Kay's Adaptable Adventures

Long Live the Queen: Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha WI

2017-08-18T13:24:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: I received complimentary passes to attend the Bristol Renaissance Faire to facilitate this honest review. All opinions expressed below are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research when looking into a product or service as your results may vary.

Who needs a Tardis to travel back in time when you can attend a Renaissance faire, complete with costumes, old timey entertainment inclusive of 16th century man-powered games and rides, weapon throwing, and music, delicious time period inspired foods, and so much more!

I mean, if you have access to The Doctor and the Tardis I'd very much love you forever and always but I digress...

Open every Saturday and Sunday (and Labor Day) from July 8th through September 4th, Bristol Renaissance Faire, located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and voted the number one Renaissance faire in the nation, takes you back in time to the 1500's when Queen Elizabeth ruled England, when people were still allowed to throw tomatoes at an insult comedian, and where jousting to the death was still a pretty big thing.

This year was a very special milestone for Bristol; all Summer they're celebrating their 30th anniversary! In celebration of this momentous milestone, they added a little twist to their normal festivities: Theme weekends.

RennCon weekend, Steampunk Invasion weekend, Celtic weekend, Fantasy weekend, and Swashbuckler weekend, oh my! As you can see from above my friends and I were able to go on Steampunk Invasion weekend and I had so much fun putting together my costume for the affair it was downright ridiculous.

Town of Bristol

Ever since I heard of this particular ren fair, and with it being SO close, I've wanted to go and experience a honest-to-goodness Renaissance faire. I've heard snippets from one person or another, media outlets, movies, books and it has always sounded like such a fun thing to experience in person.

I've been dying to go to this ren faire for the last several years but due to health issues it sadly kept having to be rescheduled. Last year I came pretty close but alas, close is only acceptable in horseshoes and hand grenades.

This year though I finally, finally, make it to the town of Bristol and it absolutely did not disappoint! In fact it exceeded my expectations one hundred fold. I had no idea just how BIG this place actually was, not to mention everything they offered. They have 21 stages and areas where things are happening at any given time throughout the day, rows and rows of little food vendors, quaint little shops, fun games, and more all located within their gorgeous 30-acre lot.

Seriously, you physically and literally cannot catch everything in a single day there. Trust me, I tried!

Ye Olde Sustenance

Once inside the town of Bristol, you walk straight ahead for a little while and you'll happen upon something beautiful: Food. Glorious, wondrous food of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. One member of our group chose to nosh on a giant turkey leg (and I do mean giant) while another went to hunt down a portabella mushroom burger. Another friend wasn't too hungry so she just got a slice of pizza and I chose to get a chicken pastie.

There's no outside food or drinks allowed in so you'll most likely be searching down something that tickles your fancy if you get hungry but worry not, there's plenty to choose from!

Bristol also has quite a few alcohol options for the adults throughout the grounds alongside the food. One of the events you can take part in is their Bristol Pub Crawl, those tickets just cost extra on top of regular admission. Another first for me was getting to finally try absinthe for the first time in my life. I've always been curious to try it and now I can finally say I did.

That stuff packs a wallop!

While they did offer some vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options I do wish there was a bit more to choose from for people that have to watch what they eat like myself.

Venture Forth & Shop

Food stands aside, everywhere you look is another one of the 200 small shops and independent vendors selling anything you could possibly need or want. If you're in the 1500's (and possibly a bit later) that is! Costume and clothing shops, some of which do daily rentals, jewelry everywhere, leather journals, scented candles and soap, weapons galore...If you have a budget this is where it will be tested.

I had seen Pendragon Jewelry ads weeks prior to the faire and had a strict mission to find them once there. Having a sparkling, jewel encrusted soul, they did not disappoint either.

I literally walked into their shop and almost cried. No joke.

Sadly the pieces I really wanted were out of my price range so I opted to splurge on myself since I had been waiting for this opportunity for so long and purchase a large Viking throwing knife from Sabersmith who do some absolutely stunning sword, knife, and weapon crafting.

I'll be saving my pennies for next year and Pendragon Jewelry, I'm coming for you...

Theater, Bards, & Joust to the Death

The entertainment throughout the day at Bristol is second to none! With over 20 stages, areas, and arenas hosting some sort of show or special event you have plenty of things to choose from between your eating and shopping.

Minus the people playing music sporadically throughout the grounds and a few things I passed while they were happening, by the time I realized how many shows I could have been going to it was too late and I was only able to attend one or two towards the latter half of the day but they were both beyond worth it!

My favorite of all was accidentally being in the right spot at the right time for Lauren Murray's (also known as @silkelephant Instagram) aerial silks show. Talk about fangirling HARD.

If you didn't know this about me already being good enough at things like this so I can join a circus and perform is one of my biggest dreams and seeing how Lauren mastered her craft just inspired me that much more to work towards my dream!

A post shared by Kayla Potega (@adaptablekay) on Aug 6, 2017 at 3:27pm PDT

We can't forget the ending to our day! Alisa of Alisabroad.com and I were able to catch the very last jousting show of the day ominously deemed 'Joust to the Death.' Another first, I had never been able to see one of these shows before so I was quite excited we made it in time!

Our knight in shining green armor, Sir Vinchenzo, apparently was the underdog of the show and hadn't won a tournament all weekend so obviously I was rooting extra hard for him.

I tend to always go for the underdogs.

And wouldn't you know it, he won! But was viciously attacked soon after by another unhappy knight which lead to a sword battle to the death...

Worry not fair gents and maidens, he won that, too!

A post shared by Kayla Potega (@adaptablekay) on Aug 6, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT

Play and Be Merry

Any self respecting fair, whether it be a current 2017 state fair (tis the season after all) or a renaissance faire set in the 1500's has games and rides for all who want to play, children and kids-at-heart alike!

Of course back in the 16th century there was no electricity to power games or rides so all throughout Bristol are "muscle powered"; getting a wooden ball through a wooden maze by maneuvering ropes and pulleys, strong man mallet and bell competition, a forty foot castle rock climbing course, digging for buried treasure...Not to mention the purely badass thrones you can sit on and pose with inclusive of a larger-than-life unicorn, a fierce looking kraken, an industrial steampunk throne, and a few others.

My eye was immediately caught by all the weapon type games; knife throwing, archery, and even learning how to fence. One of the gentleman of our group wanted to do knife throwing so I was definitely down and even hit the bullseye on one of my throws!

All in all, if I have my way this is going to be a highly anticipated yearly occurrence because I loved this faire that much. Heck, if I could I'd work there myself! I had been waiting for quite a long time to get to experience it and not only am I finally happy I got to go, nothing has exceeded my initial expectations this much before.

I also have to give a shout out to the wonderful people who work at Bristol as well both on the front lines and behind the scenes; I had seen several instances during my stay there where they really went above and beyond to show their audience and faire goers it's all about us and their enjoyment, especially when it came to handicap accessibility which, even though I was well enough to walk around this time, I highly appreciate.

My Top 5 Things to Knoweth:

5. Dress up! There's nothing more fun than hitting up thrift stores or your own closet on your own or with a friend and putting together an outfit fit for the time period you're traveling to. Not only that but most ren faires that I know of highly encourage dressing up and speaking the language! Bristol does have costume rentals through several of their merchants if you just don't have the time to create your own.

4. Don't feel bad about splurging. Yes, even though I got complimentary tickets it was an expensive day for me between the travel, food and drink, games, and souvenir. Just know ahead of time you're more than likely going to be spending a good chunk of money. If that's a problem set yourself a budget and try to stick with it!

3. Immerse yourself. Dress up. Brush up on ye olde English. Throw those tomatoes at the insult comic. Dance around the maypole. Go pet the unicorn. This is what you're going there to be apart of!

2. Have a game plan. I knew that there were several different stages with different shows and things going on but little did I know the plethora I was actually walking in to! You would probably have to go at least 3 to 4 weekends if you wanted to catch everything, a day just didn't cut it.

1. Wear comfortable shoes. As stated above I had no idea how large Bristol was; you could be there all day and spend a majority of it walking around from one end to the other (or in circles) either looking for a specific place or each other. And we did. My puppies were barking by the end of the day!

Connect with Bristol Renaissance Faire:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram
Youtube

Have you ever been to a Renaissance faire before? What would your tip(s) be?

Getting My Cuddles On At Cat Cafe Madison

2017-06-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've always loved and wanted to own a cat (or cats) as far back as I can remember but sadly due to my mom being highly allergic and being allergic myself, that particular life goal has not yet happened. I still keep hope alive though!

That means when I happen to come across any sort of cat they automatically get all my brimming-over unused kitty-cat loves and affection. Let's be honest, even if I did achieve my dream of owning cats, I'd still fangirl at any sort of four legged furry creature that crosses my path.

But in the great words of Sophia Petrillo, I digress. When a friend and I headed up to Madison for the Spring Polish Festival earlier in April and decided to make a day of exploring the area, what immediately came to my mind but Cat Cafe Madison!

I'm not sure how I came across Cat Cafe Mad initially but I do remember several months back finding it and becoming smitten like a kitten with the whole idea of it.

I don't make it to Madison that often (the last time was back in 2011 when I was still seeing a homeopathic doctor in the area) so the knowledge of this furry paradise just sat on the back burner of my brain until this particular trip. It also helped that my friend Alisa of alisabroad.com is a huge cat lover, too!

Welcome

A little about Cat Cafe Madison:

The purpose of Cat Café Mad is to provide the public with a chance to experience the love, fun, and happiness that comes from owning a cat in a relaxing atmosphere. We have adopted cats from four different shelters and also have some foster cats from two local shelters, and we provide customers with information about the shelters. Our goal is to bring the worldwide model of cat cafés to the US and help the “cat craze” by bringing awareness to adopting and fostering cats. Our fosters are available for adoption and we usually have around 10 up for adoption. We have partnered with many of the shelters and find our partnerships rewarding for both sides.

To spend some time with one or more of their 20 resident and adoptable cats the fee to get in is a mere $10 cover charge which is inclusive of a drink and unlimited access and play time with the numerous feline friends. Students, seniors (60+), veterans, and children get a discounted rate of $7.00 plus an optional drink for an extra $1.00.

If you're located in the area they also offer loyalty rewards, gift cards, and memberships!

Of course we can't forget the special events the cafe puts on each month like kitten day, yoga with cats, and even movies with cats. One of these days I will be up there for a yoga with cats class...

Meet Garfield

The Cafe

I was very surprised when you initially walked into Cat Cafe Madison; from the outside you'd think it was a quaint small little store front but you walk in and this space is deceptively large!

The cafe itself had a very relaxing environment. I noticed quite a few people come and go in the time span I was there and most of them were just content with working on their laptops, chatting among each other, or just sitting on the floor and playing with the cats.

You can also find a nook full of fun board games to play while your there and even several cat-related books that are provided so you can read if board games aren't really your thing. It seems like they've got everything covered for an enjoyable and relaxing time!

While this place is called Cat Cafe Madison, the sectioned off cafe area isn't exactly what you think when you think normal cafe. I had assumed it had a set up similar to any other cafe such as Starbucks with a little furry twist but it was definitely a smaller scale due to being in the same vicinity as the cats which is completely understandable.

The Cats

Just like people, each cat housed in the cafe, whether resident or adoptable, had its own unique personality and it was hilarious and fascinating to watch each personality unfold in real time.

Granted when you initially walk in you just see adorable little balls of fur all over the place but once you've stayed there for awhile and actually had the chance to see each ball of fur in action, you definitely start to differentiate each cat and their individual personality traits.

You'd think all those different personalities in one space would clash more often than not but I was very surprised to only see one little spat the 4 to 5 hours Alisa and I were there.

Adopt Don't Shop

Aside from getting to spend time with cats and enjoying your choice of beverage, Cat Cafe Madison is raising awareness for the adopt not shop movement. They have a handful of adopted resident cats that call the cafe their home but the rest of the cats are fosters from local shelters and are up for adoption which makes my heart so happy.

I'm a firm believer in adopting and fostering if at all possible which is what draws me to these types of cafes; anything that helps promote finding animals their furever homes gets my support!

Just take a look at the Adopted board on the cafe's wall and tell me this cafe isn't making a big difference in the lives of cats and humans alike.

How would you like to help make a difference for the many different current and future kitty cats and the owners and employees of Cat Cafe Madison?

Their dream is to expand the cafe and open a whole new section that offers more; more specialized beverages, more baked goods, and even a few entrees! Of course this cafe has to be separated from the cats for sanitary purposes so they're trying to raise enough money to be able to make this dream a reality.

As of today their Kickstarter Campaign has raised their goal of $9,500 and more but why stop there? More money equals more opportunities to make the cafe better for the customers, for the employees, and for all the cats, past, present, and future.

If you happen to be in the Madison area and love cuddling cats, I highly recommend a stop at Cat Cafe Madison! Who knows, maybe by the time you're able to go the new cafe section will be open so you can enjoy cats AND delicious beverages and food.

In the meantime the cats of Cat Cafe Mad(ison) are waiting for you to come in, give them a little love, and possibly even take one (or two) home with you!

Connect with Cat Cafe Mad:

Have you ever been to a cat cafe before?

12 Things I've Learned When Dealing with Chronic Pain

2017-06-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Pain is a strange thing.

Growing up, a certain amount of pain is as normal a part of our childhood as breathing is. Much like breathing, pain is involuntary and inevitable. We get sick, we break bones and skin knees, we get shots. And lets not forget not just the physical pain we experience but the emotional pain as well.

As children we sometimes don't know how to deal with the physical or the emotional pain we go through. Normal reactions are to panic, scream, and cry; maybe sometimes even lash out. We're scared because we don't know what's happening, we just know it's not a pleasant feeling and we want it to stop immediately.

The older we get, the more we come to understand pain a little bit more, the types of things that cause it, and we have more of a grip on how to manage it. For example if we break another bone, experience has taught us that we go to the emergency room, the doctor sets the broken bone, gives us a cast, and that cast is on for 6 to 8 weeks (or more) depending. Perhaps we're sick with the flu, we're prescribed and take our medication, a few days pass and we get better and then we move on lives.

Chronic pain isn't even on our radar so nobody tells you when you're a kid, or even an adult for that matter, that there is so much more depth to pain than we initially realize.

Before I got sick I was under the same assumption; I had sprained an ankle, gotten shots, and been sick before but those were all temporary and very one dimensional. Pain hurt for a little while, then it went away. I was terrified of needles and would throw tantrums anytime someone would even come near me with one.

Then I got sick and my whole perception of being in pain changed. Pain didn't just go away anymore; pain became apart of my everyday life. Pain became a part of me and who I was as a person.

Here are a few things I've come to realize when pain came to permanently stay in casa de Kayla:

1. There's not just one type of pain. There's shooting, stabbing, burning, icy, aching, popping, throbbing, tingling, crushing, sharp, stinging, pressure, etc etc etc. Sometimes even a combination of one or more of the above! Over the years you learn how to distinguish between them all and become a master at describing what pain you're having, where, and when.

2. It is entirely possible to be falling down tired but pain can and does keep you awake, sometimes to the point of causing more pain on top of the pain you were already dealing with. It's painception! This phenomenon is also deemed as "Painsomnia" and is why I'm up at 3:30 in the morning writing this post.

3. Once you've been in constant pain for so long, it alters your mind and changes the way you think and perceive things. I can't plan anything without taking into account how I'm feeling, if the activity will worsen my pain, and if I have enough pain meds to manage things if my pain indeed does worsen. It can also make you think things you wouldn't otherwise normally think and even do things you wouldn't otherwise normally do.

4. Chronic pain will most definitely 110% cause some degree of depression regardless of who you are.

5. That "normal" smiley face pain scale they show you in doctor's offices, emergency rooms, and hospitals is infuriatingly pure and utter bullshit.

6. No two people's pain tolerances are the same. My pain threshold for a broken bone could be way higher than someone else and vice versa, hence why #5 is a very big pet peeve of mine.

7. Once you reach a certain age dating is expected. It's also an inevitably difficult part of adolescent and adult life during normal circumstances. Add chronic illness and chronic pain to the formula? It's a physical and psychological nightmare of epic proportions.

8. After years of dealing with chronic pain you learn to become quite the award winning actor/actress! I've perfected my technique of acting normal and smiling through the pain even if I feel like crying that day. In fact, those who know me know if I'm abnormally quiet and moody, my pain threshold is reaching it's maximum capacity and I'm slowly starting to panic.

9. Certain foods become the enemy. I learned a long time ago that there are certain foods that can spike my pain up several levels in a matter of hours, pizza, pop, and certain ice creams being just a few. Common sense dictates that I should stay far away from those types of foods as possible; willpower on the other hand is a bit iffy. Sometimes the pain is worth it. Sometimes it is not.

10. People are sometimes douche canoes. Whether they're just mean, uneducated, or good-hearted and just trying to help, you sometimes have to take what people say with a grain of salt. I'm by nature a very positive person (ask any of those close to me) but if one more person tells me I just need to be more positive and envision my pain going away, I'll positively snap.

11. Pain levels abnormally high for some reason and you have no idea why? Check the local weather for storm fronts and keep an eye on that moon! Weather is a more accepted explanation but I swear some people think I grew a third head right before their eyes when I mention the moon cycles. I usually can tell you within a few days if it's a new moon or a full moon by my pain flares. Who knew any kind of storms and the moon cycles had any bearings on your pain?

12. You will try anything and everything to get at least some form of relief regardless of what it might be (within reason). Doctor recommended you try acupuncture? Make an appointment. You read on the internet swimming in a saltwater pool could help? Track down the nearest saltwater pool. Your neighbor's cousin's daughter's orthodontist found a folk remedy involving toothpaste, an onion, and a single contact lense? Go out and get the ingredients!

It's a sad state of affairs when chronic pain sufferers like myself have to learn these things and deal with them on a daily basis, oftentimes rearranging our entire lives because of them. Whether you're a long time vet to the whole chronic pain life or you're new, you know where I'm coming from and, if not, you sadly will.

I vaguely remember being that little kid afraid of needles and throwing tantrums but that seems like it was a different life. Now when a needle comes near me I don't blink an eye unless they're taking blood. Then I just hope and pray they hit the vein the first time which 95% of the time never happens.

My advice for the newbies to this hard life: keep trying new things.

While nothing has been the cure-all-end-all by any means up until this point many things I've tried throughout the years have helped ease my pain, if only slightly. It will probably come to a point where you're emotionally and physically exhausted and you just don't want to try anything anymore; push yourself to do just one more thing.

Always just one more thing.

What has chronic pain taught you? What would your piece of advice be?

Dzień Dobry: Madison's Polish Heritage Club Spring Festival

2017-04-24T14:16:00.001-05:00

A little background about my lineage. While I know I have a wee bit of Irish in me along with German and maybe one or two other things (I really don't know that much about my ancestry), I know without a single doubt in my mind I'm VERY Polish.

When I say I'm very Polish, I mean my paternal grandparents, lovingly referred to as my Babcia (grandmother in Polish) and Dziadzia (Americanized Polish pronunciation for grandfather) actually migrated from Poland in the 1950's. My father and both Ciocias (aunts in Polish) grew up in a Polish speaking household and thus, my sister and I grew up with a lot of the customs and learning a little bit of the language.

Thanks to my good friend Alisa of alisabroad.com, I was able to reconnect with my Polish girl roots and attend Madison's Polish Heritage Club's Polish Spring Festival earlier this month!

Held on Palm Sunday (April 9th) at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School, this festival included quite a bit revolving around Poland, it's food, wares, and entertainment. I first heard of this festival when Alisa and our mutual friend Christopher attended the International Festival a month prior in Madison where the Polish Heritage Club had a booth set up; I sadly couldn't make it to that due to health issues but that day they kindly came back with kielbasa for me and the information for the Spring Festival.

I think now that I'm growing older and nearing my 30's my lineage and background is starting to become more and more important to me. Growing up with essentially unlimited access to the information first hand (my grandparents, parents, and aunts), you take for granted what you're being taught; you're young and it's just a regular part of your everyday routine. Now with both grandparents gone and with family inevitably continuing to age, I find myself increasingly curious about where I come from.

The cafeteria where the event was being held was packed. Not only by eager people there for the culture and food but by the most beautiful Polish wares. They had many a table for Polish stoneware, amber jewelry, a book table strictly for books about Poland and books from Polish authors, crafting tables for kids painting Pisanki (decorative Polish eggs), and so much more!

I ended up splurging and buying myself a beautiful handmade bookmark displaying a genuine Polish postage stamp on it which is currently holding my place in a book I'm reading.

While all the Polish wares available were gorgeous and the history behind them fascinating, I'm sure you guessed where my attention was immediately drawn (aside from the food of course); Amber.

Being a long (long) time jewelry lover and Polish, I have a few amber pieces in my collection and am always drawn to amber when I see it. I was quite impressed by the wide variety the Spring Polish fest had to offer. Not only that but there was a lot of information and background on Baltic amber, where it came from, and even some mythology associated with the substance.

I had not known about the heartbreaking legend of Jurata, Queen of the Baltic Sea (pictured above) until I was able to read about it here and it was truly fascinating. It makes me love amber even more!

Plus I fell madly in love with that amber ring (pictured below), but can you really blame me? It's magnificent!

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that I went just to reconnect with my roots. There was a big incentive to going to this festival for me...

The food.

Who knows, maybe it IS a subconscious need to find out more about Poland and all things Polish but I've been seriously craving Polish everything the past few months and when I refer to these cravings I'm referring to authentic Polish cuisine.

I was not disappointed either! Bigos (also known as Hunter's Stew), kielbasa, and pierogies oh my! Of course you can't forget all the delectable, sweet treats available including to-die-for raspberry cheesecake, chrusciki (also known as Polish angel wings), and my personal favorite, paczki. We shall say the long line for the food was 100% justifiable.

While sitting down to our much anticipated Polish lunch of 3 large cheese-filled pierogies, a large section of sliced kielbasa, some delicious sauerkraut, and a slice of rye bread with butter, we were serenaded by Polska music.

Everybody polka!

A post shared by Kayla Potega (@adaptablekay) on Apr 9, 2017 at 10:20am PDT

All in all my friend Alisa and I had such a wonderful time with the delicious food, conversing with like minded people, and browsing the many table filled with beautiful Polish items. I even got to dust off a little of my Polish language skills after not being able to use them for several years!

A big thank you to the Madison Polish Heritage Club for putting on such a beautiful festival that brought me a little bit closer to my Polish roots. Truth be told, I also felt a little bit closer to my grandparents who, as I stated above, both sadly passed away 10+ years ago.

While we initially made the trip up to Madison specifically for the Spring Polish festival, Alisa and I decided to make a day of it and explore. Make sure to come back and read about our visit to Madison's Cat Cafe Mad!

My Depression Struggles & Finding Joy: The Happiness Perspective Book Review

2017-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Happiness Perspective by Diane Wing to facilitate this review on Kay's Adaptable Adventures. All opinions are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research on a product or service as your results may vary.

Author: Diane Wing
ISBNN-13: 9781615993208
Page Count: 132 pages
Publisher: Loving Healing Press
Release Date: November 2016

Synopsis:

Happiness is not just another emotion and state of being that most individuals find unachievable in this day and age of violence, illness, constant go-go-go and stressors, but a conscious and subconscious choice people can and do achieve as hard as that is to believe. Throughout The Happiness Perspective, Diane Wing (author of Thorne Manor & Other Bizarre Tales, Trips to the Edge: Tales of the Unexpected, and The True Nature of Energy) beautifully outlines just how people can realistically achieve this tranquil state of being by compiling different ways to help you transform your daily thought processes, patterns, habits, and behaviors so you can experience greater happiness and peace of mind in this crazy world.

My Thoughts:

Not many people know this about me since it was well before my days of blogging and social media but when I was 17 years old, just 3 years after I fell chronically ill, I became so increasingly depressed that I had to be institutionalized for several weeks because I had become suicidal. Ever since then it has been an ongoing battle with sadness, depression, and 'suicidal ideations' as the therapists liked to put it.

Since then I have at least 1 to 2 major depressive bouts per year which doesn't include the occasional normal sad few days here and there or the food-induced depression I get when I eat or take something I'm sensitive to.

Don't get me wrong, I'm normally a very positive, peaceful, and happy person but I've come to realize that with chronic illness some sort of depression or sadness is realistically normal, especially after years of going through the ups and downs of being sick and dealing with the system.

But how do some chronic or terminally ill people remain depressed and sometimes take their own lives where as others, in the same set of circumstances, thrive despite all the things that are happening around them? Throughout the years I've had many people, chronically ill and non-chronically ill alike, ask me how I do it; how do I stay so positive when it seems like things are constantly going wrong left and right. I've tried to convey my thoughts and feelings into words on numerous occasions but I could never adequately describe how I do it. I just....do.

That is, until I read this book. Actually, not even that. Until I read the first chapter of this book, which pretty much sums up everything I couldn't put into words whenever anybody asked me how I remain so positive through adversity. Reading line after line I found myself shaking my head in agreement with Diane and feeling a sense of joy at my thoughts finally being put into words!

Not only that but the book goes quite further in depth throughout the chapters and helps work on finding joy and happiness through looking at numerous internal factors (I.E. desire, anxiety, self-trust), external factors (I.E. detachment, forgiveness, drama), and eternal factors (on relaxation, on power, on spirituality). Throughout the book there are little exercises you can do in real time to help you put into practice what you're reading.

Even though I had already been subconsciously putting a lot of these things into practice it was definitely a wonderful read and a very fantastic reference tool when I needed a little extra bit of help. Seriously, next time someone asks me how I stay so positive in my day to day life, I'm pointing them in this book's direction!

The Happiness Perspective can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Connect with Diane:

Eat What You're Craving: A Lesson in Choosing Happiness

2016-12-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

With Christmas come and gone it tis the season to start seeing peoples' New Year's resolutions posted here, there, and everywhere, one of the most popular being giving up all things sugary and fatty and hitting the gym.

Those who have followed me for quite awhile know that I'm not a big fan of making resolutions when the new year looms near; I feel if you're going to set a goal for yourself why not do it ANY day of the year instead of waiting until the end of the year for a 'new start.'

That being said however, I'm on a reading kick lately and I recently read something in a young adult book called Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter (second book in the series) that made me really stop and think. The characters were at Thanksgiving dinner with all sorts of traditional Thanksgiving foods spread about. Along with a single bowl of spaghetti.

"You did all of this?" I asked.

"Everything but the spaghetti."

"Which you have because...."

"Of my rules. I only eat what I'm craving and I was craving my dad's spaghetti."

When I read that passage I literally had to mark my page, put the book down, and really think about what those words meant, not only in the context of the story but in the context of everyday life.

So many people are unhappy these days because they forget to 'only eat what they're craving.' With working too many hours, being in a job you hate, being stuck in a place you'd rather not be, feeling overwhelmed, or whatever the issue is that is causing you to be unhappy, we tend to forget in the monotony and go-go-go of day to day life our happiness is truly important and ultimately up to us!

Don't be afraid to be selfish for yourself.

Say no sometimes.

Work towards what you're truly passionate about.

Eat what you're craving.

Be. Happy.

Of course life is full of unpleasant things we might not enjoy doing (hello dirty windows I hate washing) but have to and there are medical conditions that intrude on our pursuit to be happy (I know about those all too well), but generally speaking I think we all need to take back our happiness one small step at a time!

With this in mind I'm actually going to make a resolution.

The only thing is I'm not making a resolution for the new year. I'm making a resolution for today, December 28th, 2016 that extends into the new year and beyond: If possible, choose the option that makes me the happiest.

Bring on the happiness in 2017!

Quick: What makes you happy?

5 Reasons Traveling with the Microsoft Surface Pro is a Game Changer + Offer & Giveaway

2016-12-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic. All opinions expressed in the below post are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research before committing to purchase a product or service as your results may vary.

You know that feeling when you start falling in love? Everybody who has been in love knows that I'm talking about; Just the mere mention of them brings a big smile to your face that ultimately hurts your cheeks. The anticipation of seeing them face to face simultaneously gives you unstoppable butterflies and makes your heart race. They're the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and the last thing on your mind when you go to bed.

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.

While falling in love with a person is romantic and grand, in this particular context I'm actually not referring to a person at all...

This is exactly how I feel about travel. Just the mere mention of traveling fills me with so much emotion it's hard to keep it contained; I'm continuously falling in love with the world and all it's endless possibilities.

Hence my obvious transition to a travel website! Of course with limited funds and health issues I can't just go full force into things like my heart, mind, and soul would like me to, especially with building my website back up and making a name for myself as a travel blogger.

With being a travel blogger though you also need to have the right equipment. Things like, but not limited to, a cell phone with a decent camera and access to the internet, a nice standalone camera to be able to capture pictures you're proud to share on your blog and social media channels, and, of course, a computer or tablet that is easily transportable from one travel adventure to another such as the extremely portable Microsoft Surface Pro from the Microsoft Store.

Unlike my current large, bulky, and heavy laptop that is a bit of a pain to lug around, the Microsoft Surface Pro is quoted to be 'the tablet that replaces your laptop' and is designed to be ultrathin, fast, and versatile, perfect for not only what I'm interested in pursuing, but anybody who leads an on-the-go lifestyle.

Regardless of if you're already a successful travel blogger, an aspiring travel blogger like myself, or just enjoy traveling without the responsibility of blogging here are 5 reasons why traveling with the Microsoft Surface Pro is a game changer:

Portability. Of course when you're constantly on the road in a car, on a crowded plane for long hours, or backpacking across whichever country has hold of your heart at that moment, having a reliable way to communicate and express yourself is essential. This piece of technology is less than 2 lbs so can easily go wherever you go without adding pain (neck, back, shoulders...) to your travels. As someone who deals with daily chronic pain, this is fantastic!
Best of both worlds. It's a tablet. It's a laptop. Technically speaking, it truly is a tablet but with laptop capabilities. Aside from many other things, this unit comes equip with touch screen, is lightweight, and extremely portable like a tablet but contains the customizable power of a laptop (storage, processor, etc.). You're even able to purchase things like a compatible keyboard, mouse, and other accessories separately to make it even more a hybrid.
Versatility. Are you a travel blogger like I aspire to be? A student trying to make their way through school? An artist of any variety? A film maker? The Surface Pro comes pre-loaded with Windows 10, a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 365, and the ability to download and run professional grade software so regardless of what you are or what you want to be, this piece of technology has the versatility to help you achieve your dreams and goals.
Ability to connect. Wherever you are in the world whether it be traveling on your own accord, being away for school, re-locating for a job, or whatever else might keep you away from family and friends, your ability to connect to your loved ones in between visits is vital! You want to let them know your safe, doing well, and you want to make sure the same for them. With this Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled tablet and its face-authentication front and rear facing camera, stereo microphone and speakers you'll be able to stay connected between those cherished visits.
Customization. Like mentioned above, depending on what you need it for, the Microsoft Surface Pro can be customized according to your needs; you have the ability to choose up to 4 options for your storage (SSD) capacity and 3 processor (core) options, not to mention all the apps and professional programs that are compatible. That's a lot of options!

My first solo trip to New York City in 2010

Even if you're not a travel blogger trekking across the world, or at the very least across the country, as you can see above the Microsoft Surface Pro is for anyone who lives an active, on the go lifestyle; a busy student, an entrepreneur, or even a stay at home mom who wants to keep on top of running your household.

With the holidays fast approaching (less than 3 weeks away!) do you know someone who would appreciate and benefit from this sleek and practical gift wrapped up nicely under their tree? If so, take advantage of Microsoft's offer: Save $150 on the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 i5 128GB now through 12/24!

If you plan on purchasing the Surface Pro or anything else from the Microsoft Store they also offer free shipping and free returns, plus an extended Holiday Return & Exchange Policy! Products, subscriptions, and services purchased from the Microsoft Store between November 11, 2016 and December 31, 2016 may be returned or exchanged until January 31, 2017, subject to their other return/exchange guidelines.

Connect with Microsoft Store:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

{Giveaway}

One lucky person will win a $500 gift card to the Microsoft Store!

{The Rules}

1. You MUST use the name and email you want to be contacted with in the Rafflecopter.

2. NEW RULE--You MUST leave a 1 to 3 sentence comment on my post in order to be eligible for the giveaway. Short, one to two word answers will be deleted from the post and entries associated will be deleted from the giveaway.

3. Contest will run from Friday, December 9, 2016 through Friday, January 6, 2017.

4. Open to individuals 18 years or older.

5. Open to US residents only--Sorry everybody else!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!

100% Natural Pain Relief: Quell Pain Relief Technology

2016-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

Earlier this month we apparently had the biggest and brightest Supermoon that has appeared since 1948! My numerous social media news-feeds erupted with information on the November Supermoon and gorgeous picture after gorgeous picture snapped by friends, professional photographers, and different people from around the world.

There has always been stigma around full and new moons, especially when it comes to people becoming a little crazy or erratic with their behavior.

While some people have looked at me like I'm crazy when I bring it up, my fellow spoonies and chronically ill comrades will agree that the full moon and new moons' effects are very real for us and bring a whole new set of difficulties to our day-to-day lives.

Taken from Guam

This Supermoon was absolutely beautiful and majestic but boy did it really amp up my pain level for several days! Depending on the person, thankfully we only have to deal with that enhanced level once, maybe twice a month for a few days but sadly, we do have to deal with our unending regular chronic pain every day of our lives.

Hence why we all go through many different things to find some semblance of relief even if it's only just a small amount, which is why when given the opportunity to try Quell, a drug-free wearable pain relief unit through the Chronic Illness Bloggers platform I was extremely interested, especially with me wanting to start traveling.

Quell is a natural pain relief system that sits on your upper calf and uses electrodes to stimulate your own sensory nerves which in turn travel and carry those neural pulses to your brain. Once they hit the brain, the neural pulses then trigger your body's natural response which blocks pain signals to the rest of your body leading to widespread pain relief.

According to the website 81% of Quell users reported improvement in their chronic pain and 67% reported being able to reduce their pain medications!

How To Use Quell

Included in the box are the Quell device, the wearable velcro leg band the device goes in to, 1 month of electrodes, a charging cable, and directions on how to use.

Thankfully the directions that came with the unit were very straightforward and included diagrams for those who are visual learners as well. I will admit I had some issues figuring out how to calibrate the device for customized therapy but after I read through the directions a few more times I got the hang of how to do it (only later did I realize there's a how-to video that shows you the process as well).

The unit initially comes fully charged and after the calibration, which only takes a couple minutes to complete, you're good to start your drug-free therapy! It's recommended you wear your Quell unit for 4 to 6 hours per day for the first month and to be patient with the results; it may take up to several weeks to experience optimal relief.

It's also important to remember that you are not to wear Quell anywhere else on your body aside from your upper calf.

Each therapy session lasts for 60 minutes with a 60 minute break in between and will continue until the device is removed from your leg. You're able to control the unit by pressing the button to turn off and on, calibrate, increase and decrease the intensity or you can choose to download the smartphone app for iPhone or Android devices which is what I chose to do because I thought it would be easier.

Truthfully I think the app was the coolest and most innovative thing I've ever seen and was probably my favorite part of this experience! The downloading and sync process was very easy and once everything is set up you can control the whole device from your phone, as well as track your sleep if you choose to wear it overnight. You can even access how-to videos on using the device (videos can also be found on their Youtube channel), change settings to your personal liking, and contact support if you need it all through the handy app.

My Results

I've been using the Quell unit for about a month to a month and a half now. While I've been doing my best to adhere by the recommended use of the device, there are some days I do a little more and some days I do a little less.

Since it goes on the calf I was a little worried about movability and comfort; while not huge, it's also not necessarily a small, inconspicuous thing to wear for prolonged periods of time. That being said I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was to wear in the many different situations I found myself in on any given day which is perfect for the travel lifestyle I would like to eventually start living!

Once I started my therapy regimen and got acquainted with how it worked I took the unit attached to my leg with me on my daily walk. I wasn't quite sure how it would go but I figured I was given it to review so I'd like to thoroughly test it out! I was extremely happy with the results, too.

Not only was it comfortable to wear just laying in bed or doing things around the house, it was also comfortable and unobtrusive to wear during my daily walks and working out. I also was able to wear it out shopping, running errands, and meeting friends with no issues either.

The only one thing I did not do was wear it overnight. I have issues sleeping normally and any little thing disrupts what sleep I do get so I figured I'd leave that for another time when I was finished with this post; lack of sleep amps up my pain so if the unit caused bad sleep and a raised pain level, it would interfere with my testimonial.

Similar to my recent review of the CBD oil I tried, after using the Quell unit for the last month and a half I cannot definitively tell you whether I feel any sort of noticeable difference in my pain level with all the different lifestyle changes I've made in the past 2 months.

Of course it's a day-to-day thing so some days are worse than others for various reasons; weather front, full or new moon, something I shouldn't have eaten, overdid it the other day, etc. Overall, though, I'm noticing a decent daily pain level and less "recovery" time between things that use to flatten me out for days and weeks at a time.

Regardless if that's from using the Quell unit or from a combination of all of the lifestyle changes I've made along with adding the Quell unit, I don't think it's hurting anything so I will be continuing to use it and if I do happen to notice a difference that I can fully attribute to the unit this post will be updated!

Connect with Quell:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

What have YOU done to try to help your chronic pain?
Would you try Quell?

I Quit: Why I'm Running Away to Join the World

2016-11-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Change in life is inevitable.

It's not a matter of IF things will change, it's a matter of WHEN they will change and it's also a matter of what you DO with those changes that is almost as important as the changes themselves.

Some would even argue what you do with those changes, regardless of if they're good or bad, is more important.

The Breakup

Nearly two months ago my heart was completely shattered along with the future life that I had been building up in my head for the last 3 1/2 years. My boyfriend, now my ex-boyfriend, abruptly ended it. After 3 1/2 years of getting to know each other, spending time together, ultimately dating and being in a long term relationship it just as quickly was over.

Talk about our future was getting more and more real; we were looking into the possibility of buying a house together or at the very least looking for an apartment. Talk about potentially having kids in a few years was going from pure fantasy to a potential this-could-really-happen. Even the topic of marriage and long engagements were being thrown around.

All of that history and future potential gone within a single decision.

Regardless of how the breakup went, he's still a good man in my eyes, a part of me will always love him for showing me how to be treated by a man, and I hope he finds what he's looking for since he seems a little bit lost right now.

This playground has a sign; "Designed for kids age 3 to 12." Challenge accepted. #walkingphotochallenge
A photo posted by Kayla Potega (@adaptablekay) on Nov 11, 2016 at 9:35am PST

The Realization(s)

The funny thing about breakups is they change you for better or worse (sometimes even both) and I found that to be extremely true after mine. It may be cliche but I've learned a lot about myself in this past month...

I quickly realized that while people can help, ultimately I'm the only one who can be in charge of my own health and well being so I've been sticking to eating healthy and exercising daily when possible. I even issued myself a walking photo challenge you can follow on my Instagram or even take part in if you'd like!
After something like a heartbreak happens you realize many things, one of which is how many people truly care. The outpouring of love, support, friendship, and advice I've been given these last 2 months has been beyond compare and at times has even brought me to tears. While I'm still sad the fact that I'm SO loved by countless friends, family members, and even complete strangers has helped the healing process tremendously.

I've also forgotten how much I enjoy being single. Yes, I miss aspects of a relationship and essentially having a built in best friend and life partner but being single is so empowering.
I've re-discovered my love of travel. Discovering new places, meeting new people, trying new foods, and immersing myself in various cultures...I found a meme recently that says, "My heart is meant to travel," and I'm pretty sure that explains me to a T. I actually wonder more and more lately if I'm not meant to live a conventional white-picket-fence life because of this.

