Mookie's A Monster: First Vlog About my Neurological Illness

First Vlog About my Neurological Illness

Hey everyone! I have been hesitant to do this, but, I think it will be a good way for me to keep record, it will help people understand invisible illnesses and relate to those with them, possibly help someone, and also be therapeutic for me to talk about it. Anyhow, I suffer from multiple health conditions that are neurologic and I am in the process of trying to figure out what is going on. A lot has come from being ill. It started about 11 years ago with random crazy symptoms that would come out of nowhere. It slowly progressed, year by year, but the last 2 have been insane. Our family has gone through a lot because of this. I had to stop working and I am now disabled because of it. That is actually how I began reviewing. I have found more ways to cut corners to make ends meet than I can even believe. Sometimes I truly amaze myself. I don't mean that bragging. It is just awesome that you can become so resourceful when you have to. Without ever breaking the law. There are ways to get by on virtually nothing, but, you have to use your brain. The end of this video gets interrupted by Sam Dog barking, but, I didn't feel much like editing. I had an EEG earlier and was feeling a bit drained. I want this blog to represent my life, all different parts of it From just random crazy family moments , parenting topics, living with my illness, arts & crafts, and reviews of products I love. I don't really know what I am doing yet, but, I am just doing it, so, I hope you enjoy.

Wine Chiller by Bar Brat Review

I got my Bar Brat Premium Wine Chiller Aerator & Pourer for FREE in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. Pulling out the ice bucket is not always convenient. But, you want to drink chilled wine on a hot summer night. The problem is, out on the patio with a great friend, it is easier to just keep the bottle with us instead of running to the fridge each time I need a refill. The Bar Brat Wine Chiller resolves any issues I may have keeping my wine nice and cool.

It has a Gravity Lid, Food Grade Pouring Spout, rubber seal, wine aerator, and a chilling rod.All you need to do is place the chilling rod in the freezer for at least an hour. Once it is frozen attach it back on the aerator and pourer.Pour out a small amount into a glass at first. Put the aerator into the bottle and wait 5 minutes and it will be chilled! Just like that. Even faster than putting it the fridge.

MY Konjac Sponge Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sponge Review

I was able to review My Konjac Sponge for FREE in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I agreed, as it is for oily and acne prone skin. My daughter has oily and acne prone skin. We treat it naturally as possible. Most chemicals seem to aggravate it. It is an eco sponge that rejuvinates your skin.

It is easy to use. You just soak your sponge until it becomes soft, gently massage the face in a circular motion, rinse after use, squeeze out any extra water, and hang dry. 100% natural, 100% coloring and dye free, 100% Biodegradable, Naturally Sustainable, Gently Exfoliates Skin, Cleanses Pores, and Prevents Acne and Pimples. We loved this and saw wonderful results very quickly. This is great for health and eco conscious people.

2 Syono Gel Insoles Review

I was able to try out the 2 Syono Gel Insoles for FREE in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion. I was excited because I have high arches and it causes me a lot of pain. I walk kind of sideways due to that. Since I walk sideways I get blisters on the back of my feet. The gel insoles help to support my arch so that I can distribute my weight properly so that I can relieve a lot of pain. Not just in my feet, but, if your standing wrong on your feet, it can throw off your entire body and cause you tons of problems from your spine, to your knees, and your lumbar. What it costs to get a good pair of #insoles is way less than even one chiropracter appointment!

I liked that these were one size that you can cut to fit your foot size. I have had insoles that are the wrong size or where the design just does not fit right in my shoe and it ends up being a total waste. I really like the center support and the gel is very soothing on my feet. It used to be I could not wait to take my shoes off, now I want to keep them on!

Mookie's A Monster: Random Thoughts on Life.

Mookie's A Monster: Random Thoughts on Life.: Hey everyone! Sorry I have been so quiet . I have had some issues preventing me from getting some of my reviews and giveaways up, but, that ...

Random Thoughts on Life.

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been so quiet . I have had some issues preventing me from getting some of my reviews and giveaways up, but, that should be sorted out very soon. In the meantime, things have been crazy around here. Aiden has been fighting with his asthma with everything coming into bloom. His doctor has suggested we begin allergy desensatation. I guess we can potentially eliminate some of his allergens so that he can live a more normal life. How incredible would that be? For those of you who don't know, Aiden has allergies to wheat, corn, sesame, soy, peanuts, dust, cats, melons, bermuda grass, cockroaches, and about every tree and plant you can imagine. I can't remember all of his allergens off hand, but, his doctor said EACH of them is a strong enough allergy to interfere with his life. SO, we will be seeing a specialist to see where to begin. We are just around the corner from my daughter's graduation, We just sent her off to her senior prom, and she just got her first serious boyfriend. I am proud of her and scared a little of the fact that she is becoming of age to make her own decisions. I don't know how to let go and trust she is ready to be on her own if she all of a sudden were to decide to move out. I have so many mommy worries over her right now. I am also excited to be planning her graduation party. I think I use that to distract me from the fact that she is almost an adult. Mother's Day weekend was spent bringing my step son Cody to the National Football Camp tryouts! It was amazing to watch him. He is so smooth and so fast and he is all around a great kid. He was the third fastest kid! Now we wait 1-3 weeks to see if he receives an invite. How nerve wracking! In the middle of all of this, I have lost a couple of friends to suicide. I can't tell you how my heart aches. It is not as if they didn't reach out, they did . Both had a history of depression that they just could not get a handle on. This has me thinking about life in general. There seems to be an unusual amount of sad and negative energy in the world right now. People are angry and mean and aggressive. It's hard to live in a world like that when you have such a tender loving soul. I wish I could go back in time and somehow show them that love conquers all. Hold their hand, give them a hug, and let them know they are not alone. And, now, I feel the need more than ever to try to do that in one way or another with all of you. The whole world works as one unit to create this amazing eco system. We are all made of the same cells. The trees, water, earth, and flesh. Every animal knows it's place and plays an important role in keeping our planet going. We are all part of the bigger picture. We are all one. But, humans seem to be the only ones who don't know their place. We have gone so far from what we were intended to be that I think a lot of us just never feel we belong. Because, we don't. We weren't made to be a working machine. Sitting at a desk or behind a machine for 8-12 hours a day. We are supposed to be part of the big picture. Planting, harvesting, hunting, gathering. The earth has provided us with everything we need to live a peaceful life and we keep pulling as far away from that as we can. I think it is the root to depression and anxiety. We have created our own prison. It causes anger, aggression, conflict, and war. We were supposed to breath in the fresh air and embrace the natural beauty of this planet, but, instead we spend all of our time living for paper. PAPER. Seriously, how sad is that? When paper is more important than feeling the sand between your toes, watching the sun set and rise, enjoying the chatter of your toddler because you just don't have time. But, honestly, it's all we have is time. We don't know how much, but, we all have time. We have to decide how we spend the time. And, yes, it is a decision. I just don't think people realize it's a choice. Many don't even realize they have been imprisoned since birth to a system destroying everything we need to truly live. I think our whole world needs a giant hug right now.

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Willakaville: Amazing Adventures of Astronomical Awesomeness Review.

