“Hola!” From Cancun

The flight from Houston to Cancun was about 2.5 hours and was one of the smoothest plane rides I’ve ever experienced!

We traveled with AeroMexico and were wowed by their generosity. Every seat had a personal touch screen TV attached to the back of the seat in front of it which provided free entertainment (movies, tv series, music, moving world map, and seat to seat chat). Hubby and I started watching Divergent, but we turned it off because the headphones were acting funny and we could to head very well through them. I’ll definitely have to watch this movie at home soon! To our surprise, we were also served lunch (boxed sandwich with chips). Because we weren’t hungry, we saved them for later – just in case ;). We’ve never been on a domestic flight that feeds you on such a short flight.

Weather is perfect here. It’s in the high 70s.. But it’s a bit humid (which is alright, because that’s the way it is at home, anyway!). We spent a lot of time in our hotel room tonight. We went to dinner at Señor Frogs (fun atmosphere.. Blegh food), and checked out the pool, beach, and rest of the hotel before heading back to our room. We’ve both been lacking sleep, so we’ve been relaxing the night away :).

We have an “Off Day” tomorrow, during which we plan to visit the local mall, scope out some small, unique shops and booths, eat delicious food, and explore a little more of the area around us :).

On Monday we are going to XPLOR for some adventures in zip-lining, driving amphibious vehicles, rafting through caves, and a swimming down a lazy river.

On Wednesday we are going to visit Chichen Itza, where we will see Mayan ruins :)!

In between, we’re relaxing and exploring.

For now,
Love. Love. Learn.
Roxana

Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream Review

I, like many others, suffer from eczema. I’ve had the skin condition since I was young, and it’s always been bothersome for me. It seemed to disappear in college but has made a comeback… unfortunately. The places I’m usually affected are my legs, shoulders, and inner elbows. Lately, however, the skin around my eyes and ears has been super dry.

In my search to find a product to calm my skin, I came across Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream by Organic Skincare Doctor. The blog I read about it on (found it through a random google search, and can’t find it now!) claimed that it cleared up eczema around the eyes within days. Of course, I was a bit skeptical because nothing has seemed to work for me.. especially that quickly. Not even prescription creams and ointments worked well for me. I ordered online from Vitamin World, later that same day and it arrived within one week.

As soon as I discovered the package on my doorstep, I tore it open and inspected the packaging.

I was thoroughly impressed by the claims. I immediately cleaned my face and applied the cream. My first impression was that the cream has a very pleasant honey fragrance. It’s not an overwhelming, sweet, cotton candy smell like you’d expect. It smells more like actual, raw honey. The cream is very rich, creamy, and white in color. I expected to apply it to my face and have to rub the white “out,” but I didn’t have to. It applied very smoothly!

Before applying the cream to my face (around 2PM), I had dryness around my eyes and forehead, a few small pimples sprinkled across my forehead (odd for me, as I have very dry skin), and a spot on the bridge of my nose where I had developed some weird sort of blister type thing … possibly eczema related? It’s now 10:30PM, and after inspecting my face, I can honestly tell you that I feel no tightness and dryness in my face. The small pimples on my forehead seem to be less inflamed, and the spot on my nose from the healing blister is nearly gone. The dry spots on my ears don’t feel as inflamed either. I can hardly believe it. It hasn’t even been 12 hours since I started using this product, and I ALREADY see results. (I just got through telling my husband that I wish I had taken before and after photos!)

Because I had such good results on my face, I just applied some of the cream to some dry spots on my legs and arms. I know I’ll have good results from those applications as well.

I’m definitely a convert, and will be using this product regularly on my skin :)! Organic Skincare Doctor has an entire Manuka Honey line, and I think I need to invest in a few other products from the line like their face scrub and mask! Please remember that my skin is very dry – if you have oily skin, this definitely is not a product for you.

Keeping in mind that this rescue cream is organic, this product should be used within 6 months. Don’t worry, though! With the price tag of $14.99 + S&H from Vitamin World, you won’t bust the bank to feel happy in your skin.

Live. Love. Learn.
Roxana

They’re Everywhere

I’ve had 5 people I know announce pregnancies on Facebook in the last 2 weeks, and one announce hers in the Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) professional development I attended this week. Not to mention the woman pregnant with twins who was also in attendance!

… And you know what?
I think I’m okay with it. I’ll live. ❤️

We hope to start the adoption process this Fall.

On a non-baby note, I’ve lost a solid 5 pounds in the last 4.5 weeks and I’m feeling great. Headaches are at a minimum and I’ve only taken 4 Advils in the last 2 weeks!

I continue to eat healthy, and hubby and I walk 2-3 miles every evening. I also do 10-30 minutes of cardio/ab exercises daily.

Live. Love. Learn.
Roxana

Changes I’m Seeing (and Feeling)

It’s been three weeks since I’ve changed my diet and exercise routine. I’m consuming up to 1,200 calories each day and walking at minimum 1.5 miles each day as exercise. My weight has not really changed (I’ve only lost 1.5 pounds), but I’m seeing some changes. My calves and thighs feel firmer and look more defined, my face looks thinner, my skin feels firmer and looks smoother, my neck feels firmer and thinner, and my collarbone seems more defined. Although in haven’t lost much weight, I feel thinner in my midsection as well. My tummy looks better in clothing, so I feel better in the clothes I wear.

Sloooowly, I’m getting to where I want to be.

Live. Love. Learn.
Roxana

My Path is Different

If I already understand that my path is different, then why does it hurt so much to see others so happy?

A friend of mine from college just announced her engagement. And while I was so happy for her, I couldn’t help but wonder about how long they’ve been dating. (Hubby and I dated a little over 4 years before we got engaged.)

Well… She’s pregnant.

She’s going to be a fantastic mother. She’s the type of mom who will unconditionally love, nurture, encourage, and teach acceptance to her kids. I’m above and beyond excited for her.

…But what about me?
…When will I have the chance to be excited about having a baby?

I will likely never feel their heartbeat or tiny hands and feet growing stronger within me – no, I’m not fortunate enough to have that experience.

What I do know, however, that one of these days we will have a family… One way or another – be it through fostering to adopt or adoption. Maybe down the road a ways we will have the opportunity to try fertility medication again… Or maybe even surrogacy could be an option.

Feeling a little down on myself. I really should get up and out of bed. Hubby and I are applying for our passports today. Cancun is definitely something to look forward to 😀.

Live. Love. Learn.
Roxana

Reduction

So..

I’m hanging in there! I’ve reduced my caloric goal for the day to 1,200. I was consuming up to 1,460 calories a day until this past weekend.. But I’ve only lost 1.5 pounds in two and a half weeks, so I went ahead and reduced it down to 1,200.

Here’s what I’m eating –
Breakfast: 1.5 scoops of EAS 100% whey protein powder with a cup of almond milk to jump start my metabolism along with some fruit, if I remember to grab it!

Lunch: Depending on how hungry I am I’ve been eating 1-2 small pieces of GF bread with 1 tablespoon each of JIF natural PB and a drizzle of honey. Sometimes I throw a fruit in – today I ate a banana with it. I wash everything down with a tall glass water or a small cup of fresh squeezed orange juice.

Dinner: Hubby hasn’t quite jumped on my healthy bandwagon so I could be eating a lot better.. But this is where the bulk of my calories go everyday. I’m loving grilled chicken, avocados, rice, GF pasta… Still working on creating delicious, low calorie, low carb dinners. I haven’t exactly perfected that quite yet.

What about working out? Am I still doing it?
… Heck yes!

I walk between 1-3 miles a day and do cardio at home. My asthma still restricts me from doing vigorous exercise, but I can tell that I’m slowly able to push myself more and more than I could the day before.

Because my tummy is my major concern, I’ve also been doing sets of crunches. I’m currently doing 5 sets of 10.. I know it’s not much, but believe me when I say I feel the burn into the next day.

I’m really wanting a Polar watch with HR monitor and GPS to track distance and calories burned. Does anyone have one? Tell me what you think of it!

Live. Love. Learn. (and BURN – calories)
Roxana