The Re-Brand

All this self realization builds up to what you ultimately might be curious about: the name change and re-brand. I have been blogging since 2008; first as a promotional tool for my handcrafted and vintage jewelry businesses, then a bit more professionally as a healthy living lifestyle blogger. That's 8 years of blogging!

A short time after the break up I realized that blogging the way I have been doing it wasn't bringing me joy anymore. I felt like I started blogging as a way to try to become self sufficient and earn a living and after nearly 8 years I feel as if I was still getting nowhere with that particular goal. That and it just didn't make me happy anymore.

I'm still planning on keeping part of the lifestyle blog alive but instead of blogging to be self sufficient I'm blogging for the sheer enjoyment of it again.

The big focus of Kay's Adaptable Adventures now: Travel.

I want to go new places, experience new things, meet new people and ultimately share it all with you guys! Of course with chronic illness it makes it a little tough but I'm using my limitations to my advantage: a travel blog with a focus on traveling with chronic illness.

I certainly hope that you guys stick with me through this transition!

Have you had any realizations lately?

Enhance, Regulate & Support: Honey Colony Superior CBD Oil

2016-11-03T13:36:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

When you or someone you love become sick, there are certain things you can do to help the process along. Have a cold? Lots of fluids, soup, and rest. Got some sort of stomach bug? More fluids, especially ginger ale to help the tummy, rest, and some OTC medicine. Ultimately you'll start feeling better within a few days and can go about your normal day to day life again.

When you or someone you love becomes chronically ill however, a lot of things change. Your symptoms won't go away in just a few days and remedies like rest, fluids, and soup just aren't going to cut it. Sometimes you have to hop from one doctor, treatment, or medication/supplement to the other for years in order to see if anything will help, even if only just a little bit.

My mom and I have heard a lot of good things about CBD oil to treat a range of different ailments throughout my healing journey and thanks to Honey Colony and their hemp CBD oil, I was finally able to give it a try after trying so many other different things over the last 12+ years!

Cannabidiol, or also popularly known as CBD oil, is extracted from Cannabis plant. The plant itself has over 60 compounds but the two main ingredients are the cannabidiol (CBD) and the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The THC in the plant is the compound in Marijuana that causes the psychoactive "high" feeling, so CBD oil is ideally what individuals who want the healing benefits without the high.

This particular hemp CBD oil is a collaborative effort to bring the user an exclusively natural, plant-based botanical formula to "enhance, regulate and support a long healthy life". Included in this bottle are what the company calls 'The Superior Six,' a combination of herbs to help bring your body back into balance and promote health.

The Superior Six include:

Sichuan Teasel Root
Dang Shen Root
Astragalus Root
White Peony / Bai Shao Yao Root
Propolis
Bitter Orange Peel

If you'd like to see an explanation of what each of these is and what benefits they provide the Superior CBD Oil information page has great descriptions!

Believe me when I say we've done some research and there are a ton of different options to choose from when it comes to CBD oil and how to administer it. There are the liquid sublingual drops in varying mg, there are vaping pens, there are butters and edibles...Superior CBD Oil has been one of the more impressive hemp CBD formulas we've found. It's:

Legal and ships in all 50 states
Non-GMO certified organic botanicals
Soil used to grow cannabis is free of pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers

If you're interested in trying CBD oil for yourself, the one thing that I would like to advise you to keep in mind is there will most likely be a small trace of THC in the CBD oil due to the extraction process. In this particular oil, the company states on the product information page that their product contains .03% THC, well below the the federal limit of .3% but it's still something to be advised about.

I've been taking the Superior CBD Oil from Honey Colony for over a month and a half now. I started on the 20th of September and have been since experimenting with the timing, dosages, and number of times a day I take it to see what is optimal for my body.

I'm use to taking homeopathic drops so this is a very similar, straight forward process. The drops go under your tongue (sublingual) and should be held for up to 90 seconds for maximum absorption into your system. While the flavor is not necessarily unpleasant (it has a strong taste of oranges), it is a little overpoweringly sweet to my taste buds so I have to usually cut it with a sip or two of water.

I stayed pretty consistent with taking 10 to 12 drops in the morning upon waking for the first 2 weeks. After that I started switching things up; taking it at night for a little while, breaking up the dosage between morning and night, etc. I don't believe I can take it at night past a certain point because the several times I did my insomnia seemed to flair up but I couldn't tell you that's what caused it for sure.

Now for the true test: Did it work?

Truthfully, I'm not sure. Around the same time I started the CBD oil I also started my "diet" (I call it a diet but it's really just mindful eating) which consists of being gluten free, limited dairy, and limited sugars and I started exercising 3 to 5 days a week. Having taken homepathics in the past, I also know that it can be a long process to see any sort of difference; up to several years! I can tell you this though, it certainly didn't hurt anything!

Whether it was one or a combination of all the things I've been doing in the past month and a half, I have seen a great improvement. More so than I've felt this whole year actually.

All in all I'm curious to finish out this bottle and see what happens!

A bottle of Honey Colony's CBD Oil runs about $92.50 but there are subscription offers available that save you 10%. The website also has some great information regarding CBD oil as well so I highly suggest if you're interested in giving it a try, do some research beforehand!

Connect with Honey Colony:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Subtle & Life Changing: An Interview with Nspired Yoga's Nancy Enke

2016-09-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

We're halfway through the month of September; can you believe it's only less than a week away until the official start of Fall? Who else agrees that things need to slow down, at least just a little bit? But of course we can still decorate for Halloween...

Speaking of slowing down, have you given any more thought to National Yoga Month and getting your free week of yoga*?

Plus don't forget about finding out what kind of great yoga-inspired events are around your area this month!

Last week we interviewed Erin of Bad Yogi about her yogi journey but this week I've stuck a little closer to home: Please meet Nancy of Nspired Yoga out of Rockford, Illinois.

1. What first got you in to yoga? How long have you been practicing?

A friend invited me to sign up for a class at Rock Valley (a local community college) more than 20 years ago. I found it to be very relaxing and was attracted to yoga for the stress relief benefits. I practiced on and off for awhile after that and began seriously practicing about 15 years ago.

2. You are the founder and president of Nspired Yoga in Rockford, Illinois. What made you decide you wanted to open a studio?

I became certified to teach yoga in 2005. I was fortunate enough to teach my first class at a very nice facility that provided a calm yoga space. When the facility closed, I taught in many different places around town but none had the atmosphere that was conducive to a peaceful practice. After much thought and a leap of faith, I decided to open my own yoga studio dedicated to offering a calm and peaceful space that I felt a yoga student deserves. I carefully planned every detail with that in mind. I have been told over and over how peaceful and serene my studio feels. People always comment on the warm energy they feel upon entering the studio.

3. There are so many different asanas out there and those who do yoga all have their favorites. What is one/some of your favorites?

I enjoy many poses, of course, but one of my favorites is pigeon pose because of the depth of the stretch, which comes into play very slowly and can be held for quite a long time. I also like balance poses such as King Dancer, which looks very graceful, yet strong.

4. What types of different yoga does Nspired yoga offer? Do you practice and/or teach more than one style or do you stick with one specialty?
Nspired Yoga has several teachers, each bringing their own style to the class. We offer Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Men’s Yoga and many specialty workshops. I teach a basic Hatha Yoga multilevel class geared toward a slow to medium pace. I also teach Aerial Yoga, which is a specialty class using silks suspended from the ceiling. This is a fun class that I enjoy immensely.

5. In the bio on your website, it says that you believe yoga is accessible to everyone. Please explain to those who don't believe they can do yoga for one reason or another why that is.

Yoga is accessible to everyone who is willing to try. Yoga can be done from a chair as well as on the floor. There are many forms of yoga that can be modified to fit the needs of an individual. Yoga can be as simple as breath work, gentle stretching and relaxation. Media always shows people with perfect bodies in perfect poses, it looks beautiful but that is not realistic for the average person. Yoga is such an individual practice, unique to the person who is practicing.

6. What is one thing about yoga that inspires you?
I am inspired by the subtle, yet life changing effect of yoga on my life. On a frustrating day or a down time in my life, yoga always grounds me and brings balance back to my life. I also see this in others who practice. My heart leaps with joy when I see a student start yoga with some skepticism and after a few weeks, they begin to light up and a wonderful energy begins to emerge from them.

7. Any special projects you have planned for yourself, the community, or your studio we can be on the lookout for?

I am planning to continue working toward my 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification. I am putting together a Yin Aerial Yoga class for those who prefer not to “fly.” We are hoping to offer some Kid’s Yoga classes and perhaps Tween yoga. Our possibilities are endless and we are always open to suggestions from the community. People can keep up with the latest news and events by visiting our website rockfordyoga.com or liking our Nspired Facebook page.

"Nancy is the founder and president of Nspired Inc. The studio opened in 2013. She is a 200 Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, (E-RYT.) She has been teaching yoga since 2004 and practicing yoga for 20 years. Nancy believes Yoga is a practice that is accessible to anyone, who desires to find more flexibility through simple movement, while listening to the body. The practice of yoga is designed to bring strength to the body, peace to the mind and joy to the spirit.

Teaching yoga is a passion for Nancy, but her greatest joy is family. She loves spending time with her husband, four married children, their spouses and ten grandchildren. She believes age should never keep you from pursuing your dreams."

Connect with Nspired Yoga:

Website

Facebook

*Free week of yoga is good for new students only and is good from September 1st through October 30th. Make sure to sign up and print off your card before September 30th! You can view the regulations HERE.

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 9/14 #giveawaylinkup

2016-09-13T22:30:00.000-05:00

Win It Wednesday is a day for browsing, entering, and linking up contests-Have a contest or giveaway that needs a little extra exposure? Feel free to link it up! Your contest may even be featured in next week's post.

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

DOUBLE NOTE:: You only have to submit your contest link ONCE on a Win It Wednesday weekly post or my ongoing contest linky because I manage the ongoing list myself, deleting contests as they expire.

If you enjoy entering and linking up giveaways and want to share this opportunity with others please feel free to consider sharing via social media! Here's a handy already composed tweet you can easily copy and paste or re-tweet:

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/RRbd4jrjli
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) September 15, 2016

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Win a Gorgeous Jarilo Chess Board & Copy of Queen of Katwe!!

Ends September 16, 2016

Enter Here

Win a VIP Fitness Retreat Worth $5,200!!

Ends September 18, 2016

Enter Here

Win an Assortment of Halloween Decor from Balsam Hill!

Ends September 20, 2016

Enter Here

An InLinkz Link-up

If You Can Breathe You Can Do Yoga: An Interview with Erin of Bad Yogi

2016-09-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

August seemed to pass in the blink of an eye and now we're into the first week of September.

You can almost feel fall approaching. The slow changing of the trees, the cooling of the days, the opening of local fall attractions like apple orchards and pumpkin patches...

Don't forget pumpkin spice EVERYTHING!

For those who didn't know September is also National Yoga Month. Designated by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2008, National Yoga Month is a nationwide observance to help educate people on the health benefits of yoga and to inspire people to live a happy and healthier lifestyle.

Did you know that during the month of September 1600+ select yoga studios are offering a FREE week of yoga* and there are 1,000+ yoga month events happening nationwide?

This reminds me that I really need to get back into my practice; not having a space to do it as well as continual up and down health issues have made things very difficult but I really do miss it.

In celebration of National Yoga Month I will be showcasing a few yogis and how yoga has changed and enhanced their lives. The first being Erin Motz of Bad Yogi whom I've been following her online presence for years!

What first got you into yoga? How long have you been practicing?

I first came to yoga when I was a teenager and eating way too much Taco Bell! I joined a gym and started with the treadmill which I hated, then graduated to Zumba and some other classes which weren't quite right for me, and finally I decided to try this Yoga thing which ended up being my favorite activity in the world. I couldn't get enough and ended up at every class that was offered. I've been practicing for over 11 years now.

I absolutely love the Dolphin pose. What are a few of your favorite poses/asanas?

A low kneeling lunge, any supine twist, pigeon and headstand are always my favorite, go-to poses.

I've been following you for quite awhile and I have to ask: what inspired you to name your business 'Bad Yogi'?

I felt like I never fit in with the "typical" yoga stereotype and figured there had to be people who felt the same way. I felt like a Bad Yogi and that's how Bad Yogi was born. Pretty short story, I guess! ;)

What would be one piece of advice you'd give to people who don't feel they can start a practice because of one thing or another (I.E. not flexible, too impatient, ADD, etc)?

Everyone starts out feeling like there's a list of things they CAN'T do and that's normal. The only requirement yoga has is that you have a body that breathes. If you can breathe, you can do yoga. The poses are there to serve you, not the other way around. So try not to get caught up in expectations you have of yourself and enjoy the process of learning and improving.

From looking at your pictures it seems like you're quite the traveler as well as a yogi. Where are some places you've been and which was your favorite so far?

I absolutely LOVE the countryside in Switzerland and Austria. It's so clean, peaceful, and gorgeous and pretty much my dream place to get away and relax. I also love where I live which is in Nice in the south of France. Gorgeous scenery, great food, beautiful weather, and we have the mountains and the sea. Perfect balance! :)

Limited Edition 'One Bad Yogi' Tank in Merlot

What can people expect from you within the next year? Any special projects underway or in the works?

We've got some pretty big plans to continue expanding The Perfect Body Yoga Program and add onto that which is really exciting. It's been a huge year for that and it'll continue to be a focus for us in the next several months. There will also be some other cool secrets in store for the free Bad Yogi Club, but I can't talk about those quite yet ;)

Co-Founder of Bad Yogi & voice of real yogis everywhere. In my spare time I'm also a wine drinker, cheese eater, and not your average yoga teacher; I've been teaching yoga for over 10 years, but you won't hear much Sanskrit, I totally forgive you if you don't know your asana from your elbow, and I believe that yoga is for everyone, from the kale loving vegan to the prize winning deer hunter.

Connect with Erin:

Interested in receiving free yoga classes from Erin every Monday via your inbox plus Q&A and more? Join the Bad Yogi Club!

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 9/7 #giveawaylinkup

2016-09-06T22:30:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/yv6Rf9tMhx
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) September 7, 2016

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Win a Year's Supply of Angel Soft Toilet Paper!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Necessity is the Mother of Invention: An Interview with Shawna Coronado, Gardening Extraordinaire

2016-08-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

At this year's Mother Earth News Fair in West Bend, Wisconsin they had quite a lot of things to see, people to meet, and knowledge to learn.

So. Much. Knowledge.

Like I mentioned in that post, over the span of the 2 day event there was a total of 120 different sessions on everything from chicken keeping to gardening to kombucha brewing, essential oils, tiny homes and so much more. Each person teaching each session was picked for their expertise, background, and experience on the subject so being amongst all those great minds was exhilarating!

One such mind was Shawna Coronado who taught both the Arthritis in the Garden: How to Lower Chronic Pain without Drugs and the How to Grow 35 to 40 Organic Plants Within a 2-Foot Garden classes. I was drawn to her and her classes because not only is she quite the charismatic and funny speaker, she has health issues like me and has learned to work with them when it comes to her passion: gardening.

Shawna is also such a wonderful, kind, and giving woman! She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to do an interview for the website and you guys.

You have written several books, been on television, speak in person several different times a year but it essentially all comes down to this: what got your love of gardening and growing things started?

Without a doubt my love for connecting with the Earth began with my grandmothers. They have all passed now, but every single one of them – and I had 3 as I had a step-grandmother also – were all very involved in one form of gardening or another. Seeing them plant, grow, and harvest vegetables and flowers certainly had an influence on me for the rest of my life.

Your beautiful garden is located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. How do you manage to create such an unlikely bountiful and gorgeous oasis in the middle of a suburban/city area?

Necessity is the Mother of Invention. When I first began growing I found out that my property and back garden is mostly shady. In order to grow vegetables and herbs, I had to move out to the sunny part of the garden in the front. Before I knew it, I had a front lawn vegetable garden and a passionate group of neighbors who were very supportive of my growing. I donate approximately 500 pounds a year to my local food pantry and began initiatives centered on wellness and growing in my community. Living walls help expand my front lawn vegetable garden space into more food and eventually turned into a book to inspire people to grow vertically.

As someone who suffers from chronic illness I understand the daily struggles and how it inevitably impacts your daily life as well as your hobbies and passions. Will you share what you were diagnosed with, when, and how it impacts your gardening?

I have extreme allergies and asthma. Additionally, I have severe degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine. Both allergies and asthma has changed the way I garden – what I grow – and how I clean up afterwards. I take a shower before bed, not in the mornings, to clean all the pollen and mold off of me before I climb into the sheets. I have a HEPA filter fan that cleans the air in the bedroom. I sometimes wear a mask outside while doing my gardening to help reduce the microbes from entering my sinuses. When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2015 it changed how much weight I can lift in the garden and how much I can plant and harvest. At first this was very sad for me, but since my diagnoses I have been relearning how to take better care of myself and my garden followers and readers who have conditions like arthritis. Then I work to share that information with them so we can all work in the garden more easily with less pain.

How did you learn to work within your body and health limits and make it work for you?

#1 I focused on eating an anti-inflammatory diet so that my inflammation would be reduced when I was working at a physical job of some kind. This is not simply about finding a better tool to use in order to dig, or lifting a different way in order to reduce pain – learning how to live with a devastatingly painful condition means you have to relearn how to eat and exercise so that when you do approach a job, your inflammation will already be within livable constraints. I eat a dairy-free, grain-free, and sugar-free diet. Within one year of going on the diet my pain has been reduced by about 75%. I highly recommend starting with a licensed nutritionist who can help guide you to a less inflammatory diet if you have a condition like arthritis. As a bonus, the diet has helped me with my allergies as well. Additionally, I grow in elevated bed and living walls so that I do not have to bend as much to create a garden. This helps immensely.

What would be one piece of advice you can give to those people, like you and I, who are chronically ill but still would like to do what they're passionate about, especially if they don't feel it's possible?

When I was first diagnosed I started walking at a track and I could barely take 1000 steps in an hour. At the time I thought I would never be able to do more than 1000 steps because I was in such pain. Then I switched to an anti-inflammatory diet and started doing stretches. Before I knew it I was increasing my steps. Now I take over 5000 steps in an hour. When I work in the garden I work the same way – I start out slow and steady and eventually I can increase my activities gradually. My point here is that if you don’t feel something is possible and you sit at home on the couch or in front of the computer and never try to do something, then you will never move forward. Every time you try, you are moving yourself forward for success. So try and try and try again.

What can people expect from you within the next year? Any special projects underway or in the works?

Yes! My latest book is coming out in January. It is titled, “101 Organic Gardening Hacks” and is a book filled with full color photos and great “how to” ideas, plus it is illustrated with some amazing art – I think the book is beautiful and I am excited to see how it does in the New Year. Outside of that I just signed on for the book after that – my sixth – and will be moving towards wellness in the garden.

***********************

If you haven't checked out her website I highly suggest you head there if you're interested at all in gardening tips, tricks, advice, and information, healthy food and recipes, or inspirational success stories from Shawna herself and how she's turned her chronic condition into a positive life lesson for herself, her family, and her community.

About Shawna

I’m Shawna Coronado. I’m an author and professional photographer (here are my books – LINK) who decided to change her life one day and up n’ left her fancy-pants office job in sales and marketing to find health and happiness. Since then I have created a media career beyond authoring and photography as an on-camera spokesperson, blogger, columnist, keynote speaker, and radio show host. Every day is a new adventure for me.

Connect with Shawna:

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 8/31 #giveawaylinkup

2016-08-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/XGWyDv3iRF
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) August 31, 2016

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Win a Japan Candy Box!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Organic Aromas Innovative & Elegant Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser Review

2016-08-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: I received an essential oil diffuser from Organic Aromas through the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network to facilitate this honest review. All opinions expressed below are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research on a product or service before committing to purchase as your results may vary.

This is my mom Joanne, or Joannie as she prefers to be called.

She says she thinks that name better suits her.

Joannie, aka my Mom, has a birthday coming up at the end of September. Fun fact: she shares a birthday with the beginning of Fall each year.

Of course like any mom when her kids come a knocking for birthday present ideas she tells us to save our money or don't bother with a gift, our love is enough. That or she draws a complete blank on what she might want that year (suspiciously she does the same thing when Christmas rolls around).

Finally, finally after years of "don't waste your money" and "your love is enough" I was able to get her a tangible present she's been wanting for quite awhile: a beautiful Raindrop Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser thanks to Organic Aromas!

Unlike other essential oil diffusers on the market these days that rely on the use of heat and or water to diffuse the essential oils the Organic Aromas diffuser uses neither heat nor water; it uses the Bernoullis Principle to evenly and powerfully distribute your choice of essential oil into the air and rooms around you.

That means this diffuser allows you to get the most therapeutic benefits out of your essential oil. Who wouldn't want that?

If you want to know a little more about how it works you can check out their How It Works page.

With it's simple hand-made wooden base and custom-blown glass diffuser, this unit is not only innovative but it's an elegant, beautiful, and functional addition to any room. While my mom opted for the more simple unit there are several different ones you can choose from inclusive of their hand carved artisan diffusers that are a work of a truly talented artist(s)!

One thing we really loved is how easy it was to put together and use. No fussing with adding or remembering to change the water. No worry about over-heating. It was as easy as one, two, three, four...

When plugged in, you're able to turn on the unit and control how strongly you want the oil to diffuse. The higher you turn the "volume" knob, the more powerful it's going to be. We definitely found that out early on; we turned on the unit full blast and the wonderful Serenity custom blend they sent could be smelled in the living room, dining room, my bedroom, and the kitchen!

Speaking of their custom blend Serenity, it was really wonderful. My mom and I are both pretty sensitive when it comes to smells and when opened for the first time, we both really enjoyed the smell and didn't have any issues with it.

Another benefit of this specific brand of oil diffusers is its low energy consumption. Each usage cycle is the span of 2 minutes on and 1 minute off. If you're worried about leaving it on while you're away or forget to turn it off not to worry! after 120 minutes it automatically shuts off on its own.

According to the specifications on the website, under ideal conditions, can service a room up to 80 sqm (800+ sq ft).

Plus when it's turned on it changes colors which made me gasp and squeal with delight the first time we used it.

It's the simple things.

The unit itself was a dream but what really put this experience over-the-top was Organic Aromas customer service. The checkout process was very straightforward with no hassles and from the Amazon product page you knew exactly what you were getting with their detailed information.

As if that wasn't enough I received several follow up emails making sure everything was okay; the order process, the delivery time, the unite itself...In one of their emails I even was provided a step-by-step cleaning guide in PDF format, a 1 year free parts and services warranty and how to active it, as well as an incredible 50% off promo code for their Designer Series Essential Oil Blends Collection Luxury Gift Set.

I mean WOW!

We went ahead and ordered the essential oil gift set because it was just too good of a deal not to.

While it was intended to be my mom's early birthday present it really ended up being a present for us both. We both really enjoy using essential oils in our everyday lives and having a diffuser after wanting a quality one for so long (the plastic one my mom did have broke not long after we bought it) was such a nice happening.

We've discussed it and can't wait to try many different oils in it; for relaxation, for health and well being, heck, even for just helping the house smelling good.

This brings us to our next step though: acquiring some ylang ylang since that's been on our to-get list since we went to the Mother Earth News Fair this past July!

Connect with Organic Aromas:

Do you enjoy essential oils? Have you used an essential oils diffuser?

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 8/24 #giveawaylinkup

2016-08-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/VKxIEtcjmH
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) August 24, 2016

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Win a Professional Grade 12 Piece Non-Stick Bakeware Set!

September 2, 2016

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Win 1 of 5 ForagerGo Metal Detectors!!

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That Time I Was Encouraged to be a Kid + a Giveaway #3DSKidForADay

2016-08-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

I've always been a kid at heart.

I owned a few children's coloring books and a crayon tower before the adult coloring craze became popular. I can't pass up a good stuffed animal or plushie and my queen size bed reflects that. Some women prefer flowers and jewelry as gifts but give me a pretty rock you found on the ground and I'll be thrilled (although jewelry is always appreciated). I also have a box underneath my bed with play doh, tinker toys, that aforementioned crayon tower, bubbles, and more for when I'm bored.

Adulthood may get in the way (a lot) now that I'm 26 years old but I'm proud to say that that inner child of mine is still in there and ready to come out and play at any given time despite other peoples' scoffs!

Quite honestly I think being able to break out that inner child of mine when things get tough, especially with my illnesses, is needed and is a big reason of why I remain so positive most of the time.

Thanks to my bloggy friend Jen of My Crafty Life blog and Nintendo I was invited to be a kid for a day! Seriously, the hashtag for the event was #3DSKidForADay.

The event itself was hosted at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. Sadly the boyfriend had to work that day so he couldn't make it (he's been wanting a 3DS XL for years so he was not a happy camper he had to miss testing one out) but when I put it out there that I was in need of an escort a family friend gladly accepted the invitation!

The VIPs were treated to dinner at the A&W inside Woodfield. We were some of the first guests to arrive so we were allowed in, introductions were made, and were told to order dinner when we were ready.

Did I mention the moment we walked in we were handed a drawstring bag that contained Nintendo's infamous 3DS XL gaming system along with 3 select games to play? We were actually encouraged to play games throughout dinner and the entire event!

Yeah.

Be jealous.

While eating, the staff at the event gave us information on their new 3DS XL system, the Play Nintendo Summer Tour, and gave all of us VIPs a chance to win some awesome Nintendo inspired prizes with what other than Nintendo trivia.

My escort for the evening, Kyle, actually won one of the prizes and was nice enough to want to split the loot with me but I was adamant: he won so he gets all the spoils!

Although I will admit that Super Mario Bros. checkers and tic-tac-toe set was super cool.

Did you know #Mario was originally named Jump Man? I didn't! Learning a lot at @nintendo #trivia. #sponsored #3DSKidForADay #PlayNintendo
A video posted by Kayla Potega (@theeclecticelement) on Aug 5, 2016 at 4:13pm PDT

While I've grown up with these games and played them throughout my childhood I'm not really good with the gaming trivia but I swear I actually knew the last question (thanks mostly to my boyfriend)!

Sadly I was just seconds late raising my hand. Darn it.

Once trivia was over it was off to the wonderful world of Nintendo; if you were an outsider walking around the mall you happened to see this large chunk of the mall gone and overrun with children of all ages, but you really couldn't understand the magical-ness of this little world until you step foot inside...

After Kyle and I stood there for awhile wondering where to start off first, we decided to walk around and get a feel for each station. There were a total of 7 different Nintendo gaming stations spread throughout the Nintendo world with 7 different games to play. The VIPs had their own 3DS XL system so technically we could just pop a squat anywhere and play to our heart's content without having to wait in lines but then we couldn't get our tokens...

See, here's the thing: when you entered the Nintendo world you were given a passport. In order to receive a token, you needed to go to each gaming station, play that specific game, and receive a sticker letting the staff know you've been there.

The games ranged from newer remastered classics like Kirby, Mario Cart, and Donkey Kong to games I had never heard of before like Yo-Kai Watch.

Along with the 7 gaming stations this particular Nintendo world featured a ~~huge~~ XL 3DS stage, multiple photo opportunities inclusive of sitting in Donkey Kong's barrel, racing your way in a Mario Cart race car, posting with a massive Kirby and even doing your best to throw an oversized Pokeball.

They also featured information on their newest 3DS XL system along with other systems they offer, gaming merchandise like backpacks, shirts, and shoes that can be purchased through Van's and more!

Pretty awesome @nintendo & @vans merchandise available for #gamer fans. I kinda want a pair of their gamer inspired shoes...😍 #sponsored #3DSKidForADay #PlayNintendo
A photo posted by Kayla Potega (@theeclecticelement) on Aug 5, 2016 at 6:35pm PDT

Aside from the magical world of Nintendo smack dab in the middle of Woodfield, one thing that really captured my attention was the "DJs" and staff of the event were absolutely fantastic! Whether they were up on stage pumping up the players, giving information on the tour, and playing video game music trivia or at each station helping and encouraging kids and adults alike to stop and play, take pictures, and generally have a blast, these staffers really did help make the event memorable and special.

Throughout the evening if you had your passport finished you were able to compete in gaming competitions for prizes and at the very end there was a massive Mario Cart competition to end it all! 30 players. 2 teams. 4 gaming podiums. Best time with one lap around the track was the ultimate champion!

Each player, regardless of winning or losing, got a prize and the ultimate champion of the competition received a really awesome Nintendo prize package.

Regardless of whether you were 5 or 45 (I fall somewhere in between there...) this event allowed you to connect to your inner child and bring back your childhood or be an excitable kid allowed to play video games while you ate dinner. Regardless it was a fantastic time had by all and one thing I know for sure: Nintendo really knows how to throw a party!

For those of you interested in the newest Nintendo 3DS XL or any of the DS line of gaming systems you can learn all about them, their features, and pricing on the Nintendo 3DS Page.

You also can't miss out on the Play Nintendo Summer Tour; maybe you'll get to experience this magical Nintendo world for yourselves! Next stop is Tysons Corner, Virginia at the Tysons Corner Center, August 26-28. Will you be there?

Connect with Nintendo:

{The Giveaway}

1 Copy of Disney Art Academy for Nintendo 3DS Family of Systems!

{The Rules}

1. You MUST use the name and email you want to be contacted with in the Rafflecopter.

2. NEW RULE--You MUST leave a 1 to 3 sentence comment on my post in order to be eligible for the giveaway. Short, one to two word answers will be deleted from the post and entries associated will be deleted from the giveaway.

