As a uterus owner I’ve grown accustomed to the pain that comes each month during my menstrual cycle. After teenage years spent doubled over in agony, birth control helped control the pain until I had to go off while we worked to conceive. Jokes on me that it took 5 years and brought me right back to the reason I needed to go on birth control in the first place. Now that I don’t particularly want to go back on hormonal birth control I need a better way to manage the pain, without taking handfuls of pain medication.
Enter Tap – a wearable tens device designed specifically for period pain. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS units are small, portable devices that deliver low-level electrical impulses to specific areas of the body through adhesive electrode pads placed on the skin. These electrical pulses stimulate the nerves in the targeted area and can modulate pain perception, providing a natural and non-invasive way to manage pain.
I’ve been curious about how a tens unit might be able to help and was excited to try the device out for myself when they reached out.
After two months of trial, I can confidently say it helps, ALOT. I’ve been told the reason for my severe cramping is related to uterine fibroids, a fairly common condition that causes no other medical challenges. That said, being curled up in a ball for several days each month isn’t an option between work and taking after a toddler.
The device itself is smaller than a compact mirror, and easily charges with a standard USB. You can select from one of two electrode pad configurations and the pads are reusable for several uses if you store them properly. The electrodes connect to the device and a simple button push turns the unit on for one hour at a time.
The feeling itself is not unlike what a woman experiences during pregnancy as the early flutters – which is unsettling at first – but not painful. You can easily select a level of intensity that’s best for you and personally I used the highest setting due to the severity of my cramping. I’ve found it works best with continuous use, even when the pain has somewhat dwelled, because otherwise it might surge back up again without warning.
Each electrode pad is supposed to work for up to 3 months, but I would recommend buying extra sets upfront as mine easily stuck to my clothing meaning the sticky pad was no longer effective sooner then intended. I’m not sure if they will continue to work over several months but I’ll order more and see if I can do a better job of preventing it from getting stuck to fabric.
I personally preferred the butterfly shaped pad, as it was a bit more consistent of a feeling with the electric taps and the unit itself didn’t need to be clipped to anything to stay connected.
Overall when combined with a light heat pad and a low dose of Tylenol I was really pleased with the results. The pain is not entirely gone, but again I have extremely severe cramps so I wouldn’t expect them to disappear like magic. Tap made my period a thousand times more manageable and I wish I had found them earlier!
Disclaimer: I was provided a review unit to facilitate the development of this content. I did not receive any other compensation and all images and opinions are my own.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding high-quality and ethically sourced meat can be quite a challenge. But fear not! Butcher Box is here to make your life easier and your taste buds happier. This blog post will take you on a journey to explore the wonderful benefits of Butcher Box, from the amazing quality of their meats to the sustainability they bring to the table. Get ready to embrace convenience, savor delicious meals, and support a better world!
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Premium-Quality Meats: A Culinary Adventure Awaits!
Let’s talk about flavor! Butcher Box is your gateway to a world of premium-quality meats that will take your taste buds on a joyride. Picture succulent 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage breed pork, and irresistible wild-caught seafood. How do they achieve such amazing flavors? By partnering directly with trusted farmers who raise their animals without antibiotics or added hormones. It’s all about bringing you healthier and more delicious options for your culinary creations.
Convenience and Time-Saving: More Moments with Loved Ones
Life can get hectic, and spending hours at the grocery store is the last thing you want. Butcher Box has your back! With their convenient meat subscription service, you can bid farewell to those long shopping trips. Imagine having top-quality meats delivered right to your doorstep, saving you time and effort. Customize your box to fit your preferences, and enjoy the convenience of regular deliveries. This means more time spent with your loved ones and less time stressing in the aisles. Say goodbye to meal planning headaches and hello to hassle-free cooking!
Ideal for Busy Parents: Simplify Mealtime for Your Family
Butcher Box proves to be a valuable ally for busy parents seeking convenience and wholesome meals for their families. With the demands of parenthood, juggling work, and managing household responsibilities, finding time to shop for high-quality meats can be challenging. Butcher Box steps in to alleviate this burden by delivering top-notch meats directly to your doorstep. As a parent, you can save precious time that would have been spent navigating crowded grocery stores and use it to create nourishing meals for your loved ones. With Butcher Box’s customizable subscription service, you can tailor your meat selections to accommodate your family’s dietary preferences and ensure a steady supply of healthy proteins. From flavorful cuts for delicious family dinners to kid-friendly options like chicken breasts and ground meat for easy meal preparation, Butcher Box makes it easier than ever to provide wholesome, quality meals that both parents and children will savor.
Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: Making a Difference, One Bite at a Time
When you choose Butcher Box, you’re not just enjoying delicious meats; you’re supporting a better future. They partner with farmers and suppliers who prioritize animal welfare and environmental stewardship. By opting for their grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, you’re helping promote sustainable farming practices that combat climate change and nurture our planet. Transparency is key for Butcher Box, as they provide information about their sourcing practices and partner standards. Feel good about the origin and quality of the meats you serve your family while actively contributing to a healthier world.
