So Fresh and So Clean, Clean...

...so this post is about a new product I'm using on my face. It's an all natural face wash/scrub and I thought it would be fun to post about any results I see. I hope you enjoy it!

Before I let you read about that, let me preface by saying Wednesday's angst has worn off... for now.
I'm always doing quite well the rest of the time and do quite enjoy my husband and our "practice" time, but it's always the day I realize we are, yet again, not pregnant that takes it's toll on me.. My hope is that this blog will reach others walking through the same journey. 

And now without further ado.. EffOff. :)
    So a few weeks ago a friend of mine posted a facebook profile pic and there were several comments about how great her skin looked.  She replied by telling us about EffOff Body Care; all the products are made from completely natural ingredients and feel much better compared to using numerous chemicals for acne, dry skin, oily skin, or whatever else might be ailing your skin. I ordered a trial pack and received it on May 22nd and have used the stuff daily. I use it at night before going to bed and in the morning I use it before makeup. It can be used as a wash, a scrub, or a mask and to do this requires more or less water depending on what you want to do.  The scrub and mask requires less water and the wash, a little more water.

I thought it would be fun to detail my experience and share with you the results. I'm excited to find out what differences will be noticeable after a month or two.  I have already had one comment on how smooth my skin looks. I mean, I'm not getting any younger... yes, I know I still look like I'm in my 20's... I'm not.

Here are some pictures showing how I've used it and any results that may be visible in the 20 or so days that I have been using it. 

After just a few days (with makeup): (had a major breakout)

Without makeup (is this brave or what?):

With EffOff: 

Spot treatment: Looks like I'm diseased!

And here's me after 18 days: 

(Oddly enough, I think my makeup looks better since I've been using EffOff!)

So far, I'm really enjoying using a more natural approach on my skin. It feels great to not be using so many chemicals, acne cream, oil control moisturizer, etc.  I'm really hoping to see a difference in how smooth my skin looks and a reduction in break-outs.  I have definitely seen an improvement as far as oil goes. I have the t-zone and have noticed a huge improvement in the amount of oil my skin produces.  The oil is still there as a natural process, your skin needs oil, but it's not over producing trying to compensate for what I'm washing away with chemicals. The amount of oil that I'm seeing now is enough to give my skin a natural glow.  And that's what everyone wants right? Anyway, I will keep y'all updated as to what improvements I'm seeing and if anyone else is noticing as well.  

Thanks for following!

And finally...  EffOff duck face! (I hate duck face! Seriously, you don't look good making duck face.)

To be continued...

Really?

Can I just be utterly real for a minute?  Completely real and raw and angry.  

Infertility SUCKS. 

And if I told you how I really felt, this blog would get an R rating. 

I really just feel like throwing something right now.  Like screaming and throwing something. 

And I can NOT EVEN imagine how those of you feel whom doctors have told you'll never be pregnant. 

My heart goes out to you. My prayers, my emotions, my very being reaches out to you.  Know that I am thinking of you and praying for you every day.  

Because this sucks. 

Yet another period has come and I truly thought that this time would be it.  I was even feeling nauseas. But I guess I can chalk that up to not taking my vitamins with food.  UGH!! 

I mean, come on!   Though, I guess I can't really be mad. 

My prayers as of late have been that God would make me strong, would keep me healthy, keep my womb healthy and for any baby that is made there he/she would be healthly and strong.  So one of those things must not be where it needs to be.  Or God's timing for our baby just isn't yet. But when? Why was Olive allowed to touch our lives, only to be taken away?  When is that time?  Why that time and not last time?  

I'm angry.  But not that Olive was taken away.  I'm angry because we STILL aren't pregnant. We still aren't pregnant after being given our precious Olive for 8 weeks. 

And yet, in my heart and my mind I know God has his plans and I know his plans are perfect but man, this is hard. 

God, give me strength, help me to not be cynical and hardened. Father this next baby... this baby we are praying for and longing for, we know he/she is not ours, but yours.  We pray for your timing and we give our baby to you, to be a follower of you, to be great in you, to do great things in you, to do your will and that means your time, in your way. Help us to hold on to that. To be strong and KNOW that you are near and that you have our best interests at heart... The waiting is hard, Lord. Help is to wait in you, to wait and know that you are God. Be still and know that you are God. 

Motivation has returned...

One year ago in May we first started trying to get pregnant. 10.5 months since we lost our first baby. And it's taken that long for me to get my motivation back.

Motivation to work in my garden, motivation to do normal household chores, to do anything I once enjoyed. Even the motivation to read is coming back, although, admittedly,that was lost when I graduated college.
I can't believe it's taken this long.
My garden is looking great, though I do still have some weeding to do and a flower needs relocating.  Micky and I want to do so much to the yard and to the house, but it's time and money we don't have right now.
But I think it'll happen slowly and surely...