© 2014 sarahfortune.

HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.
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Category : Health & Beauty

Health & Beauty, Sponsored

Back to School with Kleenex® Ultra Soft™

This post is sponsored by Acorn Influence and Kleenex® Brand. All opinions are mine alone.

I never want the summer to end and this year is no exception. But whether we’re ready for it or not, the back-to-school season is here and in this time of uncertainty, only one thing is certain – school is going to look a little different this year and I want to be prepared.

No matter how the school year unfolds, Kleenex® Ultra Soft™, America’s #1 Ultra Tissue, helps me feel more confident that our teachers and students are prepared when it comes to fighting off germs and practicing good hygiene. I always like to donate several boxes throughout the year, knowing how important it is to keep those little hands as clean as possible. Designed with three layers, Kleenex® Ultra Soft™ is a perfect balance of softness and strength for everyday clean that I can feel good about.

So while this may be our new reality for a while, it’s important to do what we can, when we can. For me and my family, that means making smart decisions for the well-being of ourselves and those around us. I was able to pick up my Kleenex, along with all my other back-to-school needs, with minimal contact thanks to Walmart’s online pick-up. We are all trying to do our part and every little step helps.

After we’re done with a box of Kleenex, Iris has been known to turn it into a “gratitude box”. Whenever she feels thankful for something, she writes it down on a little piece of paper and slips it into the box. Then, whenever she might be feeling down, she empties the box and is reminded of all the things she is grateful for. She even started making them for family and friends, knowing that some of them may be feeling a little lonely these days.

Learn more and stock up on your own boxes at Walmart!

Health & Beauty, Sponsored

NATROL® 3 A.M. MELATONIN to the Rescue

It happens to the very best of us. You finally fall asleep only to wake up in the middle of the night, struggling to fall back asleep again. Usually summer is a little more relaxing mentally for me, but this year obviously things are a little different. I find my mind swimming with thoughts, often waking up either remembering something I haven’t done or worrying about random things that can most certainly wait until morning.

One of the most stressful things about not being able to fall back to sleep is that you know it will affect your entire next day. That just adds more stress to the moment, compounding the problem. Sometimes I have gotten so desperate to doze off again that I consider taking something to help me sleep, but then realize that too would affect how I feel the next day, maybe leaving me groggy. Instead, I’ve resorted to just waking up and reading a book or catching up on a TV show. It’s my, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” approach, but it doesn’t do much for the next day.

Enter, Natrol® 3 a.m. Melatonin to the rescue! I’ve come to really enjoy the comfort of knowing I have something I can take in the wee hours of the morning if I need it. Not only does it have a calming lavender vanilla flavor, but it’s 100% drug-free and non-habit forming. It’s peace of mind, and a peaceful night’s sleep, leaving me to wake up rested† and ready for another day.

Learn more by visiting the Natrol® website and share your own #3AMStories on social media (there’s even a chance to win a sample of new 3 a.m. Melatonin).

This post is sponsored by Natrol®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

Health & Beauty

Optavia – Does It Work?

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s MLMs. If there’s one thing I love, it’s carbs.

Which is why I never would have guessed I’d be making this post. But here I am, about two and a half weeks into my first experience with OPTAVIA, and have already lost seven pounds and two inches around my waist. So yes, for me it is working. I hesitantly shared a little over on Instagram and received a ton of questions, so I thought I’d make a post that easily answered some of the most asked about topics. I already have some friends that have joined me, so feel free to check out it out under my coach page and read below to see if maybe you want to do it too.

What is OPTAVIA?
It’s a company that makes prepacked, low-calorie mini-meals and snacks (they call them “fuelings”) to help clients reach their optimal weight. Following their 5&1 Plan, you eat five of their fuelings every day (every 2-3 hours), along with one “lean and green” meal (a meal you prepare yourself). I’m currently doing it for 30 days to jump start myself to my goal weight. The only cost is what you pay for the fuelings and there’s no commitment or sign-up fee.

