A #giveaway for a Strong Woman

I feel really inspired to give something away. It's been awhile, too long, since I've had a giveaway on here. 

The newish job I have is going to be supported. All my likes in the form below won't be for me. They will be for where I work, and for other women bloggers that have been by my side. 

I'm going to share something really personal, but you all know I'm an open book. I don't believe in hiding things that matter. Sharing is caring. Whatever I go though something, someone else is going through that same situation as well. 

Ever since October I haven't had that special time of the month. This week I went to get my blood drawn; to see what's up with me. I found out that I get to go through the change of life slightly early. Oh joy! The first thing I asked my doctor, "Is this why I get so dang emotional?" She said, "Yes!" 

I cry when I have things to do, but don't have all the instructions to do the things I'm supposed to do. Then I laugh because I'm crying. Then I cry because I'm laughing. 

I did this painting quite awhile ago...

My doctor said, "Your ovaries are tired". That bird in the piece above is absent. I feel this emptiness inside me.

I ran across this article that talks about The Change of Life. I feel emotional, and empty. I feel like I have no one to talk to. All I'm ever around is my boys, and husband. It is what it is. Women - we should open dialog about all the things we have to go through. 

I looked up if asthma is worse when a woman goes though menopause. Apparently it is. I have extra asthma + the worry of getting covid, which also effects the lungs. 

Really I should be happy. I no longer want children + I don't have a monthly visitor. I'm free! 

I popped open my FB, and two of my friends that are my age just had babies. Even if kids where possible, I wouldn't want them. BUT...there's no denying that they were such an important part of my life, for so long. Now they hide themselves in their rooms, and barely say, "Boo!"

We've all been going through a tough time! I want to make some woman's day! 

I bought this fun bag, that I really always intended on giving away, but never did:

Inside I'm going to stuff it with random things. Like your favorite candy...

Mine is Dove chocolate, so that's sitting in my Amazon cart right now. I can get you whatever candy you desire because this post is about me, yet the giveaway is about you. 

Because we're in the midst of a pandemic I have some all natural soap + CBD hand sanitizer you can carry with you.

I have these cute RBG stickers + little elephant notebooks also in my Amazon cart. I'll buy them, once you tell me your favorite candy. 

It's giveaway time! You know the drill...you have to be over the age of 18 to enter. To make this easier on me I'm going to make this a U.S. giveaway. 

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Menstrual Cup Set Review

This post is for females, so if you're a male move on. Ha! 

I've heard of some friends saying that female supplies should be free, much like toilet paper is free when you go to a public restroom. If you feel that way, there are products out there that are fairly inexpensive, and can be used again and again. Because there are alternative products out there, I'm against women's time of the month products being publicly free.

Try a Menstrual Cup:

I know...I was weary at first. I think I had my first menstrual cup for 4 months before I was finally willing to try it out. Human's are so interesting when it comes to change. We want change for the better, but if it's new to us we're either excited about it, or stand offish.

My sister said, "Do you want to try a menstrual cup? I can get you one." I'm like, "I already have one. I just need to try it." I watched a few videos on YouTube where a girl from the UK talked about putting them in, and taking them out before I was comfortable to try mine. In the UK they are much more open, and willing to try new things.

What the Set Comes With:

It comes with 3 cups. You have the choice of small or large. I do wish the set had an option of one cup being small (for light days), one cup being medium (for mid cycle), and one cup being large (for heavy days). They are all different colors, so it would be easy to have them small, medium and large, and to know the difference. Instead I'll have one at home, one in my purse, and one at work.

It comes with a small fabric bag. The bag will stay in my purse.

Then there's an instruction manual. It shows how to use the cup.

Where to Get the Set:

You can get it on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L1KMK5Q, for $16.99 for a set of 3 small, or 3 large. The sets are on Prime. The cost is great considering you can reuse these over and over again.

Most women spends $120 a year on menstrual products a year. The cup lasts for up to 10 years.

Is it Gross?

The quick answer is no. Not anymore gross than tampons, pads or diapers. If you think differently than the quick no answer, than you haven't tried them. You are being judgmental like I was before I tried them.

There's no tampon string you pee on, and remove. Yuck! There's no bleach you are inserting into your body. Double yuck!

There's nothing clogging up the toilet. I remember when I was a teen, my parents had a plumber out to fix the toilet my sister and I used. Tampons messed it up! I was mortified!

There's a student worker that dumps the trash. She said, "It's so gross that people do not wrap their pads with tissue before dumping them. I agree. No one wants to see that! At the same time it is what it is. I don't like waisting toilet paper when it's only serving the purpose of covering something up. With the cup I use pads way less!

The clean up isn't gross. You take it out, and dump it in the toilet. At home I wash it in the sink before putting it back in. At work I wipe it with toilet paper before putting it back in.

Another great thing, the duration of when you need to change a cup vs. when you need to change a tampon is way higher.

There are no worries about Toxic Shock Syndrome; that tampons can cause. You can leave a cup in for up to 24 hours! I change mine more often during heavier times.

How to Use a Cup:

Step 1 - Boil them in water. You can do this between cycles.

Step 2 - Wash your hands.

Step 3 - It's a medical grade silicone, so they bend easily. Twist it up in your hand like so...

Step 4 - Insert it. Put it up until silicone end is left to grab. It will pop out on the inside.

Top

 Bottom

Step 5 - I have mine in all morning long on heavy days, and most of the day on light days. When it's to be removed. I was scared to take it out the first few times. You just pull the "nub" is what I call it. It comes out just enough to push on the body of it to make the suction go away. It comes out easily after that. 

I dump it, and wash it if possible. 

Simple! Less money! Less waist! Less toxic issues! 

Discloser: I got this product for free to help with this review. The company did not tell me what to write, or say.

He Likes Them Real

Daddy and Grandpa Apel were talking about woman. Grandpa said something to the effect that you just don't know what's real anymore. Some women are so fake, and have a lot of silicone added to them.

Mica piped in and said, "Ya I like real women." Everyone busted out laughing. It just sounded so funny coming from an 8 year old.

Speaking of fake, have you seen the documentary about the secret lives of living dolls? Men get dressed up to look like dolls. I see a lot of odd things because I work at an art school, but this is way up high on the list of odd! If you want to see it, it's here.