’s worn it every day since we received it. And honestly, the reflective material is SO. COOL. Below is a photo of what the jacket looks like without light on it and then one with my flash, which shows what looks like in the dark when a light shines on it. 

  

So, why do I love this stuff so much? Because, the quality of the product is really, really good, my son actually likes and wears the gear AND it’s soooooo reflective and fun. I live in Victoria, so it’s rain, rain, rain all winter long and this jacket is the BOMB. They also sell reflective backpacks, durable kids shoes and reflective high tops! What?! I know! REFLECTIVE HIGH TOPS! I want some. 

Alas…it’s only for the kids. 

Anywho…Mamas! You gotta, gotta check out Zapped Outfitters. They’ve literally got your kiddo covered in reflective gear (that doesn’t look reflective unless the light is shining on it) from head to toe. This is such a cool and innovative company, I’m seriously in love.

The best part? I get to share it with you and YOU get 20% off by using LINDSAYGEE20 when you checkout. 

So, CLICK HERE, check it all out and then get your kiddo some reflective clothing, hats or shoes. I’m about to get Miss P the high tops…because…doesn’t that just scream Miss P?! 

I know that it’s weird to get all excited about clothing and whatever, but if I can make my kid more visible while he’s outside playing, I’m ALL in. Zapped Outfitters’ slogan is “Play hard. Be seen”…so, how could I NOT support and approve this company. I truly adore it. 

Let me know what you think if you get some of their stuff! We can have a Zapped Dance party in my backyard and make that reflective gear shiiiiiiiiine! 

Do Your Suffer From Migraine or Headache? Take this quiz to find out!

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Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and 1 in 8 Have It and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

I had my first migraine when I was 10 years old. At the time, though, I had no idea that what I was experiencing was a migraine and unfortunately it wasn’t until my early twenties that I was diagnosed as a migraine sufferer. I simply thought I had headaches and treated them with over-the-counter medication, which didn’t even come close to touching the pain of my migraines.

I suffer from “migraine with aura”. This means that about 30 minutes before my migraines smack me in the head (literally), I experience an “aura” in my eyesight. This is most inconvenient when I’m driving because…well…for me, my aura looks like a candle flicker and I lose sight in my left eye. Completely. I honestly cannot see a thing (and yes, I pull over for 30 minutes if I’m driving, I promise!). From there, if I don’t take my migraine medication, I know I’m about to experience the throbbing, eye-exploding pain of my migraine. The good news? I have medication now that, 95% of the time waylays my migraine and leaves me only with a “heavy” dull headache-y feeling.

Trust me. It’s better than a full-blown migraine. Once my migraine medication is coursing through my body, I can typically carry on with my day then, at the end of my day, treat myself to some tea, essential oil and a good sleep to wake up a-ok the next day! Phewf! 

As a super busy Mama, entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast and all the other hats I wear, I really do not have time to be sidelined by a migraine. Migraines can be absolutely debilitating. I’m talking “close all the blinds, turn off all the sound, vomit and then hide under the blanket for hours and hours” type of debilitating. And…who the heck has time for that?! Not me. Not you. Not anyone. No one should suffer like that. Ever.

Want to know the crazy part that most people don’t know about headaches versus migraines? The difference between a headache and migraine is that they are the exact opposite problem to one another.

  • Headaches are typically caused by a constriction of the blood vessels to your brainbox, meaning not enough blood is getting to your brain. So, over-the-counter medications help to vasodilate (expand) your blood vessels and get more blood to your head, which stops your headache.
  • Migraines are caused by the opposite! Meaning, blood vessels have dilated (gotten bigger), so there is too much blood flowing to your brainbox which (in part) causes the throbbing pain, typically on one side of your head, migraine sufferers experience. Those over-the-counter meds you’ve been taken actually exacerbate your migraine by further dilating already dilated vessels! It gets worse! Researchers now believe that not only is there a difference in blood flow, but now they’re discovering that chemical reactions in the brain may lead to swelling and irritation of the blood vessels and THAT may explain the “throbbing” characteristic of migraines. Yowza.

While it’s estimated that nearly 2.7 million Canadians report living with migraine, many people don’t seek help for their symptoms – due to the use of over-the-counter medication – and therefore the actual number is thought to be much higher. The crazy part? Over-the-counter medication may not be right for you as a migraine sufferer.

Yup. Migraine pain requires migraine meds. I wish I had known that I was a migraine sufferer as 10-year-old me. It was confusing and painful and awful and I remember readying myself for excruciating pain whenever I experienced the candle-flicker aura. I wish I had known that the medication I took was actually feeding my migraine.

But, now I know! And, I get to treat my migraine before it hits…and what a game-changer that is! If I can help even one of you discover that the pain you’re experiencing is not “just motherhood” or not “just a headache”, then I’m thrilled to have educated in even this small way. 

Worldwide, about 1 in 8 people suffer from migraine. If you have persistent headaches, it’s important to get the right diagnosis. And, if you do have persistent headaches, my friend, you gotta, gotta, gotta check out the quiz at www.1in8haveit.ca to share results with a medical professional. It’s quick. It’s easy…and it may open an entire new conversation with your doc that can help you so much more than the meds you take now!

Trust me. Getting diagnosed with migraines was a relief. Getting the right medication changed my life. I can now get on top of my migraine before it takes me out for the day. Go…take the quiz and then get to your doc. It’s important. You’re important. Take care of yourself. xo

What To Expect The First Time You Use the DivaCup

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Hang onto your hats, ladies, because I just did something this month that I know a lot of you have been wondering about. How do I know that? Um…cuz I asked and you responded with “you try it first”.

So I did.

This month I tried the DivaCup.

*insert dramatic music here*

I was totally nervous, kinda grossed out and super skeptical about all things DivaCup before I tried it out. I was pretty sure the entire week would be an uncomfortable disaster with ruined pants and a lot of embarrassing moments I’d have to hide and not talk about.

Boy, was I wrong. And before I get into my experience with the DivaCup, I’ll cut to the chase right now and let you know that I’m a convert. I freakin’ love this thing and will never ever go back to tampons or pads again. Yup, you read that right…never ever. 

I thought I’d write this article on the things I wish I’d known before I tried out the DivaCup this month. If you’re thinking about trying it out yourself, I hope this post will help you.

Lesson #1: There are 2 sizes of DivaCups. Model 1 is for women under 30 who haven’t had kiddos. Model 2 is for women over 30 who have had the babies and experience all the glory if getting old and/or birthing babies! Hello, Model 2.

Lesson #2: While you’re at the drugstore, don’t forget to buy something to wash your DivaCup with. They have specific wash called DivaWash, which is what I got because I like taking the guesswork out of things and there were specifications as to what you can use, so I just went with what their recommendation. They recommend the DivaWash (obviously), so that’s what I got. It can be found right next to the DivaCups at most local drugstores.

BUT…if you can’t find the DivaWash at your local drugstore, it is recommended to wash your DivaCup using warm water with a mild, unscented, water-based (oil-free) soap. 

Lesson #3: The DivaCup website is bombass. If you’re at all nervous about trying out the DivaCup yourself, get over to the website. There are a ton of videos you can watch that will answer A LOT of your questions! From how to place the cup, how to remove, how to clean, what to expect, etc. It’s honestly one of the most informative sites I’ve been to.

Lesson #4: You can wear your DivaCup up to 12 hours…with no leakage. I was suuuuuper doubtful on this one because as I’ve gotten older, my periods have gotten heavier. A little TMI, but previously I would go through 3 super tampons in just over an hour! So, I was skeptical on this all day protection thang.

But…holy smokes…all was FINE. 12 hours of solid protection, no leakage and I didn’t have to think about a thing all day. Well, once I relaxed and stop worrying about how effective the DivaCup would be, of course!