What do I start with?
If you’re looking to lose weight, for your first order I would recommend doing the 5&1 Plan by purchasing the Essential Optimal Kit. The first time you buy the kit it comes with five free boxes, so in total it’s enough for 30 days.

How much does it cost?
I paid around $370 for my first 30 days worth of fuelings. You are on your own for the lean and green meal, but they give you plenty of guidance (and you can even purchase these if you don’t like to cook). While this created a bit of sticker shock at first, I quickly realized that my breakfasts, lunches, lattes, and random snacks added up to even more money per month (and way more calories).

How much weight will I lose?
Obviously everyone is different, but the average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is 12 pounds. Optavia offers another plan (Optimal Health 3&3 Plan), which helps you maintain your goal weight once you get there.

What do I like about it?
Hands down, the main thing I love most about Optavia is how easy it is. I’m a busy working mom who also likes to cook dinner for my family most nights. This plan allows me to do that, but makes all the food in between a breeze. Also, there are over 60 types fuelings, which are all interchangeable so I’m never bored. I’m not the kind of person that can eat the same meal every day, so this (along with the lower number on the scale) keeps me motivated!

How do I sign up?
You sign up under a “coach” (that’s me!) and I help answer any questions you have, as well as offer guidance along your journey. The first week was tough for me, so I was grateful I had my coach just a text away. Once my body had adjusted, everything became so much easier and I now find myself bouncing out of bed first thing in the morning to see how much the sale (or my waist) has gone down. While no diet is ever easy, this is about as easy as it can get – along with the quickest, real results.

I only have a week left, but I’m already ordering more because I don’t want to stop at just 30 days. It’s really helped me look at food in a different, more healthy way. I am more thoughtful about what I order at restaurants and more careful when it comes to portion sizes. It encourages lean meats and fresh veggies, which I find refreshing for a company like this. I’ve been fortunate in my life to eat whatever I want, but now that I’m pushing 40 it’s starting to catch up to me. This had helped tremendously and it hasn’t even been a month.

I had a million questions before I finally pulled the trigger, so if you feel the same email me with questions at sarahfortunegill (a) gmail!

Health & Beauty, Sponsored

Spring Ready!

I am participating in an influencer program on behalf of Claritin®. This program is paid for by the makers of Claritin® and I have received compensation for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own.

Growing up, I (thankfully) never had to deal much with allergies. Maybe it was because of where I lived, or maybe I was just really fortunate; but ever since I moved to Arkansas over a decade ago, that all changed.

And now with a seven-year-old, I’m helping her manage seasonal allergies as well. Thankfully, we have discovered Children’s Claritin® at Walmart, the #1 pediatrician recommended non-drowsy oral brand of allergy medicine.

It’s cliche, but once you become a mom, you realize how strongly you care about your child’s health and happiness. When it comes down to it, that’s all that really matters. And with Children’s Claritin®, children are provided with 24 hours of relief from runny noses, watery eyes, and itchy throats. And if your kid is anything like mine (very picky when it comes to medicine), there are three different kinds to choose from: Claritin RediTabs® for Juniors (dissolvable tablets that melt in their mouth, appropriate for children ages 6+), Children’s Claritin® Syrup (grape flavor – Iris’ favorite, for ages 2+), and Children’s Claritin® Chewables (available in grape and bubble gum flavor, also for ages 2+).

And if you’re a new mom (or even an experienced one), make sure know you about the Smart Allergy Mom Toolkit® which is from the makers of Children’s Claritin®. It has everything from the pollen count in your town, to helping you figure out the difference between a cold and allergies. Their website also has a $3 off coupon for Children’s Claritin® at Walmart, so scoop that up while you’re at it! Pro tip: We also travel with allergy medicine since you never know how the little one will react in new environment.

Here’s to being able to play outside with your kid as spring rolls in!

Health & Beauty, Life, Peloton

Peloton – My Review & Tips Six Months Later

Well, hello there. I wanted to give a long overdue update on my Peloton adventure. I’ve had my bike now for over six months and, honestly, it just keeps getting better. That’s not to say I didn’t fall off the wagon (bike?) leading up to the holidays, but January 1st hit and I am back and challenging myself daily.

When I say it keeps getting better, I mean the Peloton experience literally keeps improving, which is not something I anticipated back when I pulled the trigger on my bike. Not only are there constant software updates and new classes added to the on-demand schedule every day, but the Peloton brand keeps expanding and now includes running, yoga, strength, bootcamps, meditation, stretching, and more. So not only do I find myself spinning frequently, but I’ve also been able to add in all sorts of classes into my workout regimen that I initially didn’t plan on. I feel like I can get a well-rounded workout tailored to the part of my body I want to focus on. And remember, this is all from the comfort from my own home, but also with the motivation found in actual in-person classes. Not only can you follow and ride with your friends, but you can “high-five”, compete on the leaderboard, and track all the fun details of your progress.

Before I purchased my Peloton, I had never even been to a spin class or ridden a bike for more than five miles. I had only tried my husband’s indoor trainer (he’s an avid cyclist) which seemed like a great workout, but was incredibly boring. So it truly was a risk spending that much on a piece of equipment, but more than six months later – I haven’t regretted it for a second. From that perspective, here are a few recommendations that I have for people considering Peloton or maybe some new riders that have already joined the family:

My Current Top Peloton Recommendations:

– Buy the bike! Once you invest in the bike, you pay around $40 a month. That is not only cheaper than what I was paying for my previous workout regimen, but I also utilize it way more often. As a mom that works full time, my time is limited and my schedule is not at all flexible, so this is THE most efficient way for me to make time for my health. I also travel quite often, so I with the digital app I can take Peloton with me.

– Absolutely use a heart rate monitor. When you are riding with a heart rate monitor you see which of the five heart rate zones you are riding in. This helps me know how hard I’m working so I can gauge if I need to push harder or maybe give myself a little rest. It also gives a more accurate count of how many calories you’ve burned (I use the Peloton monitor that’s on a chest strap).

– Two words: PADDED. SHORTS. Don’t worry about buying fancy ones – no one can see you! Start off by trying a pair of cheap padded shorts off Amazon. I wear a pair of my husband’s that he no longer uses. Your butt will hurt at first (maybe even a dreaded saddle sore), but it will go away. And don’t try to buy a more cushy seat – it’s all about the padded booty and getting your body used to the workout.

– Invest in a good pair of wireless headphones. I bought a pair of PowerBeats on sale at Target and they work perfectly. The speakers on the bike are probably my only true complaint about the Peloton. To really feel like you’re in a class, you need a pair of headphones that drown out any outside noise and that doesn’t have a cord that will get in your way.

– Try stacking shorter workouts. I recently discovered the magic of combining two shorter rides. Depending on the type of class, I realized that if I do two 20 minute rides back-to-back, I usually get more of a workout than doing one 45 minute ride. With the shorter classes, there’s less of a build-up and instructors tend to get straight to the point. From there, I usually add one or two 10 minute strength classes and BOOM! I just worked out extremely efficiently for a full hour.

– Get social. Join the Official Peloton Member Page on Facebook. If I ever have a question, this is where I go and search previous posts for what I’m looking for. With over 140,000 members and growing, chances are someone has already had the same question. Also be sure to follow other riders! You can find me on the leader board as ‘sarahfortune‘.

If this has been helpful at all and you decide to pull the trigger like I did, I highly recommend using a referral code so that you get $100 in free accessories. Fee free to use this one if you’d like: REDACTED :(

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Edit 1/14/2021:
I would love to be able to share my code with you guys, but unfortunately Peloton has said this violates their policy and has suspended my referral code. I have been sharing my first-hand experience with Peloton for several years now, here on my own personal blog and as well as on Instagram. One of my posts was even featured on their official Instagram page. While I don’t share my code on any social media platforms (just here on my personal blog), I have shared my love of the bike, tips and recommendations, and even taking classes in the studio. I can’t even begin to tell you how many folks have reached out with questions and to let me know that thanks to the sharing of my experience, they have pulled the trigger and purchased a bike. While I am disheartened that Peloton has intentionally chosen to disqualify my referral code, I recognize that they do reserve that right.