3. Contest will run from Monday, August 22, 2016 through to Monday, September 9, 2016.

4. Open to individuals 18 years or older.

5. Open to US residents only--Sorry everyone else!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a VIP at the Play Nintendo Summer Tour in Schaumburg, Illinois which facilitated this post and giveaway on The Eclectic Element. All opinions and expressions above are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research on a product or service before purchasing as your results may vary. This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years or older and will run from Monday, August 22, 2015 12:00am CST until Monday, September 9, 2015 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be randomly chosen through Rafflecopter.com and be contacted within 24 hours of the drawing. You'll then have 24 hours (1 full day from when the winning email was sent) to claim your prize and send me all applicable information-If I haven't heard from you within that time frame, I will be forced to choose another winner. The Eclectic Element and all related parties are in no way liable or responsible for unfulfilled or damaged prizes.

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 8/17 #giveawaylinkup

2016-08-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/VprJDmhI5B
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) August 19, 2016

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Win a Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch!!

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Win a Whimsical Felted Fairy Light from Felted Art To Wear on Etsy!

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Win a New Indoor Gym Fitness Prize Package!!

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Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 8/10 #giveawaylinkup

2016-08-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/sV9QHWpnrP
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) August 10, 2016

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Win a Lovely Candy Co. Prize Package!!

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I Enjoy Tea Before Bed: My Hampton Inn & Suites West Bend Hotel Experience

2016-08-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: I was provided no compensation for the below post. Thoughts and opinions below are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated.

My dad travels quite a bit for his job so he's no stranger to airports, flying, and hotel rooms. In fact he belongs to several reward programs through hotel chains and flight companies. Every time he travels, which is at least 2 to 3 times a month in his busy months, he racks up more reward points to spend at a future date on a plethora of different things.

I know we got my mom her laptop through his reward programs several years ago and their shared iPad as well.

When it comes to those type of reward programs you're also able to use your points on hotel rooms and flights as well as tangible items which is exactly what he did when we went to the Mother Earth News Fair in West Bend, Wisconsin at the beginning of July.

We spent most of the day at the Mother Earth Fair and afterwords went to dinner so when we got to our hotel around 7pm we were dead on our feet and just wanted to kick back and relax; after all we knew we all had another busy day ahead of us.

The first thing I noticed about the Hampton Inn & Suites West Bend was that it was a beautiful and inviting building, outside as well as inside. As soon as I walked through those automatic doors, the lobby was immediately to your left and to the right was a gorgeous common room that made me immediately feel comfortable and at ease enough to want to take a seat in one of the lovely looking chairs and relax.

While we didn't need to use any of the hotel amenities this trip, while exploring I noticed that they have an indoor heated pool, whirlpool, and a small modern fitness center. I also learned courtesy of their website that they offer free high speed internet access in each room and they even have a 24-hour business center with internet access and free printing!

The Room

My dad had booked a double queen bed room for him and my mom so it happened to work out that they got their own bed and I got mine. Of course once we all dropped our stuff in various places, changed, and hit the beds it was all over!

In fact the beds were so soft and comfortable that even though my mom and I tried to watch some TV for a little while to get our fix (we've been without cable in our household for nearly 4 years now) we were both falling asleep with the remote in hand. It was only 9:00pm.

My dad, Mr. In-Bed-By-9-Every-Night, even outlasted both my mom and I which was the first time that had ever happened. Ever.

Before we were enticed by the super fluffy white beds I got to take a look around the room and was very impressed by what I saw. While the hotel room itself was seemingly ordinary at first glance it was the little things that ultimately set it apart; the handwritten note promising the room was thoroughly cleaned that day by housekeeping complete with complimentary mints, the USB and outlet plugin on the nightstand right near both beds for added convenience, the sign in the bathroom near the toiletries assuring you if you had forgotten something just ring down and they would be happy to provide it...

Customer service is key and this hotel definitely has it down to a science!

The bathroom was equally as nice and clean as the room itself which, as we all know, is very important. Aside from the normal amenities a bathroom should have (I.E. toilet paper, clean towels, shampoo, conditioner, and soaps) this bathroom also contained the small coffee maker for the room as well as small packets of coffee and supplies for the coffee making process.

Like I mentioned above the little things are key and I loved the hotel put a little sign in the bathroom letting its guests know if we happened to forget anything they would be more than happy to provide us with whatever we needed!

Breakfast

All 3 of us woke up bright and early to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00am so breakfast was definitely on our radar. Once downstairs we joined the handful of hotel guests mulling about, trying to decide what we wanted before checking out and setting off for the day.

From pastries and breads to a few fresh fruit options, a make your own waffle bar, hot breakfast options including eggs, sausage patties, and hash browns encased in a container to keep it fresh and warm and, of course, the boxes of cereal and containers of yogurt there were quite a few different options to choose from!

While I do wish there was more of a gluten free selection they did provide enough to get creative so those who wanted to watch what they ate could. It was just hard to pass up that make your own waffle station!

We all agreed that for a quick and inexpensive overnight stay we really enjoyed the Hampton Inn & Suites West Bend and would have no problem staying there again if we were ever in the area.

The customer service was top notch, the hotel itself was clean and inviting, and those queen beds we got to sleep in were like little fluffy clouds; I can't say I woke up refreshed because I sadly never do but I would definitely say I was as close as I ever get that morning!

Honestly my only qualm was I wish they had more of a variety of tea I could choose from before I headed off to bed that night but really, having a tea station at all was probably one of the things that made my stay.

Thank you @hamptonbyhilton for your thoughtfulness in offering some warm tea before bed. My favorite way to relax 👌
A photo posted by Kayla Potega (@theeclecticelement) on Jul 9, 2016 at 5:42pm PDT

Connect to Hampton Inn & Suites West Bend:

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 8/3 #giveawaylinkup

2016-08-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/azjeGAl6iZ
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) August 4, 2016

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Win a Very Kawaii JillyJilly Space Mug!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

So You Want a Massage? 5 Tips for Massage Newbies & How to Save with #Groupon

2016-08-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: This post is on behalf of Groupon and I have received product and/or monetary compensation in exchange for my participation. All thoughts and expressions contained in the post below are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. Please do your own research before using or purchasing a service or product as your results may vary.

I'm not one to splurge on myself.

Sure I'll stop at Steak and Shake and treat myself with a delicious mint cookies and cream shake every now and again or buy myself a piece of unique jewelry at a thrift store that's blatantly calling my name when looking for vintage inventory but splurging on pampering myself is something completely different.

Maybe it would be different if I was able to work a steady job and have a reliable source of income coming in each week but as of right now I just can't justify spending money on getting my nails done or hair professionally dyed at a salon.

Massages on the other hand are my weakness and I would happily shell out the cold hard cash on a good one weekly if I had it to spend!

I've been to several massage therapists in my day and have experienced a few different types of massages for health and relaxation reasons. A good massage, regardless of whether it's for health or relaxation, can leave me a blissfully blurry-eyed drooling mass.

It's truly an amazing feeling and I want to share that amazingness with all of you! Here are my personal top 5 tips on where to start and what to remember when looking for and receiving a massage.

1. The many faces of massage. Just like there are hundreds of different treatments and therapies out there, there are many different types of massages. I've tried several inclusive of Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial, reflexology, and Reiki. If you're not sure which one you prefer go ahead and give them all a try! If you're like me and have limited funds though you might want to do your research and find out what type of massage is best for you, your body, and it's particular needs before seeking out a massage therapist.

2. You gotta jive. Just like an emotional therapist or a physical therapist, you need to jive with your massage therapist. If you're not comfortable with the person who will be putting their hands on you it defeats the whole purpose of getting the massage in the first place. Listen to your gut when speaking with a potential therapist; getting a good feeling? Give that person a try! Not such a good feeling? Politely say thank you and walk away. Same goes for after the initial first massage; did you really enjoy the process or did it leave you lacking that relaxing, bleary-eyed feeling?

3. Speak up. This is not just a one way street where the massage therapist automatically knows why you're there and miraculously gives you what you want. Let them know! What is it that you want from this massage? Are you there for health reasons or just for relaxation? Does a specific body part need more attention than the others or should they steer clear from something in particular? Are you more of a deep tissue kinda guy or gal or is a light touch where it's at? Don't forget that you can (and should) converse with them before, during, and after the massage; you're paying good money and taking time out of your day, you should be getting the most benefit out of the experience.

4. Know your limits. If you're like me and get massages mostly for health related reasons, you have to know your body and its limitations (something I still struggle with nearly 13 years later). Having a bad day? It might not be the best to get that deep tissue like you planned so tell your therapist to go light this time. Stressed out? tell your therapist prior to the starting and let them take care of it. Whether you're chronically ill or not, just listen to what your body is telling you that day and go from there.

5. Water, water, and, oh yea, more water. Regardless of if you're like me and love it when your massage therapist digs in deep (it just hurts so good) or whether you just like a light, soothing touch, after your massage is done water is key. We live in a toxic society and that sadly effects our bodies. Massages stir up all the toxic iciness that resides within us and it can give us a sick feeling; aches, pain flair ups, headaches, sore throats, etc. It's up to you and that water you're pushing to help flush out those stirred up toxins and evacuate them from the body!

For those of you who have issues splurging on pampering yourself like I do or wish you could splurge but don't really have the funds to do so Groupon wants to let you know they've got you covered with their hundreds of Health, Beauty, & Wellness Groupons available on their website!

Looking for something in particular? Head on over and see what is being offered in your area.

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Have YOU ever gotten a massage? If not, what type of pampering do you prefer?

Win It Wednesday Giveaway Link Up 7/27 #giveawaylinkup

2016-07-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

NOTE:: Linking up your contests on my Win It Wednesday linky below automatically puts them on my Ongoing Contest Linky so no need to link up twice.

#Giveaway, #contest, & #sweepstakes galore! Ready to #win?! Browse, link up, & enter on my #winitwednesday #linky--->https://t.co/ppHoekNydE
— The Eclectic Element (@TheEclecticE) July 26, 2016

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Win a MIU Color Glass Water Bottle!!

Ends August 5, 2016

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Win a Copy of Crystal Technology in Atlantis by Diana Cooper!!

Ends August 15, 2016

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Win an EasyAcc 2nd Gen. 10000mAh Power Bank!!

Ends August 19, 2016

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An InLinkz Link-up