Lesson #5: The DivaCup is super comfortable. Once you figure out how to insert the DivaCup properly for your body (which for me took one try…seriously…one try), you really forget it’s there. How freakin’ awesome is that? The tutorials online show you two different way to insert the cup, so be sure to watch them…they work and make it pretty dang easy.

Lesson #6: It’s really not as gross as you think it’s going to be. Yes, the cup collects your period blood. And yes, I just wrote that and it made me cringe. But no, it’s not a big deal to remove and clean the cup. Showers are a wonderful thing and it was super easy to remove and clean the cup while showering at the end of my day. Seriously…this was NOT a big deal and was the part I was MOST nervous/grossed out/skeptical about. I repeat…Not. A. Big. Deal.

Lesson #7: You can be as active as you want to be and the DivaCup stays in place, so stop worrying. I ran sprint intervals on my treadmill, I did an 8km run, I taught two bootcamp classes at a Hot Mama Retreat in Jasper, I did a yoga class and I completed a plyometrics workout. Each workout was done with zero leakage. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. And that was after having the cup in place anywhere 1 – 8 hours. BOOM! Something easy for us active, super busy, healthy Mamas to wear and (seriously) not worry about.

Lesson #8: I actually do care about the environment. While saving our earth wasn’t high on my priority list when it came to period protection, it’s certainly a bonus. Don’t get me wrong, I do A LOT to help save this beautiful earth, but I was way too nervous about the DivaCup to say that I’d try it to help save the planet. Now that I’m a user, it’s just an added bonus that I get to help in a small way. It’s pretty awesome.

Lesson #9: Storing the DivaCup is super easy. I always wondered what you did with the cup when you weren’t using it. DivaCup makes it easy and gives you a cute little satchel to keep it in. So yeah…that one was easy.

Lesson #10: Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. I was probably the biggest skeptic out there about the DivaCup. Mostly because I thought it would be well…super disgusting. I’m just being honest here. But, it’s not. It really isn’t. The fact that I don’t have to think about it for 12 hours, that there were no accidents, that I could be as active as I wanted to be and that I never ever have to worry about forgetting to buy tampons ever again makes using the DivaCup for the rest of time a no-brainer for me.

I truly didn’t think I’d be a fan, but I wanted to give it a whirl…because I was curious and um, well, you all made me do it! My turn is done. Now, it’s yours. And, I swear to you, it’s not scary or gross or anything. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but it is absolutely worth the effort. It’s cleaner, offers better protection and honestly is incredibly easy to use.

I’m a big fan.

Honest. Go on, now. Go get your DivaCup. Off you go!

Hold On To Your Knickers – You & Your Period Can Do Some Good!

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If you asked me a year ago if I’d write a piece on periods I would have blushed and said “Erm, no. No way”. But my, my, my how life changes. From not talking about our periods to full-on promoting a menstrual cup? Yeah, it happened. And I’m stinkin’ proud of it! 

First of all, let me tell you I’m not going to talk about my cycle, or the ups and downs of being a woman, what I really want to talk about is the GOOD the Ruby Cup company does for women. Most of you know by now that I am super fussy about the products, services, and programs I support and/or endorse. I have to LOVE them before I’ll write about them. The Ruby Cup and the lives they change (by being incredibly awesome) is reasoning enough for me to promote them. Add that I actually LOVE the product? Well then, I must write to tell you about it! 

First off, what is the Ruby Cup?

It’s a menstrual cup you use instead of tampons and pads. It’s incredible because not only is it affordable, less fussy than what you’re used to and eco-friendly (this fact gets more important to me every day as I watch my kids grow and wonder what our world is going to look like for them), this company helps improve the lives of women in East Africa, Nepal, Ghana and other places around the world.

Was I leary about trying the Ruby Cup?! HECK YES! I had sooooo many questions and to be honest, it scared the heck out of me. But, here’s the thing: this cup has the capacity of 3 super tampon! What the what?! Yup. And, you learn how to deal with it. It’s comfortable (once you figure it out, and yes, it does take some practice), it will save you money (I mentioned that, but Mamas, I know it’s important) and it’s WAY LESS MESSY than you think! 

Now, HOW does the Ruby Cup help girls and women around the world? 

They have a program called “Buy one. Give one.”

For every Ruby Cup they sell (Every. Single. One.), they give one to a woman or girl who otherwise does not have access to menstrual care products. And, if you think it’s not an issue worthy of looking into, I strongly disagree. This program allows women to access a product that will help with their health, hygiene and confidence. Yeah, that’s worth it to me, that’s so very worth it! 

Listen, almost every woman out there will get their period. If I can help women who wouldn’t have access to products to help them during a relatively messy time of the month, I’m going to do it. Getting your period can be messy, intimidating and scary but we can help. We can get these girls and women access to products that are comfortable, that are better for the environment and that help improve a woman or girl’s life drastically, I’ll talk about my period all day! I mean, you probably don’t want me to and I’m okay with that, but heck yeah…use a product that saves me money, is better for the environment AND helps empower women?  

Thank you, Ruby Cup. I’m in!  

Give it a whirl and help another woman out. Join me in the Buy One. Give One. program and let’s help women in ways we never imaged we could! CLICK HERE to purchase yours (and no, I don’t make money off of this, I just think it’s awesome!). 

Questions? OMG…ask! I’m totally open and honest with all this stuff now. And, I’d love if you joined me in helping another Mama or her daughter out! 

Yay periods! Causing cramps and opening doors to empower women since the beginning of time. LOL.

 

My New Not-So-Secret Skin Care Weapon: Z Natural Life!

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For years, and I mean years and years, I didn’t do a thing with my skin. I know, that’s terrible. All the skin care professionals are shuddering and shaking their heads in disappointment. But, to be honest, at the end of the day I am exhausted and we’re lucky if I manage to brush my teeth before I fall into bed to rest my mind and body.

But, age. Age happened. With age has come wrinkles. No, not laugh lines and cute little crow’s feet. I mean full-on wrinkles and age spots. What the actual heck was happening to my face?!

I looked at myself in a photo and thought “OMG…my face is melting”. So, it was time to find products that work, didn’t take a lot of time, fit my budget, were eco-friendly and well…easy to get.

And I found them! OH YES I DID! 

Remember that blog post I wrote about my awesome natural deodorant from Z Natural Life? Non-toxic. Vegan. Cruelty-free? Remember how much I LOOOOOOVED it and even managed to swing a couple giveaways for our Hot Mama challenges? Ohhhh…they came out with a skin care line!!

Ohhhh Maaamaaaaas…they came out with a skin care line!!

Seeing as I loved their deodorants and body powder so much AND their price point is amazing (less than $25!), I knew I had to try the line. I received the Hydrating Overnight Mask, the Revitalizing Facial Serum and the Energizing Facial Mask. 

And Mamas, these products did not disappoint.

Within the first week, I had people commenting and telling me that I was glowing. I’m not pregnant (*shudder*). So, was it good lighting? More water? Proper nutrition? Maybe. But probably not, seeing as I was drinking like a sailor (er…it was summer), eating like a trucker (I’m going to put the whole summer thing out there again) and I was recording videos where I always did. 

The only change? I took a few minutes each morning and evening to wash and moisturize my face with my new skincare line.

That’s it. 

I truly cannot say enough good stuff about these products. I LOVE that their ingredients are non-toxic and vegan and I truuuuuuly love that they WORK. My skin is super hydrated, it feels mega soft and yup, some of those fine lines are gone, gone, GONE. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the skin care line:

My Secret Weapon: Revitalizing Facial Serum.

If there’s one product you should get it’s this one. I put 3 drops onto my fingertips at night and 3 drops into my favorite SPF Moisturizer in the morning and er…that’s it. How easy is that?! It’s mega-hydrating and amazing. 

It’s got ingredients like hemp oil and jojoba oil that are known for their hydrating qualities. It has rosehip fruit oil that helps with the er…aged skin. Ylang-ylang (I mean, who doesn’t just love saying that?!) and geranium oil help with hydration AND they smell yummy! 

If you were to get ONE product, this serum would be the one I’d recommend.

Energizing Facial Mask

I have combination/oily skin, so this was an awesome mask for me. I use it twice a week. I put it on before I settle into bed to watch my Netflix show of choice (right now Suits is on the go…thanks for the recommendation, Mamas…couple cute lawyers? Yes please!) and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off, serum on and nighty-night!

Why do I like it so much? Many reasons. They’ve put Pelavie Black Silt in it, which is not only fun to say, but is known to tighten up your skin. Like a good squat tightens your buns, this stuff tightens your face. Along with the salt is a bunch of ingredients that remove toxins, have antioxidants and improve skin damage. I’m not going to list them here because they’re all on their website and I feel like I’m just showing off by writing them all out! 

A hilarious side-benefit…when you put on this mast, it makes your face look dirty and my kids think it is SO funny! One night my son couldn’t stop laughing because I put a little extra between my brows and it looked like a mono-brow. Why did I do that? Er…to make my son laugh, of course!

This mask is great for combination/oily skin.

Hydrating Overnight Facial Mask

Okay, don’t freak out. Yes, you leave something on your face overnight. But NO, it doesn’t get all over the place! It’s super thin, it absorbs into the skin and it leaves your face meeeega soft in the morning. It’s crazy beans! 

I will most likely use this mask more in the winter months because it is incredibly hydrating. For those of you with oily skin, stick with the Energizing Mask. But, if you have normal to dry skin, this baby is amazing. 

This mask has ingredients like olive squalene (I don’t know what that is, but I like olives, so we’re golden), avocado, ylang-ylang and geranium oil…all help with hydration. And there’s something in there called sodium hyaluronate which hydrates the skin and also brings little swords of anti-aging power to the battle against fine lines and age spots.

My Skin Care Regimen:

I use the serum twice a day. I use the Energizing mask twice a week and I use the Hydrating Overnight Mask also twice a week. 

It takes me very little time. It’s budget-friendly. And…well…I simply love the products. I hope you will too!

As always Z Natural Life is a big fan of Hot Mama and because we have this lovefest for one another they’ve created a code for you to use to get…wait for it…20% OFF! 

You can get the products through amazon.com (for my US and International followers) and amazon.ca (for my fellow Canucks, be sure to use the links below). 

So, come on aging process…I’m taking you on! I’m arming myself with amazing products that are helping me feel better. Yup…FEEL better. There’s something wonderful about having skin that looks nice. I feel more confident on video. I feel more confident in photos…and I know that sounds crazy, so judge away.

I’ll take confidence wherever I can find it! If it comes in 3 little tubes that I rub onto my skin, so be it! 

If you’ve been looking for a new skincare regimen, I totally recommend Z Natural Life. And the great news? IT’S NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON.CA!

Remember the issues we had for my Canadian Mamas with the deodorant? Well…no more! Woop! These links take you RIGHT to Amazon.ca where you can find the products in Canadian moolah, and shipping is FREE with orders over $35! BOOMSHAKALAKA!!

For Amazon.ca and znaturallife.com use PROMO CODE: Lindsay1
For Amazon orders use PROMO CODE: Lindsay 3

Here are the Amazon.ca links:

My Secret Weapon: Revitalizing Facial Serum.

Energizing Facial Mask

Hydrating Overnight Facial Mask

Again, use PROMO CODE “Lindsay1”  of amazon.ca and PROMO CODE “Lindsay3” for amazon.com for 20% off until Oct 15, 2017. 

OR…you can go right to Z Natural Life and order from there (but, it’ll come from the States and there may be duty?!). However, the promo code will work on their site, as well! Woop! 

Give it a whirl and let me know whta you think! Off you go!