Variety and Customization: A Culinary Playground at Your Fingertips
Prepare for culinary excitement! Butcher Box offers a diverse selection of meats and subscription boxes that cater to all tastes and dietary needs. Whether you’re a paleo enthusiast, a keto lover, or just looking to explore new flavors, Butcher Box has you covered. From juicy steaks and mouthwatering roasts to versatile ground meats and specialty items like bacon and sausages, your options are endless. Unleash your creativity in the kitchen and savor a variety of delicious meals that will keep everyone coming back for more.
Say hello to a more convenient and flavorful way of enjoying high-quality meats with Butcher Box. From exceptional taste to time-saving convenience and sustainable sourcing, they have it all. Embrace the joy of cooking with premium-quality meats, spend more precious moments with your loved ones, and feel good about making a positive impact. Butcher Box is your ticket to a world of culinary delights. So, let your taste buds embark on this incredible journey and experience the wonders of Butcher Box, where convenience, flavor, and sustainability blend seamlessly to elevate your meals and your dining experience.
A few months back we took our daughter on her first vacation. Cruising offers a fantastic vacation experience for families, and we were excited to book a ten day Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Breakaway. This magnificent ship provides an array of amenities and activities designed to cater to guests of all ages, ensuring an unforgettable voyage for everyone. For our first trip I’m so glad we choose an option that made traveling with a toddler so easy.
Booking the trip
We booked our trip through the Costco Vacation website, and while the prices booking direct were exactly the same, Costco provided a ton of perks that wouldn’t otherwise be available like a photo package and fun add-on’s like casino cash and bingo cards during the ships pay to play games. We also received both a Costco Shop card to use after the trip and as executive members at Costco the total is included towards our annual spending with them ensuring more cash back at the end of the year.
One of the great things about booking a cruise through Costco is the low price guarantee. A few months before our trip we discovered that rates had decreased a ton, so we reached out and Costco was able to coordinate upgrading us to a much larger suite for the same money as what we originally paid.
Family-Friendly Accommodations
Norwegian Breakaway offers a variety of accommodation options that are ideal for families with toddlers. Spacious and comfortable cabins provide ample room for your little one to move around freely. Some staterooms even feature connecting doors, allowing easy access between cabins for added convenience. Upon checking in the steward brought us a pack and play that fit perfectly in-between the bed and couch inside the room.
We booked Balcony Stateroom with an extra large balcony which was AMAZING for giving us the opportunity to lounge outside while the baby napped. A normal balcony only fits a table and chairs but the extra large balcony (limited number per ship) had enough space for the table and chairs as well as two full size loungers.
Activities for Toddlers
This is the one downside of booking with Norwegian. Unlike more family focused cruise lines Norwegian did not have dedicated activities for children under the age of 3. Splash Academy, the ships complimentary youth program was only for children who had been fully potty trained and babies are not allowed in pools on any cruise lines (coast guard rules). That said we still had tons to do with our active toddler and the staff made the entire trip a true joy. Each meal staff members would ensure to bring food early for the baby and would often play games with her by making puppets at the table out of napkins.
Dining with a toddler can sometimes be challenging, but Norwegian Breakaway was perfect for making sure we were covered. Our baby was welcome in all the dining rooms, including the formal dinners and kids menus and high-chairs were easily available.
There was a dedicated area for toddlers called the guppies room, but after checking it out we never returned to that space. The room was stocked with a handful of community toys, and was very small. It was better to allow our daughter to practice walking on the walking path or play with toys we brought from home in lounges or bars
Overall Experience Cruising Norwegian with a Toddler
While the trip itself was amazing, I personally wouldn’t recommend a Norwegian Cruise for a family with a child under the age of 5. I loved giving her the experience of visiting so many new countries even though she will be too little to remember. There was a significant cost to include our 13 month old on the trip, but there was virtually no reason for the cost as she ate very little and drank only milk. Overall the lack of specific activities for her made it challenging for us to do much outside of eating and drinking (not that eating and drinking isn’t a core part of the cruise experience). Next time we cruise with our daughter we’ll definitely pick a cruise line more known for their kids activities.
I really wanted to do a first birthday cake smash photo shoot for Taylor’s birthday but was having a really hard time finding a local photographer who still did cake smash photos – maybe they aren’t as trendy anymore? Since I have my DSLR camera I decided to try my hand at putting together a little studio set up and taking them at home and love how it all came out.
I ordered a roll of seamless white paper on amazon and used a photo backdrop stand I already had to convert my front room into a full studio. My aunt hand pained the white rabbit and all the other items were ordered from Amazon. Her Alice dress is from the Disney Store online and I made the bow and cake myself.
I can definitely see room for improvement in my photos and won’t changing careers to become a baby photographer anytime soon but I’m super happy with how everything came out for our family memories.
Welcome to My Bliss
