I'm Back!!! With a New Outlook and Attitude!

Happy 2017!!  We're now officially 2 weeks into the new year.  How are you doing with meeting your resolutions, or do you even make them?  Personally, while I do certainly set goals for myself, I rarely make "resolutions." In fact, I cringe at the thought.  It seems that resolutions hold such high expectations of reaching goals without the possibility of failure. Once faced with failure, discouragement often hinders success, resulting in one putting of their "resolutions" until it's time to try again the following year. My current goal, however, is to focus on weight loss, and my overall health and wellness.

When I originally started this blog, my intention was to document my journey as I worked to re-claim my lost self-esteem, lose weight, find a successful path in life, overcome obstacles women often face in their 30's, 40's and beyond, etc.  However, somewhere along the line, I lost my focus and this turned into a review blog.  Don't get me wrong.... I actually love reviewing products.  However, it consumed so much of my time, and only a small fraction of the products I was reviewing were actually worthy of blogging about.  With that said, it was only another factor that ultimately held me back on focusing on myself and my needs, or, in other words, facing my struggles head-on; A diversion of sorts, I would say.

Well, here I am... 2 1/2 years after my very first blog post, still tired, exhausted, XX pounds heavier; Still searching for that "successful path".  In fact, over the last couple of years, I've struggled with symptoms of early menopause, depression, weight gain, a lack of motivation, loss of concentration, and overall feeling of helplessness.  But.... despite all of that, as cracked as they may be, I still put on my favorite pair of rose colored glasses every day and am focused on riding out the storm... hence the blog title "Rose Colored Raindrops."

You know, I read a blog post discussing the challenges of losing weight earlier today. In the comments to the post, a lot of people (the majority being women) were venting about their struggles with weight gain as they age, many stating that they constantly feel exhausted, struggling with happiness, loss of focus, etc.  A kind, outspoken gentleman decided it was his duty to tell all of the "complainers" that the solution to their problem was simply drinking a lot of water and getting off their "lazy" butts and getting into the gym.

This guy OBVIOUSLY has it all figured out, doesn't he?

Sure, its no secret that drinking plenty of water along with exercise will contribute to a healthier lifestyle.  However, there are far more factors existing in our world today that may contribute to physical and/or mental decline and possibly unhealthy lifestyles, including some which cannot be predicted nor controlled, such as certain chronic illnesses, aging factors, accidents, etc. Once you get to the point that your body is tired and you've lost your sense of self-worth and motivation, while it's not impossible to bounce back, it can be a challenge.

Ten years ago, I would have never uttered that last sentence.  In fact, I was more like the uninformed gentleman mentioned previously.  I was one who didn't tolerate "excuses" from people who didn't appear to be pushing themselves towards success.  I failed to look beyond the surface.  There was no excuse for failure or struggles, you simply suck it up and move forward... that was the way I saw it.  Until I was slapped in the face with a huge dose of reality.

I would say that my decline began at the age of 36.  I was a mother of 4, working 10-12 hour days at a job that required an hour drive to and from work every day.  I made good money, but didn't necessarily budget it well, so I thought I was struggling (though I really didn't know what a financial struggle truly was at that point, to be honest).  Therefore, I was stressed to the max every day, making every effort to work every single minute of overtime that was offered.  I was wearing myself out.  At one point, I had packed on nearly 100 pounds of unwanted weight that I had once lost as a result of taking the prescription drug Adipex.  Since I was successful losing weight on the drug once before, I decided to give it a shot once again.  My doctor refused to prescribe it, saying that if a patient gains the weight back after taking the drug, he will not prescribe it a second time.  "I'll show him," I thought.  I simply found another doctor who would.  She knew nothing about me, my history, my health, etc.  However, she had no hesitations in writing me a prescription.  After a couple of months of taking the drug, I noticed no change in my weight.  I did notice, however, that it was keeping me awake on my long drive to work, and throughout the long day, so I figured there would be no harm in slipping an extra 1/2 pill in each morning, and sometimes mid-day.

I woke up the morning of November 25, 2009, with severe stomach pain and my left arm throbbing.  The feeling was quite uncomfortable, but I decided to ignore it.  I went downstairs to prepare to leave for work, when I broke out in a cold sweat all over my body.  Exhausted, as if I had just finished a vigorous workout, I laid down on the couch to rest for a moment, then felt my second wind.  I got back up and headed to work.  After getting to work and telling a few co-workers about the events of the morning, I was urged to just head to the ER to get checked out.  About 45 minutes after arriving and having some labs drawn, a nurse walked in and informed me that I had a mild heart attack and would not be leaving that day.

I cannot describe the myriad of emotions I felt at that very moment:  Fear, devastation, helplessness, depression, doom....

After a heart catheterization, it was determined that I had no long-lasting damage done to my heart, and was in a mere 1% category of people who have heart attacks with no substantiated basis, though the Adipex and stress was certainly suspect. I was definitely one of the lucky ones.

Nevertheless, after being released from the hospital, I went through another phase of exploring emotions... but this phase has not quite ended.  I will go into detail about some of the different events and experiences following the heart attack in later posts.  But, one major challenge that I have continued to face in the years following the heart attack is weight gain.  I am now at the heaviest that I have been at in my entire life.  In January, 2016, I decided I was going to get up and do something about it, and I purchased a gym membership.  I purchased it.  That's all I did with it.  Nothing else.  I didn't step foot in the door of that gym one single time after purchasing.  That's my own fault, right?  Sure, it is.  I won't deny that.  However, along with the weight gain, my body has experienced so many other changes that I haven't quite learned how to deal with:

• Depression... While there are certainly factors that have contributed to this, there are certainly times when I tell myself "I have no reason to be depressed, snap out of it."  But, it just hasn't happened.  
• I've lost my ability to focus.  For the first time in my adult life, I allowed my inability to concentrate to interfere with my performance at work, nearly costing me my job.  While I worked hard to overcome this obstacle, the fact that it happened seem to contribute to my depression.  
• I have little to no energy.  I work from home.  If I had to leave my home to get to work, I fear I would be late every day, as it takes everything in me to pull myself out of bed and get dressed... and that's all I do.  I have completely given up on doing my hair and makeup every day, as it just takes too much out of me.
• Sleep - What's that?  I'm tired, but my body doesn't know how to sleep anymore.  I would give anything just to get a solid 4 hours of sleep... Yes, just four solid, uninterrupted hours would be like a dream.  If only I could then work up to 8.

I've constantly thought, this can't be it.  All this time, I've been looking for some type of "path," and this is not where I imagined I would end up.  So, since 2010, I've been searching for some type of answer.  My body needs some type of supplement, I know this.  As you age, there are simply certain nutritional needs that your body requires in order to thrive.  Luckily, there's many different options available these days... Good, healthy, natural options, unlike the prescription that could have cost me my life.  I've pondered many of the options, one in particular, but have hesitated due to the multitude of steps necessary to succeed.  Don't get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with following a well-structured plan, but it's not for everyone.  I have never been a person who leads a perfectly structured life, and honestly, have no desire to.  Therefore, I fear I would be wasting my money on those products that require strict structure in order to succeed.

In late 2016, however, I accidentally stumbled upon a Facebook post where a friend of a friend was talking about a product she promotes, touting it as simple and effective.  Of course, there is a certain level of structure involved if one wants to succeed, but with this product, it's all done at the beginning of one's day, and is so extremely simple.  I would be lying if I said I weren't skeptical, however.  I was initially ready to begin my own experience with the product in December, when I suddenly pushed back, and decided to wait.  Over the next month, I followed the many testimonials posted on the product's fanpage on Facebook, I researched reviews online, I researched the product itself, and I decided that, ultimately, I'm not going to know if this is the answer for me until I try it.

However, the positive reviews are phenomenal.  Many of the people who have succeeded have faced the same challenges that I have faced in regard to zapped energy, weight gain, depression, etc.  However, after filling their nutritional gaps through their experience, so many people report to have found a weight lifted off their shoulders, a renewed outlook on life, increased energy and motivation, and so much more.  With all of that, those who have struggled with depression have found themselves happier, those struggling with weight gain have found the energy to shed pounds, those struggling with exhaustion are reportedly no longer feeling that same sense of fatigue.  I am one who relies strongly on word-of-mouth, so these testimonials are definitely selling points, as far as I'm concerned.  Furthermore, as I research the positive reviews more and more, I'm finding that people aren't just trying this product and moving on, they're sticking with it!  On the contrary, there are, of course, some critical reviews.  The common theme I seem to be finding, however, when it comes to critical reviews, are that those who are blogging negatively about the product aren't really trying it.  Sure, there seem to be a handful of people who have tried the experience to no avail, but there is not a single product out there made to work for everybody... and if you find one that claims it does... RUN!

Bottom line is, this company gives you the tools to learn about the product.  They provide a website where you can explore the product offerings, which also provides you with a list of the ingredients as you browse the products.  Many of the ingredients are well known to promote good health, fill nutritional gaps, and if the need is present, promote weight loss.  However, the unique quality of the product is that (1) everything you need to succeed is done in the first hour of your day, and (2) the inclusion of  a unique step that sets this product apart from its competitors gives it he potential to increase the effectiveness of the product substantially.


With all of that said, I have decided that NOW is MY time to experience this product, and I'm going in with a positive attitude.  After all, it's marketed (implied) as a unique experience, one which can only be explained by the active user... In short, something you won't know until you take the chance, and based on the multitude of positive reviews, it is expected that you'll be glad you did.  I know I am ecstatic about the journey that is ahead of me, about finding myself again... at the prospect of LIVING again....

I will be sharing my journey here, and I hope you'll follow along.  Better yet, I hope to see some of you inquiring and participating with me! The good news is, if your interest is piqued, you can join an exclusive network of potential customers and explore their products free of charge... You only pay when you order.  Joining opens the door to a wealth of information that will educate you about the product offerings, pricing structure, promoter opportunities and more.  Speaking of promoting opportunities, unlike many other programs out there, this company offers the opportunity for promoters to join for free, where you can earn commissions, substantial bonuses, vehicles, trips and more.  In addition to that, both promoters AND customers have the opportunity to earn FREE products... The same opportunity for free products monthly exists for customers and promoters alike, promoters simply have the opportunity to earn monetary awards in addition to the product.

I'm really excited about this opportunity I'm embarking upon, and would be even more excited to have fellow readers join me on my journey.  If you're interested in joining the free network and learning more, please leave your e-mail address below, or send a message requesting more information to momica8@yahoo.com.

Until next time...

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Santa Medical - Electronic Pulse Massager Tens Unit ~~REVIEW~~

*This post contains affiliate links

Working in the health insurance industry, I can tell you first-hand that tens units are very much in demand.  Sadly, due to the fact that it's medical necessity and effectiveness is debatable among medical professionals, it's something that's not always covered under health insurance plans.  Tens units can also be expensive.

For those who may not know, tens units are battery operated devices designed to send electronic pulses through the skin in an effort to stimulate nerves and relieve pain.  I've heard of a lot of people using it to relieve back and neck pain.  With that said, being in my early forties, I'm beginning to experience more aches and pains than in the past, and suspect that it is mostly nerve-related.  Before attempting traditional medical treatment options, I've been looking forward to trying a tens unit first, which is why I accepted an offer to try this particular handheld unit from Santa Medical at a discounted cost in exchange for my honest review.

Upon opening my package, I found 4 electronic pads and 2 sets of leads. 4 AAA batteries, and my Santa Medical handheld Tens Unit.  The unit itself is about the size of a traditional cordless telephone.  There are various buttons on the unit, including six auto programs, speed increase and decrease, and manual mode buttons that allow you to select from one of three massage sensations.  Setup is very simple, and the detailed, easy-to-read instructions walk the user through each step.

The intensity range is from 0 to 80 volts.  The instructions recommend to begin with low intensity and work your way up, and learned the reasoning pretty quickly.  While I was initially irritated by the higher intensity, I found that by starting with the lowest intensity while I accustom myself to the device resulted in a multitude of relief!  The massage function on the back of my neck and shoulders was amazing, and much needed!  After using this unit, I can clearly see why these little powerhouses are in such high demand!! i7q9b4t5

Overcoming Anxiety ~~REVIEW~~

Millions of people suffer from anxiety.  Some anxiety sufferers have battled the condition their entire lives, while others have developed anxiety as a result of stress, depression, aging, etc.  Regardless of the reason, there are ways to alleviate the effects of anxiety, and David Berndt's book, "Overcoming Anxiety," does a fantastic job of guiding anxiety sufferers through techniques that will work.

I received the opportunity to receive a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.  The author provides an in-depth explanation of the behavior patterns that you may harbor which lead to continued anxiety, and provides methods you can use to overcome the often-times mentally and emotionally disabling symptoms.  You'll learn a method that will help you re-direct your energy into positive thoughts and actions designed to place you onto the path of leading a normal life, while minimizing occurrences of anxiety.

Anaiti Instant Wrinkle Filling Serum ~~REVIEW~~

*This post may contain affiliate links

I make it no secret that, since experiencing my 20's (again), I've joined millions of others on the search for the famed Fountain of Youth.  While it's yet to be discovered, we're lucky to live in a day and age where anti-aging products have made phenomenal advancements that give us hopeful alternatives until that day of discovery arrives.

One of those alternatives, which I recently had the opportunity to try for free in exchange for my honest review, is Instant Wrinkle Filling Serum from Anaiti.  Considering the manufacturer openly advises that, while some users report nearly instant results, the results can vary, and their products may not work for everyone, I immediately had my doubts.  However, I have had some recent fantastic experiences with some products that worked great for me, but not so great for others, so when it comes to anti-aging products, my motto is, "it's worth a try."

One thing I really like about this product is that it's designed to target wrinkles only.  Therefore, there's no need to use it on your entire face, just the problem areas.  Of course, that means the product will last much longer than many others which are applied to the entire face.  While it's labeled as a "serum," the consistency of this product is closer to a cream, but not as thick.  It has a very light, silky feel to it.

I was not one of those lucky enough to see "instant" results with this product.  However, after using it for a period of three to four weeks, I have seen some noticeable results.  With every anti-aging product I try, the first place I target is the furrow between my eyebrows.  A year ago, it was deep and noticeable.  However, it's now just a couple of fine lines.  Since using this product, I've noticed some days where I wouldn't have even noticed it if I didn't know already that it was there!  It's definitely a product I would recommend, and would love the opportunity to try other Anaiti products!

Skout's Honor Natural Pet Stain & Odor Remover ~~REVIEW~~

Any parent would agree, that one of the duties of a parent includes cleaning up a LOT of messes. With that said, I've seen my fair share of stubborn stains.  Pet owners are another group of people who also know what it's like to spend hours up on hours trying to clean up stains and mask odors.  As someone looking for that "magic potion" that will clean up stains and freshen the air with ease, I was very pleased to receive the opportunity to try Skout's Honor, Natural Pet Stain & Odor Remover, for free in exchange for my honest review.

Now I'll be honest... My original plan was to give my free bottle of this pet stain and odor remover to a family member who owns several dogs.  However, when faced with a nasty stain just a few days after receiving my bottle, I decided to give it a try for myself instead of using second-hand observations for my review.  Once I used it, I knew I couldn't part with it.  There are so many positive things to point out about this product that I don't even know where to start.  Those with concerns about the ingredients will be happy to learn that this product is non-toxic and eco-friendly.  With no harsh chemicals included in the ingredients, it's safe to use around pets and children.

I've used eco-friendly cleaning products in the past, and was not pleased. While it was nice to know they didn't include harmful chemicals, they just didn't seem to do the job, as far as clean-up was concerned.  However, Skout's Honor not only does a phenomenal job in cleaning up stains, it does it with very little effort!  I was amazed at how easily it cleaned up stains that would normally take a ton of effort, including soaking and scrubbing.  I can see why it's touted as a top-notch product for pet owners! In addition to doing a fantastic job at removing stains, it masks odors in a most delightful way.  The scent is fresh and pleasant.  I have actually found myself spraying it as an air freshener, as I enjoy it so much.

One last note that many people may be pleased to hear... the manufacturer of this product has agreed to feed a needy animal for a day with every Skout's Honor purchase sold on Amazon, their website, or local retailers.  How awesome is that!!??!!

How To Make Big Bucks from Big Blogs - Book Review

As a fairly new blogger, I'm still in the stages of learning how to organize my blog, exploring topics, and posting to my blog regularly.  However, once I reach a comfortable place in my hobby, I hope to turn it into a profitable experience.  The problem?  I have no idea where to start.  Lucky for me, I recently had the opportunity to read Brandon Colker's "How to Make Big Bucks from Big Blogs," which I received for free in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, the title sounds more like a gimmick full of false promises.  However, don't let the title fool you.  The book is a simple, straightforward guide, written in easy-to-understand language, designed to aide the beginning blogger in turning his/her blog into a profitable endeavor.  While it doesn't detail a specific "get rich quick," method, it simply provides a roadmap to success, which is exactly what I was looking for.

Removing Toxic People - Is it Really A Good Decision When it Involves Family?

In the past year, for the first time in my life, I've had to make the decision to separate myself from some "toxic" people.  Some of those people happen to be family members who have been a part of my life from day one.  42 years.  In the process, I've been doing a lot of thinking and an abundance of soul searching.  The process itself has evoked a lot of emotion, some of which has bled out onto my social media profiles.  I'm not ashamed of it, and I'm not just an "emotional poster" on social media.  In fact, everything I am publicly is well thought out and in fact, part of who I am privately.  With that said, nothing I share publicly hasn't already been communicated privately.  But, on that note, it brings with it a myriad of responses and opinions and advice from those who may only know part of the whole story, but wish to share their opinions nonetheless, which may not be the same as mine, but welcomed and expected nonetheless.

One of the opinions I've heard recently was from a very sweet, loving family member whose concern was that I wasn't leaving the past in the past, should embrace the present, and be the "bigger person" and perhaps reconsider my decision.  One thing that I think needs to be made clear is, making the decision to walk away from relationships in the making for 42 years certainly involve dredging up feelings and situations from the past, so inevitably, certain topics are going to be seemingly revived, or maybe they were never completely dead.  But, a requirement of removing an element of toxicity when it comes to relationships, sadly, may in fact require the necessity to walk away.  That is, in fact, unless you find in the process that YOU are the prime source of the toxicity.  Then it would involve making substantial changes within yourself in order to remove that element from your life.

In my case, I undoubtedly own some toxic behaviors.  Who wouldn't, as many of my traits are learned behaviors, which include some acquired in childhood.  With that said, on my mission to embrace my positive potential, I exclaimed my "rebirth" at the beginning of 2015; A journey that will continue throughout the rest of my life.  Its a process which involves close evaluations of behaviors and some major changes.  However, there are certain elements of the toxicity that exists in my life that I simply have no control over, as they are derived from the behaviors of others.  While I can leave the actions of those people that has led to catastrophic situations in the past, I cannot continue to allow their actions to affect my future if their behaviors don't change, and if I truly want to let go of the effects of their past actions.  This may mean I have to forgive, but not forget, as you can't forget something that cycles over, and over again.  Sadly, that involves loving from a distance, and putting active relationships on hold... indefinitely.

Nevertheless, my family member's well-intended advice did not fall on deaf ears, as I've been putting a lot of thought into it over the last few days.  I've never really walked away from anyone in my life. After all, one of the major contributors to my own dysfunctions has been a source of my own toxicity from my very first breath.  In fact, that person has spent their whole life running away from people and cutting them off while continuing to enter into, or be a part of one destructive relationship after another.  After seeing and experiencing so many broken relationships, I grew up with a strong desire and goals to be the polar opposite. I've focused all of my energies into trying to change me in order to change a situation.  Unfortunately, some of those "situations" have involved the behaviors of other toxic people in which I have no control over.  Nevertheless, it's always been my belief that if I work on me, then the situation will change.  It won't.  Nevertheless, when toxic people have entered my life, I allow them, and their toxicities, to remain.

That thought brings me to where I am at this very moment; In the midst of insomnia reflecting on my past.  I think of my teenage years as a high school dropout, in and out of the juvenile legal system.  I wasn't a bad person.  In fact, I really wasn't even a bad kid.  However, I did make some poor decisions based upon my decisions to remain part of certain peer groups.  I was (and still am), however, a bit of a loner.  I never really "belonged" to a certain group, and had some associations with the kids well known among parent groups as the "bad" kids, along with associations with kids known among those same groups as the "good" kids.  Nevertheless, the parents of the "good" kids discouraged, and often disallowed, their children to associate with me.  Of course, knowing I really wasn't "bad," nor would I intentionally pressure any of my friends to engage in activities they didn't want to be a part of, I had a hard time understanding why I wasn't "liked" by these parents.

That brings me to my next thought.  What is a "toxic" person?  Does being labeled "toxic" make a person a "bad" person?  When I think of the relationships that are going to be affected by my decision, I think of a couple "good" people who may not favor my decision, and therefore may no longer be such an active part of my life, as doing so would require the primary source of the toxicity to remain very active in my life, like the glass of whisky setting next to the cola.  Are they, then, "toxic" as well?  Does this now make me a "bad" person for making such a decision that is frowned upon by some?

As an adult, some of these friends parents have welcomed me into their lives, and the lives of their now grown children.  I've never really considered why they seem to "embrace" me now when they didn't seem to "like" me before.  Tonight, however, it really hit me.  They never "disliked" me, they "disliked" some of my behaviors, but even more so, my toxic associations.  While perhaps I wasn't a "toxic" person, I carried with me, certain levels of toxicity acquired through associations.  They simply didn't want their children to be exposed to that.  By allowing them to associate with me, they were allowing them "access" to the toxic elements that were part of my life.  It's like setting a glass of cola down next to a glass of whisky in front of an alcoholic and telling him/her to only drink the cola, but it has to be consumed right there at that very spot. While he/she may comply, there is undoubtedly a certain amount of emotional impact that will result from his/her ability to refrain from touching the whisky.  A decision must be made.  By all means, if his/her willpower is great enough, he/she may choose to drink the coke.  Others, however, may be required to walk away, despite their level of thirst.  For some alcoholics, continuing to introduce the element of alcohol into their lives will eventually lead to repetition of past behaviors. Unless the alcohol is removed from the situation, the alcoholic is taking a risk.

This is exactly where I am in my life right now.  Sadly, there is a certain level of risk by continuing to allow "actively" toxic people into my life.  While I can't make those people recognize or change their behaviors, I can change mine.  What I've learned, however, is that in order to truly leave the past behind me, I have to remove the element that keeps dredging it up, meaning I have no choice but to walk away from more than just one person.  Are those people, like me as a teenager, "bad" people?  No.  None of them, including the most toxic, are "bad".  However, all of them carry certain elements that are simply so "bad" for me that it's not healthy for me to continue exposing myself to them.  In other words, I'm the alcoholic who tends to drink the whiskey.  Perhaps like me, the teenager who eventually grew up to be respected by her friends parents, those people will free themselves of their toxicities.  Until then, I have to free myself in order to continue my journey of recreating myself.

Are you dealing with a similar situation?  If so, what toxicities exist in your life that you may have to walk away from in order to free yourself of chaotic behaviors?  Accepting the unknown impact of disassociating yourself may very well be the first step in the right direction!