Tag: review

Affiliate Links, Discounts, Hobbies, Product Review

Natural Deodorant Journey: Small Reviews

Sirua

Underarms.

They’re a nuisance for some and others they hardly think about it. Puberty was a weird time for me with my underarms. Shaving the hair made it itchy. While different deodorants I tried cause the one my mother thought would work didn’t work and white tees would yellow. Yeah, thanks aluminum salts for always making me self conscious and tuck my elbows out of fear.

Recently it’s been said that the aluminum in some deodorants are potential hormone disrupters. Although not proven; scientists have what I would call an inkling that aluminum can potentially be harmful. Why is there aluminum in deodorants? Well it’s to plug the ducts and to stop/prevent sweating which causes body odor. Thus why some say antiperspirant.

Of course none of this is actual concrete evidence and frankly I’m not sure what to think. But knowing that it caused yellowing in white clothes and the idea of my sweat getting clogged up. And years of having dark underarms. I figured why not make the change to natural deodorants and go on a journey (self care journey?) I’ve tried a few different deodorants in the natural category: Native, Lume, Little Seed Farm and Each & Every. Little warning if you’re planning to switch to Natural Deodorant. The first few weeks are body crazy. You might sweat more then usual, skin changes, odd smells as the adjustment period follows. It took me about 6 weeks when usually it’s 3-4 since I had issues with one of the deodorants I tried.

Native

Native was the first one I tried and oh man I wish I would of read ahead of time. For those who aren’t aware there’s a chance that baking soda can have side effects on your skin. Native has a line of baking soda deodorants and non baking soda for people with sensitive skin. I tried the baking soda one and essentially my skin began to burn and peel. At first I thought this was normal? My underarms were unplugging and breathing again. But then it began to worse and I couldn’t use it anymore. Unfortunately I became aware that my underarms are allergic to the baking soda ingredient found in deodorants. It wasn’t pretty. The peeling made it look like a chemical peel. The skin was pale and pink while the outer edges were dark. Perhaps if I had tried their non baking soda option I would of liked it more and probably wouldn’t have had an issue. But, I ended up moving on to another brand since at the time I was sure if they offered a non baking soda option. Which they do! Silly me.

Lume

Lume was first starting when I ordered a tube. Now they have a line of scented ones that I’m curious about. The first tube I ordered wasn’t a fan of the smell but it did do it’s job. I healed from the chemical reaction from using Native and the tube made it easy to use in other parts of my body (under boob sweat? Groin? Thighs? Covered!) Although it worked for me, I frankly couldn’t get over the smell and wanted something either floral or scented to at least feel like I was smelled nicer? Currently they do offer different scents that I have not tried. the tube is sort of like toothpaste and you simple squeeze, apply and done.

Little Seed Farm

Amazon purchase for the win. So I found Little Seed Farm on amazon when searching for best natural deodorants to use. I was happy to see they had samples to try in case you have a scent you’re looking to try but don’t want to commit to a jar just yet. You can find the samples to try here for all their scents. For their larger size they have glass jars so yes you essentially take a small amount and apply to your underarm. It melts down and you’re good to go. I personally enjoyed the lavender and cucumber options but they also have charcoal as an option. In total they have 7 scents and an unscented option. The little jars are perfect to wash out and use for little things afterwards if you’re a fan of reusing things! You can purchase a full jar here. Honestly, this is my second favorite and first favorite for my brother who also made the switch to natural deodorants.

Each & Every

This is my go to. The different scents and their plant based packaging. You can even return the bottles you’ve used up for points towards your account since they recycle it. They provide you with a shipping label and off it goes in the mail. They have different scents including my favorites: Rose Vanilla, Lavender Lemon, and Geranium Snow Mushroom. There’s many other amazing sounding scents. But these scents especially if there’s a sale specific for some odors I tend to buy it in bulk to share with my husband or mom who also fell in love with the brand. It glides on smoothly and the essential oils are such a lovely scent. It feels so luxurious and who doesn’t love luxury when pampering themselves?

How do I know it works? Well let’s just say I can definitely smell myself when I don’t use it or forget to apply deodorant (oops!). If you’re looking to try this one you can click here for a 5 dollar off discount on your first purchase!

Thank you for reading! I always enjoy doing product reviews for you all with my honest opinion. There’s still more to come!

Disclaimer **As an Amazon associate I do receive compensation for any Amazon links clicked above**

Affiliate Links, Discounts, Life, Product Review

Wonderfold Luxe: Few Weeks Later

Sirua

After a few weeks of owning our Wonderfold. I wanted to give you all an update. Adventures have been a breeze with it. We eventually bought their snack tray for the kids since it made perfect sense for our boys. Kids. They’re always snacking and hydrating.

Overall the kids love it and we love it. We plan on purchasing more accessories in the future to continuing enhancing our experience with it. I do plan to post more photos with the kids and our adventures in the future. You can check them out on our socials. Our initial impressions is posted on my blog. Those haven’t changed and continue to be the reason we truly love having the wonderfold. Especially with our older son who’s autistic. He feels more secured when strapped in. He likes to look around every once in a while and it keeps him safe from running off. In our previous wagon he was too big and tall which made it unsafe. I couldn’t be more proud to be an affiliate to a wonderful product for parents.

If you or anyone you know is interested feel free to check it out here with my affiliate link: Wonderfold or use the code Sori for a discount! Feel free to comment or reach out with any question or concerns. Much love and stay sweet everyone!

Affiliate Links, Discounts, Life, weight loss

Two Month Post Op VSG (Vertical Gastric Sleeve)

Sirua

Has it been 2 months already!? Time flies especially when you’re busy. I remember feeling so nervous about the pain and procedure I thought I would stay up all night worried. I was able to get some sleep but was scared most of the day. Now here I am 24 pounds later and it’s only the beginning. I still have the same comments in pros and cons (referring to last blog post). It’s difficult to enjoy uh of a meal when you get full instantly. It’s like a tease of your favorite food then your stomach stops you.

I’m still drinking about 1.5 of premier proteins per day while trying to eat healthy as I possible can with the occasional Oreo or two when my period hits (darn you aunt flow!). What’s helped me as a busy working mother is ordering a meal service for myself full of veggies and some protein. The service is called Splendid spoon. This company wants to make healthy eating as easy as possible. The meals are 100 percent plant based, whole and unprocessed ingredients, organic, non-gmo, gluten free with no artificial sugars. Besides the meals they also have freshly made smoothies that are functional and keep you full. The meals can be microwaved for on the go convenience and they add new recipes every once in a while. Since the containers are 12 oz and I have reduced what I can eat to 4-5 oz. The meals can be 2-3 meals for the day. If you’re on your own vsg journey or looking for a meal service to try use my Link to get 25 dollars off your first order to try it out! Let me know what you think about the meals or smoothies you try. I personally enjoy Beans and greens, vegetable bolognese, creamy mushroom and spinach noodles, and vegan meatballs with marinara noodles.

24 pounds down and the major difference I’ve felt is my energy levels. I’m getting up more and sleeping better (could just be exhaustion at night lol) organizing the house faster and cleaning more. I honestly couldn’t keep up with the maintenance and kids. I can tell with progress photos there’s a difference and in my underwear as well. Things are loosening up and I appreciate every pound off me. I haven’t experienced any dumping syndrome and I do my best to remember my vitamins but it’s hard to remember at times. I can do better in drinking more water and that’ll be my focus now that food wise I’m doing better. I’ve also starting walking and thinking about a gym membership to get my mind into working out. My best friend and my husband are to come with my to motivate me and themselves. It’s wonderful to have an amazing support group when you’re on a journey this difficult. It’ll be lovely to look back on this one day. Here’s to a healthier lifestyle!

Thanks for reading this update. I hope you enjoyed! Always feel free to reach out with any questions. Stay sweet everyone!

Affiliate Links, Discounts, Product Review

Wonderfold Wagon Luxe: First Impressions

Sirua

Mother of two kids can get hectic sometimes. My old son who’s now 4 is 3’6 or even a little over. And my 1 year old doesn’t like to be held as much when we are out. We had bought the baby trend wagon which was nice at first but it was hard for the boys to share and they weren’t strapped in since they didn’t have much space. As many know my 4 year old is on the spectrum and needs constant adult supervision. This makes going out to run errands on my own difficult or traveling with both kids highly unlikely unless I have my husband or someone else with me.

I came across Wonderfold and was excited to see how both the kids would fit and be strapped in with a harness. The canopy would block out a good amount of sun. Thus I started to compare all the types they had and settled for the Luxe W4. I was grateful they provided a special needs discount to help us save a bit and was one of the deciding factors for us to buy one. To receive this discount, they have a form which you bring to your child’s physician to fill out. Upload the form and you’ll hear back within 7-10 business days.

The wagon is spacious and feels solid. Putting it together wasn’t too hard. Definitely easier if there’s two people involved. It holds about 4 kids but with my 4 year old it’ll be 3 in case we have anyone along. The harness keeps both kids secured and with the all terrain wheels it’s ready to go!

Shopping with the W4 Luxe

The kids loved it overall and my husband was impressed with how easy it is to have both the kids safely in the wagon without a hassle. It’s definitely a hit with us!

Of course things come with its minor cons. But this one is more car related. I highly recommend measuring your car space before purchasing and checking the dimensions on Wonderfold’s website. I would imagine a full size SUV fits this easily. As a Tesla Model Y owner. It was a hassle to figure this out. We initially folded it and put it inside and at first it didn’t fit at all. I lost hope until my husband removed the wheels. This can be done easily since the back wheels have a piece that holds it together on each side. The front wheels you need either a small key or tool and they slide right off. We put the wheels to the side and it fit perfect inside! This is obviously a lot of steps but it was the only compromise we had to face due to limited trunk space.

Overall this wagon has been perfect for our family and outings so far. With summer coming around and traveling plans. I do plan on taking this everywhere I go for our needs and adventures.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Wonderfold wagon or wish to know more click this link to find out more about their options and find what’s perfect for you. Ready to checkout? Use the code Sori for a discount! I’ll be posting more updates and adventures on my Instagram with it. So feel free to follow me below on my social links. Much love and stay sweet everyone!

anime, Hobbies, Tarot/Card Readings

Let’s Talk Anime!: Fruits Basket

Sirua

This has been the first anime in a long time that I couldn’t wait to write about. Of course there’s other but this one. THIS ONE. Left me with no choice but to write a review on it. Valentine’s Day is close by and with the upcoming release of the prelude to this anime. I thought why not.

Let me start by saying I didn’t watch the original. This is for the newer fruits basket. If the older one is worth it. I’ll watch it and enjoy that one too.

Fruits Basket is one of those animes that if you have no knowledge or background on what it is. The little summary will confuse you. You’ll read it and probably ask yourself. How can a show about people who turn into zodiac animas but they’re human and this female character be interesting? It has an almost perfect 5 star on Crunchyroll. The character looked pretty. I was like okay I’m going to either cringe or like this. Well, I loved it.

Tohru is someone you must protect at all costs. I understand it. The characters understand that. It’s a given. Most of the time you just want to hug her and make everything better or want to face palm yourself because she always cares about everyone except herself. The show is very slice of life, romance, psychological type genre. You meet the Zodiacs one by one who are all from the Sohma family line. Tohru automatically befriends them all. She’s the light and warmth that brings everyone together. Meanwhile, the curse and bond that holds the zodiacs together has subjected them to abuse from their God and/or their family. Some you see more than others. Especially Kyo, Yuki, Shigure, Haru and Momiji. The others you see here and there. But I believe Ritsu is a definite minor character you hardly see throughout the series. Overall, the characters and their development are wonderful. Tohru’s mother although she passed away before the series begins; is a major character throughout the show. It’s hard to not love her and cry at times for not even meeting her while she was still alive (hence the prelude coming). A lot of tears were shed for each character. There’s times where you’re frustrated, sad and overjoyed. But you start to get the flow of everyone’s emotions and then you’re on this roller coaster of emotions the whole time.

Spoilers Start Here. Don’t read if you plan one watching! Skip until Spoiler Ends

I won’t lie. At first I was so feeling the Yuki and Tohru ship. I found kyo frustrating in the beginning and Yuki was just someone you want to hug. Kyo had this wall that was difficult to read. Eventually you see why this isn’t a thing. How Yuki sees Tohru as a mom instead of a spouse. That’s fine. I actually like how they gradually built up their relationship and how they eased off the whole romance thing to focus on her and Kyo.

My favorite couple overall has to be Haru and Isuzu. The emotions and the way Haru reacts every time he sees her or when she sees him. It’s sweet and bitter due to the emotional abuse she’s endured. Her dedication in trying to break the curse to free them and love openly since Akito (God) would hurt her for loving him and being happy together. The way Haru tries to protect and be there for her while also loving her so passionately kills me since he can’t do much when she hides the abuse she endures with Akito. Isuzu although coming off as mean or distant at first is emotionally damaged from her past and when she cries into Tohru’s arms I couldn’t help but cry with her. Not knowing a parent’s unconditional love and feeling like a burden to those around her to decide to be kind is a lot to carry.

Spoilers End Here!

Honestly, this is only a snippet of so much in this anime. It’s 3 seasons. First two seasons have 24-25 episodes each. Then the 3rd has 13 episodes? There’s so many characters to love, like, hate, dislike that it’s hard to put it into one blog. If you like Romance, Slice of life, with some psychological trauma/drama involved. Check it out. And if you’ve watched fruits basket. Comment below on who your favorite character is and why.

I’ve started Tarot Readings again. For February and some of March. If anyone’s interested. Reach out through my social links below or contact me through WhatsApp, Email or Text: (917) 635-7597 or everblog.sori@gmail.com. Stay sweet everyone! Hope you enjoyed.

Life, Tesla

Electric Car Experience Update January: Tesla Model Y

Sirua

It’s been 3 months since we took delivery of our Tesla Model Y Long Range. Living in New York City with an all electric vehicle has been interesting to say the least. I’ve gotten a lot of questions in terms of charging, how have I dealt with the cold weather, first impressions, and of course why a Tesla. All things I can answer now since owning our Tesla (who we named Baymax) for the past 3 months.

Why Tesla?

Electrics vehicle peaked my interested before I got my license. Previously I wasn’t a car person. Not one bit. But tech? Sure. Innovations? I’m curious. So seeing a car that I consider to be essentially somewhat of a phone on wheels; progress the way Tesla did, I did what I usually do and started researching. The safety scores, cleaner energy, and of course the charging network.

First Impressions

The configuration that was decided was white exterior with white interior, and seven seater long range. My husband and I went over the whole car with a checklist since there’s a chance of issues. Luckily the most we found was a seat issue that was recently fixed. Other than that the car was perfect! The white seats stand out so much and brighten the interior in a beautiful way. I was nervous to drive it since I knew about the regenerative braking. But it drove wonderfully. It felt sturdy and the acceleration makes you feel confident in handling to merge or make maneuvers needed. Ultimately it was a great ride all around. You could feel a bit more bumps on the road since we had a CR-V previously that handle bumps much better. But the ride is smooth besides that.

Charging in NYC

Well it’s complicated for the most part. It does mean going out of my way and adding an extra errand. And if I can I’ll charge in a 110 volt when I have permission since I rent where I live. 110 volt is very slow charge we get about 3-5 miles per hour. So it can take up to 24 hours to charge if I get it down to almost 50 percent battery. Unless I’m running errands near my job where I can go to a super charger 10 minutes away. There’s not much else you can do in terms of charge. Unless you own a home here. Have access to third party chargers. Have permission to get a faster charger installed. All that can be restricted or have expensive cost. (Parking garages have chargers. But you pay a parking fee AND charging fee.) It’s worked out so far where I only need to charge about once a week. I am still supercharging through my first 1000 miles free from a referral code I used when purchasing (the referral program stopped in October). Once I know how much it is to supercharge I’ll update to compare to gas prices.

White Seats!?

Yes even with two kids. I went with white seats. Their seats have seat protectors only because the leather seats and car seats leaving marks I wouldn’t be too happy about. We haven’t traveled far so eating in the car hasn’t been a thing for us. The kids don’t eat in the car. I do have/like to wipe down the seats every week on my side to keep the white bright and looking clean. I do see on the side where I get in some stress marks starting. Which I’m sure is normal for the most part. But I love the white. It actually resistant to most staining. And I don’t wear any dark jeans and tend to go for leggings or sweats these days. I’ll update once it’s an issue or any issues.

These are the main questions and things I’ve been asked or gotten. But I’ll make another post for accessories. After market things. And plans with this car. We do plan on road-tripping a bit. Not too far. Once things warm up. But stay tuned for that. Thank you everyone for the support and reading my blogs. Stay sweet!

Hobbies, Life, Product Review

Tarot Readings: Beginning my Awakening

Sirua

I recently got into tarot reading one day. Not sure exactly, you know those Facebook Ads that creepily come up and you tell yourself “yeah they’re listening.” It was probably one of those. I came across an ad for Threads of Fate. I fell in love with their card designs, the aesthetics, and their belief of finding our own individuality as spiritual people. Then there I was purchasing not one but two of their decks. No regrets. I highly recommend their decks with how gorgeous they are. I feel connected with my decks and it’s funny cause when I did introduce myself to my decks they sassed me. How could they!?

First of all, the decks are gorgeous. I was able to get their Tarot Journeyer and Oracle Lumen. Still debating the rose edition for collector’s sake. I’ve mostly used them to read myself or any residual energy from my dreams. The accuracy has been unreal and yet comforting to say the least. I was happy to be able to do a reading for a friend who had passed and was able to do a spirit guide spread and it was accurate for them too. It was emotional and exciting all at once.

The excitement I feel when reading buzzes throughout my whole being. I feel a tug in my soul and this vibration that relaxes me. Although I am completely new to this and not sure what any of this supposed to be like. I hope to be able to read for others one day. But for now, I’ll keep the cards close and personal until I’m ready. I have uploaded my somewhat set up so far on my tik tok. Doesn’t do the deck’s beauty any justice. Enjoy!

Have you been to a tarot reading before? How was it? Did you feel anything? Comment below your experience. Stay sweet lovelies.

Life, Product Review

Natural Deodorant

Sirua

A few months back I decided to change my deodorant. At first it was cause oh no there’s aluminum and all these articles about how it’s linked to breast cancer. Besides the fact that even though most deodorants would just “stop” working for me or I still smelled no matter what I would do (scrubbing skin almost raw doesn’t work for long.)

I decide to venture in finding something more natural and help against odor. Even if research is little I rather not take my chances with the risks since my family members have a history with breast cancer. Plus trying new things would probably help. Who knows.

I’ve tried a few including Native, Lume, & Bends soap company. I did love them all don’t get me wrong. One issue I ran into was the ingredient baking soda. To be fair I didn’t know this until I actually tried some products. Since I read there’s adjustment period I figured that’s what was going on. No. Not at all. Apparently, my armpits don’t agree with baking soda. At first it was a soreness I couldn’t explain. Soon the pigment of my skin began to change and my skin started to peel. Lume is baking soda free so when I switched back to that I finally realized that the soreness slowly went away and the skin in my armpit soon felt better. Took 2-3 weeks for my skin to heal from the peeling and dark pigmentation. Looking back now I laugh because of all things to irritate me it would be baking soda. I do enjoy Lume but I’m not the greatest fan of their unscented version. Since I bought it. They’ve released different scents. I bought the tube with the cream since it’s good for other areas. Including under boob (sorry guys! Us ladies sweat underneath there too sometimes) and near our private bits. A small amount goes a long way!

The one I’ve been using constantly. That I always go back to and eventually plan on trying other scents soon is Little Seed Farm Natural Deodarant.

I’ve only used the lavender scent so far. Smells lovely and it didn’t irritate at all. They also have a sample pack here to try each of their scents here: Little Seed Farm Deodorant Sample Pack

It comes with a little wooden stick to apply. I usually just use my finger and make sure to get the whole area and outer just in case. It’s definitely one of the better natural deodorants I’ve used. I’m in love with it and can’t wait to try their other scents! I love that it’s made with organic ingredients and I haven’t noticed anymore weird odors. Overall it’s worked for the past 3 months that I’ve had it! The container is small but it really does last anywhere from 2-4 months depending on how much you use or need. Definitely will continue to purchase this.

Thanks again everyone for reading. I do reviews from time to time on different things that I’ve tried and have made my life a little easier like this deodorant transition. Next, I’ll probably do things I used or didn’t use when my son was a newborn and even now for any mommas out there. Much love everyone!

*As an Amazon affiliate I do receive commissions on qualifying purchases made from the provided links*

Succulent/Plants

Succulents during the Winter

Sirua

The cold is getting near for us here in the city that never sleeps. It’s insane how quickly the weather can change. One day you’re out in a T-shirt and jeans. The next you’ll need a hoodie to help with the chilly winds. Pretty soon I’ll have to take out our coats for the winter even though fall started not too long ago.

I recently started a succulent collection that has exponentially grown since my past posts. I plan on sharing what I have perhaps in another post when I’ve received most or all. Most of them have been indoors and some outside. But that doesn’t come with its own hardships. You see I miscalculated how much I would actually need for all these beauties once the cold came around. Most of my collection consists of many different echeveria species. Those cannot handle any kind of frost or temperature below freezing. Some of course could handle even 20 degrees Fahrenheit but I rather not risk it. As of now some are outside until I can get them inside. To prepare I’ve started to make space mostly in my bedroom with the shelving and another spot where I have grow lights. That’s right. Grow lights! Even if it’s winter and most of my beauties are dormant or going dormant they still need adequate lighting to be happy. I ended up getting both red/blue lights and full spectrum lights. It has a timer that gives me the option to have it on 3, 6 or 12 hours. Shuts off and then turns on early the next day depending on the time I set it. Gladly because I don’t think I’ll remember every day to be turning it on and off constantly. If you ask me I truly prefer the full spectrum yellow/white lights. It captures some of the lovely colors of my succulents when I take photos. Meanwhile the red/blue is complicated to take photos with and see if anything is wrong sometimes. Also, I’m sure my neighbors who can see our window from a distance are probably wondering why there’s a weird purple light coming from our window. (Don’t get the wrong idea now the succulents are innocent). So if you’re looking to get some grow lights I would highly suggest these grow lights:

LED Grow Light for Indoor Plant 45W LED Auto ON/Off Timer Full Spectrum Plant Lights

Grow Light, WAKYME Plant Lights 10 Dimmable Levels 30W Full Spectrum LED Grow Lamp, Memory Auto ON and Off 3-9-12H Timer, 3 Spectrum Adjustable Gooseneck Plant Lamp for Indoor Plant

I also realized that I needed multiple for my growing collection. The more succulents I get. The more lights I need to fulfill their need for light. I swear this house is about be bright all day if I continue down this path. But I’ll do what it takes to make these beauties happy. Be aware that the change in atmosphere and weather can make some sensitive ones go into a little shock. Keep a close eye. Also it’s good to have a fan or open windows to help air circulate around. They love that. I try to always keep two windows cracked to create a draft for most of the day. Keep an eye on watering, temperature in your home or separate place you keep them. Sometimes winter make most of them dormant so water isn’t completely necessary unless you see signs of thirst.

*As an Amazon affiliate I do earn commission from qualifying purchases*

Thank you for reading. Honestly, this hobby has taken a good chunk of my time and I do love blogging about it. I hope everyone isn’t annoyed already. Much love and always feel free to comment and ask questions. Much love!

Product Review, Skin Care Beauty

Petal Spa Oil to Foam

Sirua

In my skin care I have a Rose theme going on and I continue to add more things Rose related. I recently bought this oil to foam cleanser from Mamonde to make my nightly skin care much easier. It melts away my makeup which is usually mascara with some eyeshadow and liquid lip. After it’s well distributed. I add a tad bit more with water and foam it up. It feels so luxurious and smells lovely as usual. Leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. The consistency is almost like an oily gel so it’s easy to over use the product thinking it won’t be enough. Plus, whatever bit of makeup or anything is left I usually use my toner and cotton pad to get everything completely off. Honestly, just from the week I’ve been using it’s a definite permanent part of skin care routine as long as it’s available. I always look forward to my night skincare since it relaxes me before going to bed so having something that feels like I’m pampering myself is amazing. You can find this at Ulta by clicking on this link—-> Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam