TreeHut Coconut Lime Body Scrub and Lotion Review

TreeHut Coconut Lime Body Scrub


Directions: Apply all over body in circular motions in shower or bath
This body scrub has rated 10/10 on my body scrub list. It is lightweight, yet very moisturizing. You can feel the small grains in the scrub which is awesome, because it exfoliated my skin just perfectly. The texture was amazing!
In the shower, after washing with regular body wash- I scoop this out by a small handful (with my hands of course) and rub it on my skin directly with my hands (or a washcloth).
I love to use this as a shaving cream as well. The grainy texture exfoliates my legs while giving me the closest shave I have EVER had with anything! My legs were so soft, smooth, and supple. I couldn’t believe I had such a close shave with a body scrub.
After my shower, my skin felt awesome! Most body scrubs feel oily to me. Not only did they leave oily marks on my clothes, but they also made my skin retain the oil and give me bumps and ingrown hairs on my thighs.  Not with this one. Because it isn’t greasy, all it left was softness.
It is easy to wash off, and my skin LOVES this. My skin seems to soak up moisturizers now. My skin is nothing but brilliant now! This has even helped my Keratosis Pilaris (chicken bumps).
I got some fake bake bronzing lotion, and you have to exfoliate before using it, so that the bronzer doesn’t stick to your older skin cells. This body scrub was the most perfect thing I could have used with the fake tan.
My skin was so soft and all my dead skin cells were gone, so that all was left was clean skin for the bronzer to cling to. I didn’t have any streaks or really dark spots.
I don’t find It necessary to use this daily, maybe 2-3 times a week. My skin definitely keeps smooth until the next use. I don’t even have to use lotion when using this. That is a big statement coming from me!
The smell is amazing. I hadn’t heard of coconut lime until bodycology launched their line of coconut lime lotion in 2009-10- I got some but I’m telling you- THIS brand smells much better and is cheaper!!

• Certified Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
• Coconut Extract: skin conditioning
• Lime Extract: skin polisher
• Safflower Seed Oil: deep moisturizer
• Evening Primrose Oil: rejuvenating and anti-aging agent
• Sweet Almond Oil: improves complexion and retains natural sheen
• Avocado Oil: reduce sun damage/age spots, hydrates
• Macadamia Seed Oil: excellent skin moisturizer and protector, High in essential fatty acids for dry skin and scarring, effective antioxidant
• Orange Oil: supports collagen formation, detoxifying, repairs sun damaged skin
• Paraben Free and No Formaldehyde donors
• Made in the USA
• Do not test on animals

Coconut Lime Shea Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion


Moisturize your skin and surround your senses with the fresh, exotic sent of Coconut Lime. This rich, nongreasy formulation, infused with Certified Organic Shea Butter, Coconut & Lime Extracts, hydrates the skin leaving it smooth and supple. Experience the natural beauty of your skin through Tree Hut's refined ingredients and rich formulas.
Directions: Apply daily; morning and night.
I am in LOVE with this lotion. It is so thick and creamy yet doesn’t leave a greasy oily. This is such a smooth lotion, goes on so creamy. I think my skin has fallen in love. I use this more than I do my Amber Romance from Victoria’s Secret.
I am definitely looking forward to having this in the winter. My skin gets itchy, red, and flaky from the cold weather. This is a gentle lotion that gets the job done. It smells amazing and the smell lasts for a long time.
After taking a shower, I smother my body in this. It just feels so amazing. I have even used this to tame the frizz I get in my hair after being outside sweating playing with the kids. If I am not taking a shower for a little while longer, I’ll just rub a dab of this in my hair and it works wonders!
It contains vitamins A, C, and E. So it’s naturally a skin soother and smoother! Definitely has me hooked. I am addicted not only to the lotion and scrub but the SMELL!!

• Certified Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
• Coconut Extract: skin conditioning
• Lime Extract: skin polisher
• Safflower Seed Oil: deep moisturizer
• Paraben Free and No Formaldehyde donors
• Made in the USA
• Not tested on animals

Connect with TreeHut:
Facebook, G+, Youtube,  Twitter, & Pinterest
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. Opinions are 100% mine and completely honest.
Thanks for dropping,
Jessica

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Enamel - Review

 

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as “a bold hot pink.” It is a gleamed up pink with an exquisite cool undertone and a glossy cream finish.

This is perfect for summer. I have used this so many different ways since receiving it. I used it by itself to give a naturally glossy beautiful pink which gleams with a natural tan. The tan makes it even brighter and more noticeable. =)

It has an flawless and impeccable coverage in just 2 coats. It applies smoothly and evenly without any trace of bubbles anywhere. There was no streaking at all, or any pooling in certain parts of the nails.

I can get an entire week out of just 2 coats. No peeling, cracking, or chipping and I wash about 1-2 loads of dishes every single day. I am absolutely in love with this formula.

This polish is made to suit all skin tones. My daughter (who is 3) and very fair skinned- always asks “mommy please paint mine- paint mine mommy” So mommy paints hers as well. I only did one coat, but she loved it. She said “Oh mommy, that’s so purrty” lol

Although this has a cream finish, it has a high glossed shine finish. I love the way it looks. You could even skip a top coat if you wish, although it does add more time on how long you can keep it on without the tips fading.

I give this polish an A+ all around. This is part of the Essie Summer 2012 Collection. There are 8 beautiful colors including the Off the Shoulder color I just showed you =)

Disclosure: Thanks to Klout, I was able to review this awesome polish. I wasn’t sponsored for this post, the opinions are 100% mine and completely honest.

Thanks for dropping by,

Jessica

Loopeez Shoe Tying Help Review & Giveaway

Loopeez are the first product of it’s kind to teach directly on the shoe by attaching to the laces, freeing up hands for easy tie and re-tie. Loopeez breaks the shoe tying process down, step by step making shoe tying simple. Shoelace tying is an essential skill and teaching your child with Loopeez is easier than ever. Kids learn to tie shoelaces fast, making learning to tie shoes fun.

We have stuck with Velcro shoes for Aidan for the last two years. He was having problems at school with them coming untied and he didn’t know how to tie (He just turned 5).. So I switched him to Velcro so that he wouldn’t trip and skin his knees like he did before.

Now that he will be in Kindergarten this year, I desperately want him to learn how to tie his shoes. Alex, his half brother was 8 before he could even tie, so I don’t want that for Aidan.

Aidan is a fast learner, but has issues with frustration if he doesn’t get something right the first couple of times. He tends to get discouraged, but he doesn’t stop trying.

I was proud of him for wanting so badly to tie his own shoes. I guess this means independence for him. He loves to be able to do things for himself and he always has, so I was glad to be able to get Loopeez for Aidan and try and teach him this essential need before Kindergarten came upon us.

Not only does Loopeez help ties shoes, but it helps to keep them tied. I loved this. I love that there are so many products that are teaching kids independence and building a love for learning. It’s way better than confusing them with the rabbit ears, or loop-swoop- & pull thing.

He has soared with this. It did take him about 2 weeks to get the concept, but he done it! I am SO proud of him.!

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. All opinions in this post are mine and 100% honest!

Buy It: Loopeez shoe tying aid comes in several colors and patterns for boys, girls or gender neutral and sell for $5.95 for a set of 2! Loopeez also sells an exclusive line of specialty shoelaces designed to work specifically with the Loopeez shoe tying system which sell for $4.99.

Win It: 1 winner will win 1 set of Loopeez shoe tying aid! This product will be part of my 10,000 facebook fan giveaway. Please follow me on facebook and twitter to make sure you don’t miss it!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jessica

FashionWorld4U.com Sunglasses Review & Giveaway

I am addicted to fashion items, especially purses, shoes, and sunglasses. They add a certain statement to clothes. Accessories make the women, I’ve always heard. The sunglasses from Fashion-World4u.com are amazing because they are so cheap!

The cheapness isn’t from poor quality either, which is a big plus in my book. I will not buy sunglasses if they look like they aren’t going to last very long. That defeats the whole purpose. Why buy cheap low-quality items when Fashion-World4u has designer sunglasses under $20?

The sunglasses I chose are a replica of Dolce & Gabanna. As a mom, there is no way that I could afford real Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses, they are way out of my price range. But these sunglasses from Fashion-World4U are amazing, and you can’t tell the difference between these and real ones.
They even have the D&G symbol on both sides of the glasses, making them look like real Dolce & Gabanna Sunglasses. I love them, and will NOT part with them for anything!

They fit nicely onto my face, unlike other sunglasses. Some of them slip right off my face. I also love that I can slip these on the top of my head, when not in use and still create a classy, sophisticated look.
I was in awe upon receiving them! I was absolutely amazed. My stepbrother was over when I got the package and he thought I really had just gotten a pair of Dolce glasses. He said “Whoa- those glasses are like at least $150.”
DG-R13 in Tortoise

I smugly laughed to myself. If nobody knows- I won’t tell them! LOL. Why not let someone think I’ve splurged on myself? Although I really wouldn’t do that, but still- these glasses are FABULOUS!

See me rocking these amazing things? YUP- I’m in fashion love.. lol.

On the website, you can choose to search by gender, even kids and unisex. That makes it tons easier to find what you’re looking for. So you don’t have to search through tons of men glasses if you are looking for a pair for yourself.

Are you looking for a specific color of glasses? If you are, Fashion-World4U also lets you choose to search by whatever color you want. They have black, white, pink, yellow, brown, green, and blue. So- no matter what color you want- they have it =)

The designer glasses that they have are ALL amazing, it was so hard for me to choose just ONE. They have Armani, Bio Hazard, Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Locs, Bvlgari, Ray Ban, Lady Gaga, Christian Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna and MORE!

Most glasses are less than $15 AND there’s only $3.99 shipping to the United States and International. You can’t beat this deal. I’m serious. Nobody that I have came in contact with has even THOUGHT these were anything but designer glasses. =)

Like Fashion-World on Facebook for the latest updates on their shipments =)

WIN IT: Come back for the 10,000 FB fan giveaway for a chance to win!!

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% mine and completely honest.
Thanks for dropping by,

Jessica

Ahava Mineral Makeup Review

Ahava's expertise in mineral skincare is based on years of ongoing research into the effects of Dead Sea minerals on the skin. AHAVA has harvested this vast knowledge base in the creation of its NEW mineral makeup care- an especially skin-friendly line that looks as good on you as it is for you.
The Mineral Makeup Care line is formulated with special, specific ingredients with powerful anti-aging and moisturizing properties including Dunaliella Algea (an indigenous, one-of-a-kind Dead Sea seaweed loaded with vitamins, beta-carotene and amino acids) and AHAVA's Mineral Skin Osmoter (a unique blend of 21 essential Dead Sea Minerals). Additionally, the silky texture and soft-focus technology smoothes over fine lines and imperfections for a flawless complexion and natural, non-artifical coverage. Multiple minerals in this paraben and fragrance-free formula provide natural UVA/UVB protection and rich oils including Jojoba Seed, Avacado, and Karite provide nourishment and moisture for the skin.

Directions
Always start with clean, dry skin. Allow moisturizer to dry completely before applying. Using the skin-loving makeup brush, swirl brush over loose powder. Tap excess powder off brush. Buff onto skin using a circular motion. Start at the outside perimeter of the face, near the cheekbone, working toward the center. Buff the nose, forehead and chin until the desired coverage is achieved.

My Thoughts*

This is my before picture. Without any makeup on at all.
This is me with the Ahava Mineral makeup on.
This mineral makeup is tinted with minerals and contains absolutely no oils. This stays on all day and is perfect for neutralizing skin redness. This makeup works amazing and works naturally to keep my skin looking healthy.

This makeup looks like a pressed powder and feels silky smooth when I put it on. It stays on without any effort and looks amazing all day. My skin can definitely breathe and it does NOT smother my skin.
This isn’t a full coverage powder foundation- AND it states that it isn’t supposed to be. It comes in three different shades; Dune, Clay, and Terra. It can be used alone as a bronzer or you can wear it with liquid foundation underneath for full absolute coverage.

If you want major coverage, I would suggest using a moisturizer and then a liquid foundation underneath. This mineral powder doesn’t cover blemishes by itself, so if you have acne prone skin and want coverage- use something underneath it (whether it be liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer, or just concealer on the blemishes).

Depending on how much your going to apply, depends on how much coverage your getting. It leaves skin silky smooth skin with no harmful chemicals or impurities. It contains Avocado oil which helps to protect and nourish your skin!

It is compatible with all skin types, whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin. It gives off such a nice effect for a perfect complexion. It is natural matte- so it doesn’t give off a shine when your taking pictures!
This product is not tested on animals and is paraben free- That’s the main reason I made the pact to change to mineral this year. Last year I learned about all the different chemicals that can be in makeups, skincare, and hair care that can seep into skin and become harmful if exposed for long periods of time.

Connect with Ahava:
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% mine and completely honest.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jessica

Bagluxe Giveaway 8/20

Hosted by Bella Savvy

Co-hosted by Momtobedby8, Powered By Mom, Couponing 4 You, Two Classy Chics, A Spectacled Owl, News Wahl, and Hott Mama in the City.

Bagluxe, a specialty online retailer of fashion-forward chic, affordable handbags, purses and accessories (influenced by the latest runway and celebrity trends) knows that every girl has a passion. Well, Bagluxe has a passion too... it's handbags, of course!

Their website features a wide range selection of fashion handbags and related accessories -- all priced at under $85.00. The company aims to build a trusting relationship with women who love handbags by ensuring superior customer service and offering quality, inexpensive products that are always on-trend.

READY TO WIN ONE OF THOSE FASHIONABLE BAGS? I KNOW YOU DO!

PRIZES:

FIVE lucky ladies will each receive a trendy handbag from Bagluxe (one featured bag OR a $50 Bagluxe gift card) -- $250 value

EVENT DATES: August 6, 2012 - August 20, 2012

Open to US & Canadian residents, ages 18 and over.

To enter, please use the rafflecopter form below. And don't forget to come back daily to gain additional entries. The more entries you have, the better your odds of winning.

~ A huge thank you to the lovely bloggers who are helping to promote this fabulous giveaway! ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vera Bradley Travel Set Giveaway

Welcome to the Vera Bradley Travel Set Giveaway

Hosted by Giveaway Promote. Sponsored by RockStarMomLV.

RockStarMomLV is a luxury travel and lifestyle resource dedicated to highlighting events, people and places on the Las Vegas Strip and community that appeals to the sophisticated local and tourist, with or without their little entourage.©

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Enter to win this Vera Bradley Travel Set.

One person will win this Vera Bradley travel duffel, satchel and matching umbrella in the Doodle Daisy pattern.

Includes: The Grand Traveler ($120 ARV), The Hipster ($60 ARV), and Umbrella ($34 ARV)

This giveaway is open in the United States and Canada.It will end at 11:59pm EST on August 12th, 2012.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers, join a group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

If you'd like to hear about all group giveaway and hop events open for blogger sign-ups, subscribe to Giveaway Promote's weekly group giveaway events and hops newsletter.

Rock n Learn Letter Sounds DVD Review & Giveaway

The kids recently had the opportunity to view the latest DVD title from RockNLearn.com. Letter Sounds. We’ve never watched any DVDs from RockandLearn before, so it was a new experience for us.

The educational interaction in this DVD is amazing. My kids are 3 and 5, and although it states that it’s for ages 4-7, my daughter really got into this as well which surprised me,

The educational approach is simple, effective, and tons of fun! It has been studied and SHOWN that using music to teach helps children AND adults better absorb and retain what they are learning.  

This DVD is created for kids who are starting to read. It helps children familiarize the sounds of the letters to assist them with reading words and sentences, and combinations of consonants.

This is one of the best thing that I could have done for my children. Even though Adisyn in only 3, she was even repeating what they were saying and singing. It was fun for her. Kids learn better by having an interactive fun show to make learning interesting.

The DVD is 62 minutes long, so they don’t watch it all in one sitting, but they DO enjoy watching it in spurts. I am seeing how much this has helped them, especially Aidan.

He will be starting Kindergarten this year, and he is already well on his way to reading. I am so glad that I found something that can continue to help both him and Adisyn learn to read.

The characters are fun and very colorful which attracted both Aidan and Adisyn’s attention. The letters are very large and clear, and there is a mouth at the corner of the tv, correctly pronouncing the words as they are said.

The games that are in the DVD really was entertaining for the kids and got their full attention. The kids can practice the letter sounds and see them being used in sentences.

This is a great DVD because not only does it review the letters and letter sounds, but it helps with sight words, spelling, and reading sentences. The DVD gives them time to comprehend each letter before moving on.

I love that we can continue to add to this collection. They have an entire line of these to help with math, telling time, making change, and more.

My Kids were up dancing, singing and having tons of fun. Adisyn is in the “parroting” stage, so she continued to repeat parts of these cute little songs after the DVD was over.

About Rock n Learn:

For over a decade, Letter Sounds DVD video has been one of Rock 'N Learn's most successful programs for helping kids learn to read. It's been used in classrooms all over the world and by millions of kids at home. We love getting testimonials on how our Letter Sounds video has changed lives by helping kids become competent readers and spellers.

Purchase It:

You can buy the Letter Sounds DVD for $19.99!

(You can even browse by age on their website).

 

Win It:

The Giveaway will take place on my 10,000 Facebook Fans Giveaway. You can follow me on Facebook & Twitter to make sure you catch the giveaway!

 

Google+, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to their email on their site.

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% mine and completely honest.

 

Thanks for dropping by,

Jessica

GiftHulk Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Event Sign-up

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Sponsored by GiftHulk & hosted by Mom Powered Media

At GiftHulk users can earn gift cards, electronics and other rewards the EZ Way, by doing things they already do online – searching, answering surveys and more!

Prizes: $250 in Amazon Gift Certificates

Sign up here

Tell them Made.By.Jess referred you!

Shielo Refreshing Mist Review

Swimming all day- refreshing.. YES. But not to your hair! Summer heat and excessive chlorine can leave your hair crisp and brittle. Did I mention frizzy and unbearable?

The Shielo Refreshing mist is here to help. This hair a mist that seals hydration with Vitamin A, ProVitamin B5 and Vitamin E. This comes in a pump action bottle that spritzes shine, moisture, and manageability back into those summer-heated locks.

This is dermatologist tested and very simple to use. Awesome thing to add to your summer beauty regimen! It is small enough to fit in a makeup bag so you can take it along with you to the beach or on vacation. =)

This is practically heaven in a bottle! When you spritz this into your hair, it can take away odors left over from environment factors such as smog and smoke. You can use this to re-style your hair without having to wash it.

I wash my hair at night when I am in the bathtub and then throw it in a ponytail. The next morning, my hair has tons of lines and lumps from the hair tie. So, I just spray some of the refreshing mist on it and blow-dry it or straighten it to the way I want it.

You have the option of spraying this on your wet or damp hair and combing it through after washing it, or you can spray it on dry hair. I usually use this on dry hair, since my hair gets oily throughout the day.

You can also use this on your body. Just hold it 12 inches away from your skin and spray. You can use it to maintain moisture after getting out of the bath or shower, or use it after swimming. Or just because you need some extra hydration to your skin!

I love to use this to set my mineral makeup as well. You can spray this over and under your makeup (mineral or not) to keep it fresh and lasting all day. It also helps it stay in place better in the summer. Less sweating off!

This, like all Shielo products is organic and never tested on animals. It is also made in the United States.

For hair: creates a hydrating seal for fresh, free flowing hair. Excellent for adding extra shine and fortifying strands throughout the day.

For skin: Use as a gentle toner after cleansing. A delicate blend of botanical extracts, including Aloe Vera, form a protective shield that locks in moisture and provides a natural source of nutrients. Excellent when used to set makeup.

Connect with Shielo

Facebook & Twitter

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jessica

Kendall Gethotics Review & Giveaway

Treating your feet well is a must. If you don’t, it can lead to very bad pain and constant discomfort. The pain can travel up your spine and spread to your lower back if you aren’t careful.

Adam is a foreman for a tree trimming service called Seelbach. He is not only the main trimmer, but because he is a foreman, he also has to help out with other jobs as well. He is on his feet 10+ hours a day, JUST at work.

Adding to the discomfort is that he has to wear steel toed boots and be in a metal bucket thousands of feet in the air most of the day. There isn’t much room to move around, and the metal is horrible for his feet.

Having shoes made custom for his feet were pricey. He had previously tried other shoe inserts without any help to his discomfort. He said that he could feel them inside his shoes and they weren’t any help.

He complains about foot pain almost daily. When I had a chance to review Kendall GelThotics, I was excited at the thought that I could ease some of his pain.

Kendall GelThotics are totally different from any other shoe insert because they are made with silicone. They provide support because they contain maximum support and are made for shock absorbency.

They provide less space in the shoe, so the shoe doesn’t become uncomfortable from being too tight. This also causes them to work in ANY style or make of shoe. Whether it’s a running shoe, business shoe, or work boot. They work and fit perfectly!

Other inserts look and feel hard, where these inserts are flexible and feel like jelly in a way. This makes it mold to the foot for the perfect fit. You take out the insole of the shoe, place the GelThotics inside- and then place the insole back inside the shoe.

These will never break down, tear up, or become uncomfortable because of what they are made of. They are designed to wear for a LONG LONG time. This helps to support your forefoot, heels, and arches so you get an overall balanced protection from shockwaves through your feet.

The GelThotics are moisture and waterproof, so Adam didn’t have to worry about the insert absorbing the sweat from his feet. They also do not absorb germs, so if you wanted to let someone borrow these- you wouldn’t have to worry about athletes foot.

Adam inserted these into his work boot and stood up. He said his feet felt immediately better. He knew that his boots were killing him because of the steel toe and lack of support in the heels and arches.

He said he felt SO much better at work. Even thousands of feet in the air in the bucket trimming, he didn’t feel any discomfort from his boots. I was really glad that I could help out with this. I am extremely happy to report that he hasn’t been complaining of feet pain at all since wearing these.

About:

Kendall Research Systems, Inc. has introduced a silicone orthotic with maximal support and shock absorbency. The Kendall GelThotic, provides optimal therapeutic support and requires less space in the shoe than any other orthotic, thus working in almost any style of shoe. Kendall GelThotics was sold by health practitioners in clinical settings, showing significant reductions in plantar fasciitis, forefoot issues, and more. Carefully engineered for enhanced biomechanical efficiency, it enhances performance through all phases of the gait cycle. In addition to enhancing performance, the GelThotic is water and moisture proof and cannot absorb microbes and odors.

Connect with Kendall GelThotics

• Visit the Kendall GelThotics Website

• “Like” Kendall GelThotics on Facebook

• Follow Kendall GelThotics on Twitter

 

The Giveaway:

 

One Lucky Made.By.Jess Reader will win their very own pair!

The Giveaway will be a part of my 10,000 FB Fan Giveaway

This should be posted very soon. Subscribe to my RSS feeds to make sure you catch the giveaway, it will be amazing. I have a lot of cool prizes lined up!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thanks for dropping by,

Jessica

Getting Care for Seniors

2010 was a very hard year for my family. Everything seemed normal, except the fact that my Grandmother had a large bruise on the back of her arm that was extremely huge. I didn’t think anything of It though, she was easy to bruise.

She had just retired from Nursing in May of 2010, so she didn’t have any insurance. When she got the bruise, I kept asking for her to go to the doctor, but she replied “I don’t have any money”. How could I persist? I knew how it felt not to have the money to go to the doctor.

She went finally- and when she did, they told her it was the flu and sent her home with some prescriptions to get filled. I was at my moms that day and she came over to visit while she waited for her medicine to get filled.

Little did we know that as she returned to pick up her medicine, that the police would be called on her. Someone called and said that she was swerving extremely bad. The cops found her in the pharmacy parking lot, and she was unresponsive.

She was awake but incoherent. She was looking out the passenger side window when the cop was talking to her. They immediately knew that something was wrong. An ambulance was called right on the spot.

She was taken to Bowling Green Hospital for some tests because they thought she was either having a seizure or having a stroke. When they got her to the hospital. they ran some tests on her.

It was a horrible night. Waiting and waiting on what the tests would say the next morning. I was in shock and complete grief already. This was the woman who meant the most to me throughout my life. She was always by my side and there was no way that she could be sick.

What would I do without her? The thought completely unnerved me. I didn’t know what to do or say. I snuck in the bathroom and busted out in tears. I was hoping and praying that everything would be fine.

The next morning, I was back at the hospital with her. The neurologist came in, and he was Chinese- so it was kind of hard for me to understand what he was saying.

All I DID understand was “TUMOR”. “Tumor?” How could this be? A big fat tumor lying straight on her brain was causing her to go into mild seizures because of the pressure. The longer he sat there explaining, the more I began to understand. There wasn’t just ONE tumor, there were FIVE.

Brain cancer.. that’s what it was. I couldn’t grasp the fact that she had brain cancer. They assured us that with chemo and radiation that she still had 2-3 years to live.

So she began the treatments, and within a short time, practically a week her hair began falling out. She was on more medicine than I could count and she was weak and tired all the time. She was always such a beautiful lady, keeping her weekly hair appointments to get it washed and set. Now it was falling out, and it broke her down. She was afraid that people would stare at her because she had no hair.

I felt like crying on the spot. The entire family just kept saying “Don’t let her know that you’re upset because she needs to stay as positive as possible.” So, needless to say- I never got to have that heart to heart with her that I desperately needed.

I was trying my hardest to get her on a medical card because she was suffering with only a retirement check. She was paying out of pocket for medicine, chemo, and radiation…

She was living with her husband and her sister at the time. I was told we need senior care, but her husband and sister said they could take care of her. I wish we would have gotten it though, because it wasn’t long before she took a turn for the worse.

She ended up falling in the rain and her sister couldn’t get her up, so she had to sit in the rain for 20-25 minutes until my mom could get out there and pick her up. The next day it was even worse.

I was at the community center applying for free medicine for her when my mom got a call from my grandma’s sister saying that she was acting weird and not responding again. We went out there and sure enough- she acted like she was in a coma or something. She had wet herself and they had left her like that all night. So mom and I gave her a sponge bath while waiting for the ambulance.

She got to the hospital and her oxygen level was very VERY low. She ended up coming home with my mom because we felt like her sister and husband weren’t caring for her as much as they should have.

I wish my mom would have had someone to come and help her though, because less than 2 weeks later my grandmother went way downhill. Her body was shutting itself down. She couldn’t eat, was barely urinating, and couldn’t pass a bowel movement at all.

Less than a week later, my grandmother was in a full coma and died later that night. I miss her greatly, it’s still hard to believe that she died less than 3 months after being diagnosed.

It reminds me daily to never take anything or anyone for granted, that life is short, and we should appreciate what we have.

She was a great blessing to me, and I’m glad she was in my life until I was at least graduated and she was able to meet my beautiful kids. She was amazing, and she will always be in my heart and mind.

Thanks for dropping by and listening--

Jessica

 

Sparked by CareCorner.

What Not to Eat When it Comes to Hot Flashes

Are you suffering from those nasty hot flashes and hate going out to eat
because you never know when one may hit? If so, it is time to learn what
foods you should avoid so you can decrease the amount and intensity
of hot flashes you have due to food triggers. Below you will find the top
offending foods that should be avoided at meal time and anytime!
Alcohol- Drinking and hot flashes seem to go hand in hand. The reason is
not known, but the evidence is there. So, go with a virgin drink, or better
yet, choose water with your meal.

Caffeine- This is a trigger that most women identify with. If this is your
problem as well, try going with decaffeinated coffee or caffeine free
soft drinks. This common ingredient can also cause sleep issues, heart
palpitations and headaches-all symptoms of menopause. Go for fresh
juices, milk or water.

Spiced up foods- You may love to have a meal of Mexican or Indian food,
but your body may not love it. In fact, it may cause hot flashes! If you find
that spicy foods trigger your flashes, go for a less spicy substitute. If you
just have to have your favorite dish, wear cool clothing and bring some
Towelettes for a wipe down.

Nicotine- smoking has been noted as a hot flash trigger. Research shows
that those who smoke experience more frequent and stronger hot flashes.
Quitting this habit will be good for your menopause symptoms and for your
health overall.
While avoiding certain foods can help, taking supplements and vitamins
such as Kuhl Care can also help reduce the symptoms of menopause,
including hot flashes!

Once you have some time to figure things out, you will better know your
triggers so that you can avoid them. Just think, you may just become a hot
flash expert!