Let's all talk about PERIMENOPAUSE! (yay?)

Ahhh...Perimenopause. So little is known and understood about it that the word does not appear on my phone's autotype list. I like to think of it as the lobby between my clueless youth and the wisdom-rich years I have to look forward to. As in...

Only without the candy, soda and cigarettes (I do have wisdom-rich years to look forward to, right?).

I first became aware of Perimenopause a couple of years ago when it seemed like my health was sliding off the rails, despite all my best and vigilant efforts. My long-suffering doctor suggested to me that my hormones might be to blame for the poor sleep, mystery weight gain and the rest of the symptoms I complained of. 

Yep, Perimenopause. Every now and again it rears it's annoying, bloated head and we have to go back to the drawing board with my food/fitness/supplement routine. Did you know it can start as early as your thirties? I don't know about you, but I'm starting to doubt the gender of Mother Nature. Uncool!

Of course being the wellness blogger and science geek that I am, I immediately set out to research the booty off this whole Perimenopause thingy. Unfortunately, there's not a that much out there. I have found a few extremely helpful resources and thought it might be a good idea to share them with you. You know, just in case you have a friend who might be going through this, too, or whatever.

WARNING: this video is like 11 minutes long. Maybe find something to do while you're listening, like folding laundry, walking around the block or practicing your Batgirl combat moves?

Purchase the books mentioned on Amazon (not affiliate links):

I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS by Suzanne Somers

THE HORMONE CURE by Dr. Sarah Gottfried 

THE HORMONE RESET DIET by Dr. Sarah Gottfried

So...anyone else willing to talk about this?

In other news: I will soon be adding "Certified Nutrition Coach" to my services! In the meantime, though, I'll be slogging my way through this detox. I'll let you know how the rest of it goes. If I survive, that is. 

No coffee? None? Please send me lucky vibes!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

Experiments in Health: in which I try Diatomaceous Earth

so beautiful, and yet, so allergy-inducing

Can you believe summer is almost officially over? While I'm happy to have the structure of the school year back, I'm also sad because I've had a really, really fun summer. But there's one summer phenomenon I can't WAIT to say goodbye to:

My summer health/weight. Sigh. It's time to pay the piper.

in my mind, "the piper" is always Richard Simmons

Some people struggle with their weight and health in the winter, I always struggle way more in the summer. First of all, summer means vacations, out-of-town visitors and MY BIRTHDAY...all of which means a few extra pounds come fall. This year, for some reason, I also suffered terrible allergies that zapped my energy, and hormonal shifts that have wreaked all manor of havoc.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a re-boot. 

Do you ever have this experience: you suddenly decide to make a change in your health, or your job, or where you live and suddenly everywhere you look there's information everywhere on exactly that subject? I was catching up on some of my fave Youtubers and this video, from a couple of years ago, showed up in my "suggested videos" cue.  I just love "Elle is For Living"!

Now, I'm a HUGE geek when it comes to supplements, nutrition and things of that nature, I couldn't believe I'd never heard of diatomaceous earth. Further research suggested it's perfectly harmless and inexpensive-so I figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. (note: I am a bit of a renegade when it comes to trying stuff, please obtain professional guidance before trying anything new, like ever) I've been taking it for about a week, here's a video sharing what I've noticed so far:

Not a bad start to my little "Margo 2.0" project. I'll keep you updated on any further effects I might experience, but so far so good!

Interested? Try FOOD GRADE DE on Amazon. That's Elle's link, not mine-I don't make any money if you buy anything using that link. :)

Next on my docket is trying to balance my hormones as much as I possibly can through my diet. Hmmmm...we'll see how that one goes. Stay tuned!

How about you? Do you get off-track with your health and diet in summer? Or winter? Or both? Got any plans for "You 2.0"? Like what?

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

Hyland's 4 Kids Bumps ʼn Bruises with Arnica Ointment Stick

Hello all!

Recently, the folks at Hyland's 4 Kids sent along one of their newest products for me and my family to try: Hyland's 4 Kids Bumps ʼn Bruises with Arnica Ointment Stick. 

I've always kept arnica gel in my medicine cabinet for when my kids, and their parents, get painful "ouchies". I've even found it to be effective in relieving swelling. My kids say it helps the pain go away very quickly. The only problem is that arnica gel can be a little messy and difficult to apply to squirmy kids. So when I saw the way Hyland's 4 Kids had re-invented this amazing product, I was very interested to see how it would work for my family. To learn more about the Arnica Ointment Stick, visit the Hyland's 4 Kids site HERE.

The result? Both my kids LOVED this natural product. It was easy to apply and fast-acting. My daughter even threw one in her backpack when for a recent camping trip. She said it really came in handy and all her friends kept asking to use it.