I think sometimes we take the creativity and imagination of children for granted. Kids know they have something special and want to harness that. Using a child's imagination is a great way to get them to love to learn. Willakaville: Amazing Adventures of Astronomical Awesomeness by Mathew Henecke is a book that uses a child's curiosity and imagination to engage young ones and help use it to teach them about problem solving in the real world. This book makes the kids the heroes, which is always great to teach them because all kids love the thought of being in charge and the one who saves the day. This book is full of wacky and magical adventures. It takes place in a town"Willakaville" in this collection of crazy adventures that aim to teach your kids valuable life lessons such as trusting each other, friendship, and being an honest person. It sort of reminded me of a mix between Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss kind of adventures. Those were always my favorite kinds of books to read as a child. I think humor is the perfect way to engage the young. Books they can get totally emerged in are perfect for learning. I love that my kids ask me to read it to them and I love hearing them laugh and laugh as I read the crazy adventures that Shirley, Jimmy, Charley, and Billy end up on. This is a really fun book that children of grade school age will enjoy hearing and reading for years. I would recommend this to anyone with a child who is a litte restless. It is the kind of book that can actually catch their attention and get the lessons through.

Nuphorin Anxiety Relief Review

Some of you may or not know about how I struggle with anxiety. I was offered a free bottle of Nuphorin in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I am at the point that I am open to trying anything that can potentially help me manage my anxiety and panic attacks. I have daily anxiety and multiple panic attacks weekly. I read the ingredients and they are all natural-non drug. The main ingredients being Ashwagandha, gamme-Aminobutyric, Chamomile, 5-Htp, and Dimethylethanoiamine Bitartrate. I recently watched a whole documentary on Ashwagandha. It was all about the medical properties and relaxation benefits it has when smoked. It was really interesting. I like that Nuphorin uses natural medicine. I am much more comfortable trying something that is drug free.

Nuphorin is a stress and mood support dietary supplement. It is aimed to aid in the reduction of stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.I waited until it was one of those nights where I wake up at 4 am to a horrible feeling of dread and fear. Covered in sweat. Breathing heavy, heart beating fast. It feels like the world is crashing around me and I don't know why. I can't shake the feeling. I just can't stop this feeling of dread. I decided to try one of these out.I had it next to my nightstand. I took one capsule as directed and waited for it to kick in. I actually started to notice a little bit of easier breathing about 20 minutes later. I started to feel a sense of calm come over me. I used my breathing techniques to ease into the feeling. I will say that I like these. I think they have the right blend to maximize stress relief. I like it. I will continue to use it. Even if it ends up being in addition to my prescriptions, I will use it. It is a great aid.

Saffronize-100% All Natural Saffron Extract

Saffronize is a weight loss supplement sold exclusively at Amazon.com. It is a weight loss supplement made with 100% Saffron Extract. Saffron Extract has become widely popular in the weight loss industry over the past few years.It was even featured on Dr.Oz as a weight loss miracle spice. Saffron is a spice generally used for cooking, but, has been gaining popularity in the medical field after several studies have found countless medical benefits from the spice. One of the many benefits of saffron is that it suppresses your appetite. It raises your serotonin. Low serotonin is what causes depression and anxiety, therefore, if you raise the serotonin you may eliminate the cause of overeating-Depression and anxiety. So,there you have it, that is how saffron works. It is said that Saffron curbs the need for daytime snacking. That is the number one benefit. The second is the weight people who take it lose. I decided to give it a shot when I was offered a bottle of Saffronize for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I like that it is an all natural spice that has no known negative effects. I am not the kind of person who likes taking supplements that claim to give you energy and make you crash. That stuff is just nasty. I did the 3 day challenge I saw on Dr. Oz. I took my capsules daily as directed. I did not notice any kind of jittery high feeling after taking it like I have with other pills in the past.I felt totally normal, but, I did notice I didn't get the urge to snack. If I were hungry, it wasn't as hungry as usual. You don't lose complete appetite, unlike some pills. That is nice. I want to lose weight, not starve myself. So, I just did my thing, ate when I felt hungry, stopped when I was satisfied. After the 3 days I stepped on the scale and I was down 2 lbs. That may not sound like much, but, I have P.C.O.S. which makes weight loss very hard, so, that was a huge deal. In my opinion, if you are going to choose a weight loss supplement, This is a great natural option that will not starve you or make you feel cracked out.It's worth a go!

Maxasorb D3 Vitamin D3 Lotion Review

Disclaimer:I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I was lucky enough to get the chance to try Maxasorb D3 Lotion to review for you all. I have low vitamin D a lot -like many people that live up north, and I am supposed to take a daily Vitamin D3 supplement . It's important for children as well. We don't get enough sunlight during the winter months, so, D3 is great for anyone to consider during those months. A Vitamin D3 Deficiency can be very serious. It is linked to many serious diseases and health issues such as cancer, asthma, heart disease,cognitive impairment. It can also help prevent and treat MS,glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. This is simple to use. Adults and children over 12 years old take 1-2 pumps daily and rub it in your skin. Children 12 years and under take just one pump. There are 60 doses per tube.It's nice to be able to moisturize while taking my vitamins. I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. The kids love to use it, which is nice. It's not like when I have to remind them to take their fish oil pills. They really like just using a lotion. But, keep it away from the young ones, only an adult should apply it to them so they don't use too much. This is a great product with many health benefits that is fun and easy to use. It is a lot easier to remember than taking my pill, I must admit. I think this will catch on. It's something I'd love to keep in stock on my medicine cabinet.

AVO Lavendar 100% pure&natural Essential oil Review

I was offered the chance to try out AVO Essentials Lavender 100% Pure&Natural Essential Oil for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I have always loved Lavender. It is one of the most relaxing and stress relieving scents for me. I was excited for the chance to try it out. This is 100% Pure oil that you can use for many things. I like to add it to my 100% Pure fractionated Coconut oil for a relaxing massage oil. You can use it to make soaps, candles, bubble bath, lotions, etc.

Lavender Oil has so many uses it's insane. I did some research when I got the bottle and was impressed by all of the many uses I had never heard of. I knew some, like relaxation, Insomnia, stress relief, but, it has many more uses including: Antidepressant, Anticonvulsant, Antifungal, Antihistimine, Antiinflamitory, Antiseptic and more! Pretty crazy, huh? Uses for the oil: Anxiety: apply by itself or with a carrier oil to your chest or the top of your head. I like to add a few drops to my bubble bath when I am having a bad attack. It is very calming. It makes me feel like putting on my jammies, snuggling up in a soft blankie, and taking a peaceful rest. Allergies: You can inhale the oil, use it by itself or with a carrier oil and apply to the area of the skin that is having a reaction. Breasts: You can make a massage oil to massage your breasts when they are tender and sore. Concentration: Use as aromatherapy oil in an oil burner for relaxation. Uncontrolable Crying: Inhale the oil to calm down a person when they are unable to stop. Dandruff: Add to your scalp to reduce the dandruff. There are so many other uses that I can't even list them all right now. I am very happy with my oil. I use it daily for many different things. I love home remedies and being able to save money and be healthier by making my own home care products. This oil smells amazing and comes in a large 4 oz bottle. That is a lot of oil and will last quite a while. If you already use oils or are just starting, this is a great oil for a great value.

Knife Sharpener from Priority Chef Reviews

I was given my Knife Sharpener from Priority Reviews to review in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I was excited to try it out, but, not nearly as excited as Ben! He loves playing with things like that. He usually tries out the new gadgets for the kitchen before I can. This is a very solid knife sharpener, it takes up very little space on m kitchen counter. We keep it right next to the knife block. It is relatively stylish too.

We have noticed a lot of our knives getting dull. Even after sharpening, they just were seeming to be at the end of their days. We had started discussing purchasing a new knife block when I was offered this sharpener. I figured it wouldn't hurt to at least give it a try. When it arrived, I barely opened the package and Ben was trying it out.

This knife sharpener works very well. Ben has been bragging to everyone about it. Even our dullest knives were sharp again after use. You do need to make sure children do not use this. The handle is sturdy to prevent slipping while sharpening. I am very impressed. We have used a few different sharpeners and they do not even compare. I am glad I have been able to save money by getting the sharpener rather than a new set just quite yet. These are great in my opinion.

