Giveaway Alert - Soul Candy Oil Diffisuer

As you know, I am a Body Love + Pleasure coach for women in my other life. And I have recently partnered with my friend Michelle Kirsch, who is an Intuitive + Intentional Living coach, for this amazing giveaway loop.

I am giving away this Oil Diffuser Trio + (1) month of free coaching: 

Click here to enter. And be sure to visit the other businesses and enter their awesome giveaways too!

I'm so over complaining... #theComplaintFast begins 1/12/15

the Complaint Fast is a free 7-day challenge designed to help you stop complaining and start appreciating. 

The truth is complaining cancels out joy. And I have never, ever, ever been around a happy complainer, have you? Yeah, me either.

Let's stop it... together!

You can sign up for the challenge here. And while you're at it, invite your friends. 

the Complaint Fast begins on Monday (1/12). 

How to Prepare for Your First Yoga Class

Maybe you’ve finally decided to enter the realm of Yoga. Your sessions will help you to develop a sense of balance between your mind, body and spirit. If you are anxiously anticipating your first yoga class, then you will want to properly prepare yourself so that you can maximize the health benefits. The following are some tips on getting yourself ready for your first ever practice.

Hydrate 

You will need to properly hydrate yourself so that you will have extra liquids when you engage in Yoga stretching and movement the first time. Make sure you drink several glasses of water or Gatorade at least two hours before your session. Your increased fluid intake will help you to prevent dehydration when you engage in increased activities. 

Take a Hot Bath (Before or After!)

Yoga is an activity that essentially promotes relaxation. You can help bring forth your relaxed state by taking a hot bath before your session. A hot bath with eucalyptus or lavender oils will release any tension that you have in the body. It will also loosen your muscles and promote flexibility. 

Clear Your Mind

Another way that you can prepare yourself for your first yoga session is by clearing your mind of stressful thoughts ahead of time. You can do this by practicing meditation before class. To meditate properly, you will need to find a quiet area in your home where you can steer your thought process in a positive direction. You may also choose to find a comfortable spot outside. You will want to take long, slow, deep breaths while focusing on the rise and fall of your lungs. Tune in to the movement and focus your thoughts on your upcoming yoga class.

Dress Comfortably

You will want to wear appropriate clothing when you head to your first yoga session. Spandex is a good choice of material because it enables flexibility. Lululemon founder Chip Wilson swears by his company’s yoga attire. The clothing is meant to allow for optimal movement and relaxation. Most of the time, yoga is practiced with bare feet so shoes are not necessary. Chip Wilson advises individuals of all ages and fitness levels to try yoga and reap the health benefits of the activity.

The last thing you need to do to prepare yourself for your first yoga lesson is to bring a positive attitude to class. You must leave behind all of the troubles and struggles of the day and allow positive energy to flow through your body as you begin the flowing movements.

**This is a sponsored guest post. **

Kiss Me Organics Matcha Review #Sponsored

I received a free product to aid in the facilitation of this review. 

I have always loved Matcha. I love the creamy texture and rich flavor. I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to review Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder.

I've been drinking Matcha mocha's for many years, just because I enjoyed the flavor. Little did I know, Matcha is not just delicious, it's also good for you!

Photo credit: Kiss Me Organics

Check out these Matcha perks:

• Provides all-day energy
• Boosts metabolism
• Increases focus
• Improves skin health

Does that sound like the fountain of youth or what?

I was so surprised to find all the delicious ways that Matcha can be added to my diet. The recipe ideas are surprising!  Matcha waffles, Match Oreo Cheesecake, Jalapeno Macha Cornbread... and the list goes on and on.

My sister made this tasty Matcha Morning Smoothie:

Ingredients:

2 tsp - Matcha Green Tea Powder

4oz - Hot Water

2 cups - Almond Milk

1/2 cup - Carrot Juice

Broccoli

Banana

Frozen Mangos

Frozen Pineapples

1 tsp - Caro Syrup

Blend it all together for a glass of yummy Matcha goodness!

So you're probably wondering how you can have Kiss Me Organics in your life/kitchen... Well this fabulous product is sold exclusively on Amazon. Even better there is a 100% money back guarantee! If you're not completely satisfied with the product you can return it for a full refund within 30-days, no questions asked.

Go forth and be energized!  Get your Matcha Green Tea Powder today!!!

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.

Warm Traditions Hot Water Bottles are AWESOME!

Although I live in sunny California, the evenings can get a little chilly here in San Pedro. I know our idea of chilly is not the same as most, but it gets cold for "us." Plus my little sister Jamee is always cold, it doesn't matter what season it is!

You want to know one of the best ways to take the chill off? Hot water bottles! I hadn't used once since I was a kid, that's why I was thrilled when I received the Lamb Hot Water Bottle from Warm Tradition to review.

Isn't she too cute?

This water bottle stayed hot for HOURS! Soothing warmth radiated from this cute little cuddly lamb. It even kept Jamee warm... which is a miracle!

If you've never used a hot water bottle you may be wondering what you could use one for. Well her are a few of my favorite uses:

1. Menstrual Cramps - the warmth will make you feel much, much better.
2. Arthritis - many arthritis pain sufferers will attest that heat eases the pain.
3. Book Companion - a good book + warm beverage + hot water bottle = great evening!
4. Chill out - hot water bottles can be frozen too. It's a great way to cool off when it's hot!

Warm Tradition hot water bottles come in over 100 colors and stylish varieties. You can buy them plain if that's your thing or you can get a cute cuddly cover. Animal designs, sport prints, flowers... and more!

Visit the Warm Tradition site today, you're sure to find a style that you'll love! Right now their offering free shipping on orders $75 or more. 

You can also follow Warm Tradition on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

I'll be sleeping with my little lamb tonight :-)

This is not a paid post. A free product was received to aid in the facilitation of this review. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Journal 10+ Review

The end of the year is a time of reflection. Even if you're not sentimental, you can't help but think about the things you've accomplished (and the things you didn't), you review the highs and lows, and contemplate what you'd like to do next.

But sometimes goal setting can be dangerous. You can easily set yourself up for failure, simply by aiming too high.

One of the best ways to keep your goals in check is to record your thoughts daily (especially thoughts of gratitude). The Journal 10+ can help!

I'm not talking about carving out time in your day to write pages at a time, but just a few short sentences. Let's face it, the older you get the faster the time appears to go. When you get to the end of the year, it can be hard to remember what happened.  Two minutes a day, that's all it takes.

When I was younger I wrote in my journal every single day, but somehow I fell out of the habit. I gave myself a million excuses, like there was no time or that it wasn't that important. But now I need to journal more than ever. It's a stress reliever for me. It's also a way for me to prove to myself that I am actually getting things done. If you don't currently journal, you should start... now.

The Journal 10+ has a beautiful cover and also has these great features:

• Address book
• Section for birthdays and anniversaries
• Goals setting page
• 11 years capacity
• and more!

If you're getting ready for the new year, the Journal 10+ is just what you need. I'll be giving away a copy to one lucky winner in a few days... stay tuned!

I received a free Journal 10+ free to help facilitate this review. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So. Photo credits: Journal 10+

Life Supplemented App Review

For the most part I am enjoying the aging process, well except for the achy knees, spreading thighs, and puffy middle. The good news is, there are so many tools available to guide me along the way. I don't want to just exist, I want to grow and thrive, but in order to to that I have to be "well," right?

Life... supplemented is a consumer wellness campaign committed to supporting the three pillars of health: healthy diet, supplements, and exercise. They have recently launched an iPhone app called WannaBeWell.

The WannaBeWell app is simple and easy to use (no degree required). One of my favorite things about this app is the Coach. There are several avatars to choose from and you can even change their outfits! They do all sorts of crazy exercise/dance moves, you can't help but Laugh-Out-Loud (LOL)!  The coaches remind you to take your vitamins and provide healthy eating tips too. I must admit I was a little confused when the coach kept asking me the same question "did you take your vitamin today?"

There are also surveys to help assess your current health. The blog has plenty of good information too, from weight management to family meals. The library has a ton of information on dietary supplements and various health conditions as well. It's like having my own personal Health Information Center at my fingertips!

If you are looking to jump start a healthier lifestyle, without investing a ton of money, this app may be just what you've been looking for.  Click here to download the app from iTunes.

I tried the WannaBeWell App as part of a promotional campaign through MomCentral. While compensation was received, all views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.