Just Five Things: September 2020
Five things that make my Spoonie life just a little easier or better!
I’m bringing it back! I started this blog series in Spring 2019, but after my surgery last October, I’d been knocked off my foundation for a bit and hadn’t gotten back to it yet. That changes now!
This series will be a monthly blog to feature helpful products and resources that make my Spoonie life more livable. Welcome to the September 2020 edition of Just Five Things!
Some of the products I will feature each month are products that I have affiliate links for, and I’m not even trying to hide that from you. A Spoonie has got to eat! The affiliate links may or may not provide me with any monetary benefit, but if I offer you a promo code for a product or service, you will be receiving a discount for that service! Huzzah! Please note: All of my Amazon links are affiliate links.
Don’t hate, appreciate. You’ll get a discount too, for using my/our link. I will never endorse products or services that I don’t use myself or haven’t tried. I’m super picky about that shit. So, without further adieu, here are five things that make my #SpoonieLife easier and better every day! Hopefully, they’ll help you, too.
1. SpineLife365 by SpineNation
This isn’t a program I use, but it is one that I am directly involved in, so I feel confident in sharing this with you. This is the program that myself and others have longed for, for years, and never existed. Until now.
Think on-demand fitness and wellness portals specifically driven towards those living with chronic back, neck, and spine conditions, as well as limited mobility. It’s so freaking rad and I am so proud to be a part of it.
The coolest thing about this program is that it takes a holistic approach to spine health and wellness. You'll have access to workouts with Kam Niskach, Master Fitness Trainer. Kim is an international fitness trainer, presenter, and educator with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy! Dr. Bob Westwood, Chiropractor, will contribute as well. Dr. Westwood stresses the importance of rehabilitative exercise programs to fix the underlying biomechanical problems. He's also a freaking PGA Tour care provider! You'll work on eating well and minimizing inflammation through your diet with Leslie Bonci, Nutritionist - MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN. She happens to be the sports nutrition consultant for 2020 Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs!
As if those three team members weren't enough to make this program exciting and incredibly valuable, we have two more experts working in the program. Dr. Todd Sinett is a second-generation, New York City-based chiropractor and founder of the holistic medical practice Tru Whole Care located in Midtown Manhattan. He is the inventor of the Backbridge and author of 3 Weeks To A Better Back. Finally, Jay Resio, Founder and CEO of SpineNation. I wouldn't work with SpineNation if I didn't believe in it. I started as a regular community member, and now I work as the Senior Community Leader and contribute content. This wellness program is like nothing else out there, and $99 for a lifetime membership is only happening for a limited time, so take advantage now!
2. flowly
Your app for pain and anxiety. You can save 15% off the first three months of any monthly subscription or 15% off the entire first year of any yearly subscription with promo code: NERDZILLA. Note: Currently this app is only available for iOS.
I’ve been using flowly myself since February 2020. I did a whole series of video reviews and wrote a blog for SpineNation as I worked through the first few months of virtual experiences. You can find those videos on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. Check out my full feature review on the flowly app HERE. I recommend using this app for managing pain flares and anxiety or panic attacks. Especially in the world of 2020 that includes COVID-19, escalating racial tensions, and the political election season we’ve all been dreading, we need to practice as much self-care as possible. Flowly is the best recommendation I have for you on getting quality self-care in 10-15 minutes at a time.
As a bonus, each new subscriber will receive their own referral code they can use to refer friends and family, and in turn, both themselves and their referee will be gifted 2,000 flokens they can use on real gifts like CBD oils, face masks, etc!
3. colorstreet nail strips
A little over one year ago, my sister signed on to be a stylist with colorstreet. I had no idea how infatuated with these strips I would become. Here are a couple of things you need to know about me to understand why I love these things so much. You can join her VIP Facebook group HERE.
When my anxiety is high, I bite my nails and the skin around my nails and my cuticles. It’s painful, it sucks, I don’t like it, but it happens. I also “pick” at my fingers. The best way I have found to combat these habits is to have my nails polished and pretty.
I suck at painting my nails. I don’t know what I do wrong, to be honest. But I have never, not once, painted my nails and not woken up the next day with them ruined. Everything is fine when my nails are manicured professionally, but liquid nail polish and I are mortal enemies.
I can’t afford to get a manicure every week or two weeks! With all of my other health issues, I certainly don’t need to be adding COVID-19 to my list of problems. So, even if I could afford it, I’d be staying away from salons right now.
I have a finite amount of time each day to sit upright without setting my piriformis muscle off and experiencing pain flares.
Colorstreet eliminates all of these issues. I can apply my nail strips while I’m laying in bed! Check them out! Below are some of my 2020 home manicures.
Carrying a leather purse or a giant, designer purse when you have chronic spine conditions and pain is just not practical. This purse is so lightweight! And it fits my wallet, phone, spine stim remote, and other necessities with room to spare!
I had been using a lightweight purse that I got from a Thirty-One consultant years ago. However, it was never quite big enough to fit my stuff, especially with my spine stim remote in tow. Huge holes ripped through the insides of the purse, and I was desperate for a higher-quality, better-fitting alternative. This bag is it! You can save about $20 on the online retail price when you order through Amazon.com as I did, too. Who doesn’t need to save money these days? One of the coolest features is that RFID technology is built-in to the removable wristlet, so no one can run one of those card scanners next to your purse and steal your info.
You’ve seen me hare Cetaphil products before, specifically, the gentle facial cleansing wipes. This body wash is a game-changer for me.
I know it isn’t super sexy or exotic, but holy cow, do I freaking love this stuff! I just discovered a couple of months ago that Cetaphil even offered a body wash. I think I accidentally happened upon it in an Amazon search. You see, I am allergic to corn, gluten, and pretty much every scent stuffed into every beauty and hygiene product on the market. I have dealt with a lot of itching, hives, and gross feeling skin in my lifetime. I also have Eczema, so generally, I can’t just grab a dollar-store bottle of body wash and call it good, either.
Photo by Eliza Daniels Photography of Middle Tennessee
I hope you find all of these products as helpful as I do. Thanks for hanging with me. Oh! I almost forgot I’m launching a YouTube Channel! YES, really! Subscribe now so that you don’t miss out on any of the fun. I’ll be answering FAQs about #SpoonieLife and #MedicalGaslighting, as well as doing product reviews that go a little deeper than what you’ll read here.
Thanks for indulging me.
Nerdzilla, out!