As many of you already know, I've been a fan of Hyland's 4 Kids products for years. My parents always had Hyland's 4 Kids in the house,too. I also love that these sticks, which I'm using on my kids' delicate skin, is free of paba, phthalates, dyes, petrolatum in comes in a push up paper tube that is completely free of plastic.

Look for the Hyland's 4 Kids Bumps 'n Bruises Arnica Ointment Stick exclusively at Target (Made to Matter collection) in the First Aid Aisle. Click HERE to get a coupon for $1 off Hyland's 4 Kids Bumps n Bruises with Arnica. Only at Target, expires 10/31/15.

Nobody likes bumps, bruises or ouchies, but when you get them, you'll be glad to have one of these on hand!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hyland's 4 Kids. The uses for these products are based on traditional homeopathic practice. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Don't get me wrong, THIS is how I really feel about makeup!

This afternoon I was going over my post from yesterday in my mind (please tell me I'm not the only one out there who does this), and it occurred to me that my last post makes me sound as though I am ANTI-MAKEUP. Record scratch!

Sometimes I wear makeup!

That is SOOOOOOO not the case. I am a huge believer in the POWER of makeup. Really!

I am NOT a huge believer in haters and shamers who try to tell women when they SHOULD wear it. Or that they are invisible if they don't. It's a stupid standard, men aren't generally subjected to it and they still earn way more money than we do.

HERE'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MAKEUP:
1. It's FUN.
2. It's CREATIVE.
3. It's POWERFUL

Yes, I actually think makeup can be used to give us an edge-when we want it to. "That's right, I showed up to this meeting, prepared to the hilt, and I STILL had time to treat you all to a kick-ass smokey eye. You're welcome."

I realized the power of makeup in my thirties, when I went from being a "behind-the-scenes" junior designer to being a "in-the-spotlight" designer, speaker and coach. I was never a big makeup-wearer and pretty much slid through the 80s and 90s on liquid eyeliner and occasional bright-red Wet 'N Wild lippy.

When I started to be more in the forefront of my life and business, I started to feel like it was time to either develop some actual makeup application skills or completely give it up altogether. My ratchet attempts at face painting were definitely NOT HELPING. It's hard to assert your authority in your field when your face is strictly from Amateursville.

Fortunately for me, makeup application is a learnable skill. And now that we have YOUTUBE? Jackpot! I have found the greatest products and techniques from some of my favorite Youtubers (a short list is below). It's even become fun for me to play around with makeup. Who knew?

The even better part is that people started taking me more seriously. Like, "Wow, if she can get her face and style together like this, maybe she can help me get myself together, too!" I also started to feel more confident about how I look, on and off-camera, because I knew I could deal with bad hair days or blemishes. I don't think men get the chance to feel that way very often.

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean I have to wear it all the time.

Sometimes I don't wear makeup!

I ONLY wear makeup when I feel like it. I certainly would never refrain from helping people or sharing valuable information on Periscope because I didn't have my "face" on.  I am getting pretty annoyed about these peri-trolls and their "Why are you even on Persicope without makeup?"

I've noticed that most of the men I follow on Periscope tend to look as if they spent as much time on their appearance as I do for my "Word of the Day" pre-workout scopes-only their version is to be unshaven, wearing a baseball cap to hide the bedhead. Know who gives them grief about it? NO ONE.  Of course they would never speak at a conference of appear on television looking like this. But they are sharing on Periscope on-the-fly, just like the rest of us, so WHO CARES if they need a shave? Not me! As long as they are giving me life-improving content, I'm good.

All I'm saying is, can we all just calm down about this? If you're on Periscope to see/chat up hot chicks in heavy makeup, there are literally thousands of other places you can do that. My scope is not one of them. The same goes for pretty much all other social media, too, as far as I'm concerned. Nobody gets to tell anybody what they have to say or how they have to look.

On the other hand, when I am made up and blinged out? You know I'm shooting as much video as I possibly can! Can't let that hard work go to waste!

I guess I'm just complicated that way.

I generally broadcast and post when the mood strikes (like now), and if that means my awesome, annual Fitbloggin selfie with Alan (@Sweating_It_Off) happens with a bare face, year after year...

There's a 3rd one of these somewhere...

so be it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are you a makeup lover? Hater? Do you think people shouldn't be online unless they look their very, very best, no matter what they have to say?

Are you dying to find some beauty Youtubers to hook up your makeup game? Here are just a few of my faves:
NATHALIE
CAROL
LORI
MARY
PATTI
SWOOZIE
KATHY
SHARON

Lastly, do YOU have a favorite beauty vlogger? Give them some love in the comments!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama