Beauty

This will for sure be the most controversial of all of my posts THUS far.

I’m going to go there. Women sometimes don’t discuss these things. Brace yourself.

I firmly believe that if you don’t have good girlfriends who tell you about their most TMI moments, share their struggles as well as their secrets, then how the heck are we going to survive?!

I’ll be discussing some AMAZING things I found all on my own through some trial and error. I seriously think all women need to share what helps get them through life. Why be secretive?!

This covers menstrual cups (I hate the word menstrual), period underwear, & comfy bras!

If I haven’t scared you off, then read on!

If I have, then read future blog posts I’ll be making!

PERIOD UNDERWEAR

YES! I said it! P E R I O D underwear. Whether you are 40 or 14 you will benefit from knowing about these babies.

It seems like whenever you get your period its always at the worst times, in your sleep, while you’re out of town, while you’re wearing white pants. The list goes on and ON!

I began experimenting with Natural tampons for about a year because there aren’t any real regulations about what tampons are made of, AND the ingredients (think how they treat the material chemically) doesn’t have to be disclosed on the box.

How troubling is that?! We are literally inserting things in our bodies, where it comes in contact with our flesh month after month. Year after year. We are unknowingly subjecting our bodies to all sorts of chemicals just from having a period.

SO, I didn’t like the idea of wasting expensive hippie brand tampons just on the HUNCH I would start my period while I was sleeping or running errands and wouldn’t be around a bathroom if aunt flo came to town. Enter period panties. It sounds so silly but they’re awesome.

I can’t exactly remember HOW I found out about THINX, but I did. I ordered a few pairs of underwear, and they have SO many varieties now. Tried them out, and I have been using them ever since!

Their website tells us that you can completely avoid tampons and JUST use the underwear. That may work for some people, but for me it didn’t really work. Plus, I don’t really want to be sitting in my own blood for like a week. Too messy and not necessary when you read about my next life hack.

When I DO use the thinx underwear, I use it for the several days leading up to my projected period to bed so if I do (and it always happens) start in my sleep I usually don’t wake up and when I do wake up my sheets are never bloody. I also love them for when I’m on my period and running errands and going to bed so there aren’t any leaks on my sheets or my clothes. It’s the perfect backup barrier method and it gives me peace of mind! The underwear are so comfortable and don’t look like any different than typical underwear! They stand their product and if you have issues, they will refund you.

Give them a try! You just wash them and reuse them! They are lifesaving! Use this code to get $15 off of your order http://ref.thinxify.me/kOihx !

MENSTRUAL CUPS

There are all kinds of articles, studies and controversies about what tampons are made of and what they are treated with in the process. Whether thats bleaching, being made of rayon etc. it bothered me on a deep level that we use tampons that may or may not (most likely may not) be ok for our bodies. With our skin being the largest organ in our bodies, but inserting tampons for probably 30ish years til we hit menopause is concerning. We are subjecting ourselves and our internal organs to (and absorbing) chemicals and who knows what while we are on our periods. If you are curious about any of this google what tampons are made of, obviously make sure you are reading things from credible publishers. Here is one article I found thats not too out there.

So, I looked around for more “natural” approaches. I tried I think EVERY organic tampon on the market. I tried the 365 from whole foods, seventh generation, Luna, L.Organic, Honest Co., Natracare and probably more. They all sucked. There is no real elegant way to put it. They all sucked. They either had a cardboard applicator (which is ridiculous to use), NO applicator, and all of them just weren’t very absorbent. They didn’t really expand like typical tampons do when they are saturated. They were just stubby little nubs that really didn’t change shape and I hated all of them.

I then began to think about my other options. I know they make disposable menstrual cups, but thats still something we have to constantly purchase and then throw away.

I decided to try a menstrual cup. YEP, a menstrual cup. I never EVER thought I would do that, but I did. After having kids, and I know not all women reading this will have had kids, you’re just more comfortable with your body in ways you didn’t think you would be. So, to save time, money, and not be throwing tampons away constantly, I thought I would give it a shot. They say these cups will last at least 3 years. Can you imagine how many tampons you would have used in 3 years?! Its unreal. There are plenty of them on the market, you just have to get in there (yes, I just said that) and try some!

I used a diva cup and I didn’t really like it. But I stuck with it, and because all of our bodies are different I tried one from faithful old amazon, that offered free returns, as gross as that sounds. Its called the BLOSSOM CUP.

Let me tell you, it’s been a game changer! I almost forget that I’m ON my period, aside from my insane moodswings and irrational behavior – but thats another story!

Menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone and resist bacterial growth, which is why they last so long. There goes your risk of TSS from regular tampons as the absorbency increases. You can go as much as 12 hours before changing your cup! I know you are probably thinking, ya right. BUT, don’t knock it til you try it. That means you would change the cup TWICE a day!! WHAT??!??!

I love that even if you’re not home a lot, in a 12 hour timespan, odds are you will be home in the morning and at night. So you could easily change your cup in the privacy of your home as you head out the door in the morning, and when you come home at night. No more leaking in your sleep, no more tampons to change every 2-4 hours! PLUS, wearing your thinx underwear as backup you won’t ever get messy again!

There are all kinds of different ways to insert the cup, and its really not any harder than a tampon once you get the hang of it, you just have to stick with it and try for 2 or so cycles. If you google how to fold and insert a menstrual cup, you just have to try (ideally before you’re on your period) and see which way goes in easier for you.

I personally like the punchdown fold, you just grab one of the edges with your finger and push down. It will make that shape. Hold that still with your fingers, and insert like a tampon. You will (like I said after childbirth and trying to conceive you do weird things) feel where your cervix is and just leave it right there. You will let go, it will open up AROUND your cervix and it stays put with natural suction. Its pretty cool, and probably sounds gross to read but its amazing. Emptying is easy, you just grab the cup with your fingers, pull out and dump the blood into the toilet. Rinse it off if you want, and reinsert. Its actually interesting to see the quantity you bleed, and you will learn a lot about your cycle by physically seeing it in the cup, and I think we all need to know these things about our bodies to be good advocates for ourselves and our health.

I love that I save so much time with using it, that it saves money, and that it makes my life easier. If you struggle with tampons and the pains of periods, give it a shot. You will probably be pleasantly surprised. Read more about menstrual cups here

Comfy Bras

This is a much lighter topic. No more blood, cups, or period talk.

I’m home a lot of the time as a SAHM, and I usually wear sports bras. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that. But I wanted a bra that didn’t have uncomfortable straps or anything itchy etc. and I found True&Co!

They have SO many different types of bras its unreal! I also love the fact that they don’t objectify women in their advertising like another popular company. Its all about women, and being comfortable and still feeling like a woman. For once I wanted underwear that wasn’t for someone else. The bras I picked were not lingerie by any means, but MAN are they comfortable! They are seamless in design, no underwire (and they make some with that too), nothing rough or tight, and they had removable pads when you wash the bra.

They just came out with an actual sports bra design and I of course bought those too!

There is V-Neck, Scoopneck, racer back, you name it! I love that whatever you’re looking for its there. I was looking for comfort and I found it. I can wear these bras under my regular clothes outside of the house or inside lounging around and I was never uncomfortable or felt like anything was digging into my skin. I hate that.

So check out their website. They offer free returns and you can get $15 off your order with this code https://my.trueandco.com/x/dfTOZt

These are my faves

True Body Scoop Neck Adjustable Strap

True Body Triangle Racerback

True Body Triangle Convertible Strap

True Body V Neck Bra

Thats all I have! Hopefully you enjoyed, or got some amusement out of this post and my experiments!

I love going to a salon, and just disconnecting and getting my nails done. But I’ll be honest. When I’m out running errands I’m usually on a tight schedule where I need to get X Y and Z done and be able to be home to pick up the kids, bring home dinner or whatnot when I venture into town (yes, I have become THAT country). Most of the time it means I would rather save time and not be rushed and I end up doing my nails at home. Sure, it might not be as relaxing but I am not frazzled and end up saving quite a bit of money. Once you invest in a some pretty inexpensive supplies you pay for it after 2 manicures at home and even quicker if you do a mani and pedi! The salons can charge as much as $40 for a gel mani and with a pedi you are over $100 when you’re out the door. Supplies can cost around $70 max and when you buy polish you’re spending around $10 so its definitely worth doing IMO. Sometimes at Ulta there will be sales where its BOGO Half off and that’s a good time to stock up on colors.

SO- I’m going to give you the lowdown on what I have used and it always yields salon quality results, and it does not take being a professional to do a good job! Let’s face it, we have been painting our nails since we were teens, am I right? Gel polish is no different.

I usually shop at Ulta, or Amazon for my gel nail polish. I know that you can pick up stuff at Sally’s Beauty or any other beauty supply around you. I have used Sensational which you can get it Target (but their bottles seem smaller), Red Carpet a lot, its what Ulta and sells and it works great! I have bought Gelish from Amazon and recently bought CND and really like that too. I feel like most are pretty comparable.The one kind I have used that I did NOT like was Sally Hansen. It wasn’t any cheaper and it was definitely NOT good quality. I used ones that required a lamp and one that didn’t need a lamp from Sally Hansen and I would just avoid that one. If I had to chose one, I would recommend Red Carpet.

The process is the same as painting your own nails.

You will want to start with clean, filed, and cuticle trimmed nails.
Wipe your nails with a facial cotton, or paper towel (something that’s lint free) with alcohol or acetone to prep the nails for polish.
You paint a thin layer of base coat on all of the nails and stick them under your UV lamp.
You put 2-3 thin layers of gel polish over the base coat, curing in the lamp with each coat. You paint it on just like you would with regular polish. You will need 3 for some of the super opaque colors.
When the color is all done, you put a layer of top coat, and then cure in the lamp.
Once the top coat is applied and cured, take a cotton ball or facial cotton and soak it in acetone or rubbing alcohol and wipe off the tacky layer you just cured. It should not remove the color and it will leave your nails clean and shiny.

Gel polish last up to 14 days and doesn’t chip off like regular polish. I love how it holds up because I to LOTS of things from refinishing furniture to washing dishes, and GEL HOLDS up its end of the bargain. I won’t touch regular polish.

Here is what you will need:

Nail file, Cuticle Trimmers
Acetone or alcohol
UV lamp (I use the Red Carpet lamp I got from Ulta years ago regardless of the gel polish I’m using at the time).
Gel base polish, Gel color, and Gel top coat

Here are some kits I recommend

This Red Carpet kit comes with a light and all the essentials from Amazon

This is from Ulta (you can use coupons) and comes with a few less things