Organic Dandelion Root Tea

When I think of Dandelions, I think of childhood. My years of playing "Mama head a baby and it's head popped off" or thinking a bouquet of dandelions was the most beautiful thing and bringing them to my less than enthusiastic mother. She had us dig them up by the root to get them out of our yard. I always thought it was a waste. If I only knew the benefits of Dandelion then, I would have known just how right I was. Some benefits of Dandelion are: Immune system booster, Diabetes, Inflammation, Kidney health, Liver health, Protects against cancer, High blood pressure,Digestive aid and more! I lived in an area for a while where the land was untreated so I did not have to worry about pesticides. I was able to make my own tea. I was amazed and how well I felt drinking it. It has a decent flavor, but, is a bit bland. I add stevia to sweeten it and it tastes wonderful. However, I have since moved and I do not trust that the land here is pure. I was offered a 5 pack of Dandelion tea for free in exchange for a review and I was super excited! Not only can I get the great benefits at a decent price, but, I can drink it all year round.

I have some medical conditions that cause me a lot of inflamation that can be quite painful. The Dandelion Root Tea is great at reducing my pain. I honestly just feel better all the way around when I drink about 3 cups a day. This is amazing for good health. I would suggest adding it to your daily routine if you struggle with any of the issues I mentioned above.

GIVEAWAY: Bella Organics Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme

Bella Organics Vanilla Mint deodorant creme

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I was able to try out Bella Organics Deodorant creme for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I was happy to, as, I actually have a very personal story as to why we should think about the deodorant we wear.
Bella Organics is awesome. It is made with simple ingredients like coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils. You just take a pea sized amount out on your fingertip and apply to your underarm. It has a nice light minty fragrance that holds up throughout  the day.
You may think your deodorant is just fine, but, I urge you to pay attention to ingredients. I had been having pain in my breasts for years with no answers as to why. Severe pain. It felt like an infection. The pain began to spread down my right arm to my elbow.I had pain in my armpits and my right armpit would sweat like crazy. I mean, a lot. To the point I would wear a sweater or jacket in public on hot days so they did not see it drenching my shirt. Not to mention my underarm odor. It was so embarrassing. For a while, I kept trying to figure out what smelled like cat urine. Only to find out it was me! The doctors had no answers. It got worse. I started bleeding from my nipple! I had to go through some very scary and painful tests and they could only find an infected milk duct as the cause. I had to go in and have it removed. This went on for a few more years. The pain, the sweat, the odor. It was only getting worse and my doctors did not seem to understand how much it was affecting my life. I got the news last year that my mom had stage 3 inflamatory breast cancer. Shortly after, my other nipple started to bleed. It was so scary knowing what she was enduring and the thought that I could be doing the same if this is something serious. I seriously had a conversation with my doctor about removing my breasts. I was lucky to find out it was just another infected duct. I had another surgery. But, what was causing my breasts to be infected?
My cousin brought up deodorant to me. It made me feel like a darned fool. How simple could it be? But, what could I do? I can't go around stinking. I tried Tom's of Maine all natural deodorant and right away the pain started going down. Tom's did not really cover my odor and for about 2 weeks after not using traditional deodorant, I smelled horrid. I was sweating out all sorts of toxins. But, I did not put on that deodorant again, I did not care how bad I smelled. I realized that the pain was gone and knew I was on the right track. This is all right before I had the chance to try Bella Organics Vanilla Mint deodorant creme. This creme does help much better than the Tom's as far as odor. I feel weird applying it with my finger, but, it's just a matter of adjustment. I brought all of this up to my doctor and she thinks I have a metal allergy or sensitivity. The more I learn about aluminum and the negative side effects it has on humans the more I can't believe it is allowed in products that we absorb into our bodies. They are now proving this is the cause to a lot of breast cancer cases.

So, my opinion of this deodorant creme is very positive. I love that is works great, but, also is all natural and I am not putting any toxins in my body. I would urge you to give it a try if you have any issues like I described.

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#1 Premium Pet Odor and Stain Remover Spray Review

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I could not have received the chance to try this product at a better time.My dog is 16 and he has trouble making it outside to use the bathroom at times. We also have 2 other dogs and 2 cats. My house can go from sparkly and smelling good to muddy and smelling of wet dog in just one thunderstorm. I was offered this product at a discount for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is great to just spray to freshen up the house if you have company coming or just need to get pet odor out of the air. It is also incredible for pet stains. Without getting too descriptive, my 16 year old dog has accidents frequently that can be pretty gross. I have found that if I clean up and then spray the area before scrubbing, the odor goes away instantly. By the time I get my scrub bucket and go back to clean up, the spray breaks down any matter that may be left for an easy clean up.

I really do love this product. It is wonderful to keep on hand. 

This spray does not have any odor, it does not "mask" the smell, it really just takes away odor. I don't know how they do it, but, it is incredible.

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Betta Bridge Pets Hip&Joint Health Supplement Review

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I have 3 wonderful dogs that I love with all of my heart. Well, Snickers can try my patience, but, I love him anyway. So, when I was offered the chance to try Betta Bridge Pets Hip&Joint Health Supplement for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion, I was happy to give it a try. One of my dogs is 16 years old. We have slowly watched him battle arthritis the past 3 years. He has good days and he has bad days, but, his good days let me know he still has life left in him.
If there is something that can help him feel better and keep him with us a little longer, I am more than happy to try it out,
This product is made of all natural and organic ingredients. This is the organic essential oil formula.

It comes in a 8 oz liquid bottle. You give your dog 1/4 tsp per 20 lbs twice per day. Mix with food or water. The ingredients are : honey, coconut oil, molasses, flax seed oil, vitamin C, licorice root, extract, dandelion root, liquid collagen, and frankincense oil. These help improve mobility, reduce joint pain and inflamation, assist in building and repairing damaged cartilage, and promote overall good health. The active ingredients are : Glucosamine, MSM,condroiton, vitamin C and Vitamin E.

I know that I take a lot of these supplements for my own health, why would I treat my dogs any less? I am just happy to watch my Charlie having more good days. He is even wanting to go for walks again. He was a t a point where he really wasn't getting up and I thought we were going to have to put him down, I know this won't save his life, but, it will help us keep him around for a few more memories. 

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UltiMITT Review

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I am a pale Scandinavian girl from Minnesota. I also happen to have photosensitivity. Which is an allergy to the sun. Thank goodness it is not like the people who can't have any light at all, but, it is enough to keep me out of the sun most of the time.
I love the look of a healthy golden tan, but, I don't like the thought of sun damage or cancer causing tanning beds. Yuck. I'd take being pale over that any day.
But, the good news is that I don't have to! I was offered my UltiMITT for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. This was great, because I had just purchased a new self tanning lotion. I have only dabbled with lotions, and have had pretty good experiences, but, certainly wish the applications were more even. It is hard to get it even using my hand or wash cloth. Also, I don't like when my palms get stained.
The UltiMITT addresses these issues and then some.

The UltiMITT is like a soft suede feeling mitt. It is a high quality microfiber mitt. It is extremely soft to the touch. It comes in a Poly bag for travel so it won't stain anything near it. It is also washable and guaranteed for up to one year! 

It covers more area smoothly and no streaking. My lotion went on smooth and looks like a beautiful suntan. Only I won't peel or burn or wrinkle. I feel great that I can finally tan. 

The UltiMITT also comes with some pretty cool bonuses. A mini mitt for smaller areas so you can get the perfect application.

Also, you get a FREE copy of the downloadable book, "Self Tan Secrets" that is sold online for over $10.00. The UltiMITT is truly one of my summer's must have items. 

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