MyHeritage DNA - A Review

I don't know if I've mentioned on here in the past, but I am super into Ancestry. A couple years ago I did a trial on Ancestry.com and traced my family history on one side all the way back to the 1500's! Crazy right?! That side of my family was actually Mennonite (big surprise!), and went back to parts of Europe that I had no idea were even in my background.

Fast forward to a couple months ago, when MyHeritage reached out to me to see if I wanted to try their Genealogy DNA kit. Obviously, I was stoked and jumped at the chance, of course!!! What is it exactly? It's a kit that the company sends you with 2 swabs, one for each cheek. You register your kit, swab the insides of your cheeks and send it back to them. Then you just wait for the magic to happen.

Since I had been working on my Family Tree again this past summer, I was pretty familiar with some of my lineage. So I was really curious to see how the results would compare to what I already knew. I got my results about 5 weeks after I sent them in and they did not disappoint!

As you can see in the pics above, it shows the percentage of my DNA from certain regions and then goes on to tell you the countries that might be included in the results. This is a bit broad and I wish there was a bit more information provided, but it's still really cool! This did not bother me at all, as I already knew the specific countries included from my Family Tree background. It was still awesome to see exactly how much of a percentage of each region is in my personal lineage. For example, I had always thought I was more Irish than Italian, but it seems that Northern/Western European and Italian is the bulk of my background.

So the bottom, line.... Would I recommend this test? If you are really familiar with your background already, you might not have the need to do this. However, if you want confirmation, or if you're adopted or not sure of any information from a whole side of your family, this would be amazing! Or if you're someone like me, that just likes to geek out over ancestry related info, you would love this!

Another cool feature that I discovered this past week.... If there is anyone else in the database that has had a DNA test done, that matches your DNA, the company will email you their info, as well as the way you might be related, i.e. 4th cousin twice removed, etc and give you the option to contact if you're so inclined to do so.

Pretty cool, right?! Have you ever traced your family tree back far? What about a DNA test? I would love to hear about your personal experience! Genealogy is so fun!!!

ps - The company is offering 30% off all kits until October 16th! That makes the test $69, instead of $99. I do not compensated for this, I'm just passing the info along, since that's quite a bit of savings! If you do the test, let me me know! I would love to see your results! 

make sure to check out MyHeritage on Instagram - Twitter - FB

XOXO

Christy

DISCLAIMER: I did not receive any financial compensation for this post. This post does not include any affiliate links. However, I was provided a kit as a PR sample,. in exchange for my honest review. As always stated, all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 

What I'm Loving - August

Hi Loves!

It's been quite a summer! Some good, some bad. Mostly bad.... But I'm trying to look towards better days and move forward, not dwelling on the sad/hard times. I'm ok, my family is ok. But we suffered a tremendous loss a few weeks ago and it's been really difficult, to say the least. I wasn't even going to mention it in this post, but I had these grand plans of starting to blog more, doing more reviews, posting more recipes, etc. Losing a loved one really changes things. It knocks you off kilter, makes you see things differently, and start to question everything in your own life. At least it has for me. But I know that I really love my blog and want to put more time into it. So hopefully all of you are still out there reading from time to time!

While I have had time this summer, I've been trying out some new products, watching some new shows, reading some new books. I wanted to make sure to pop on and share a few of my favs. I know everyone is always looking for the next good Netflix binge and that amazing read to cap off the summer! Throw in a few other products and there's an interesting mashup of summer favorites =)

What I've been Using...

I have been on the serious hunt for really good, preferably organic, antiaging skincare. And I've found a few great products that I've really been loving! First up, this oil (shown above) is the first ever oil I've ever been able to put on my skin and not break out! Got it? First Ever! I've tried A LOT of oils and this is one of the best. Prickly Pear Seed oil rates zero on the pore clogging scale and has so many amazing benefits. I initially purchased it to replace an eye cream. I have tried so many eye creams and nothing was working for me. I was starting to get crepe skin that just seemed so parched no matter what I put on it. And lets not even talk about the darker circles that wouldn't go away! But this oil has helped my eye issues so much!!! One drop, seriously, one little drop shared between both under eyes at night has made huge changes.

The next product is one that is not organic, or even completely clean, but after seeing a Facebook Ad, I was intrigued. Plus I had a credit to use and have been in desperate need of a multi-use cleanser. Let me just tell you, I typically don't like cleansers. I've been using Facial soap for years. I know.... soap on the face, even "facial" soap is supposedly really bad, but I just couldn't part ways. My first love was Osmia Organics soap (I professed my love here) and then I found Skin Owl's matcha beauty bar - my skin loooooooves green tea. Like seriously, loves! And since cleansers always seem to dry me out or break me out, I thought this one would be joining the ranks of the many that haven't worked for my skin.

So I ordered it, tried it and loved it. I can't even describe how wonderful it is. It's a Korean Skincare brand called Klavuu and it's like a combo of an oil cleanser/foaming cleanser. It's a bit on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way. You only need about a pea sized amount. And just turns into this gorgeous, luxurious, nourishing treat for your face. I've noticed a huge improvement in my skin. It looks brighter (hello pearl!), is more hydrated, and my pores appear a little smaller. I'm currently using it twice a day with my clarisonic. Like I said, the ingredients aren't perfect, but it's not super toxic either. And as long as it's doing my skin good, I'm not so strict on being 100% clean these days.

What I've been Watching...

Not only am I a major Netflix bingeaholic, but I also love to watch shows when I'm on the treadmill. I'm usually outside, but on the days that I can't get out - due to rain, heat, or my schedule, I like to prop up my tablet and put on a good show. I've been so into this series called The Night Shift! I watched one episode and I was hooked. The acting isn't super stellar all the time, but it's the perfect workout show. It's fun to watch, keeps my attention and it's 45 minutes. Perfect! Another show I've been loving is Ozark. I know everyone has been buzzing over this one! I'm only 2 episodes in, so I need to catch up a bit before I come across a spoiler!! What's your fav binge-worthy show?!

What I've been Reading...

I have to be honest. I haven't read anything that has blown me away this summer. But I have read some decent books. I typically like to sit and read on my tablet while I blow out my hair in the morning. Blowing out my hair is not one of my favorite pastimes and reading while I do makes it a little more bearable! A few fiction books I've finished over the last couple months are - Remember Me this Way by Sabine Durrant, I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid, and The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo. All 3 were just ok for me. The first one I mentioned is the only one that had me wanting to constantly read to find out the twist. But there wasn't really any crazy twist and it was really just a ho hum ending. Don't you hate that? When a book gives so much build up and it feels like there's still so many questions. Or worse, it just drops you flat on your face. I'm currently reading The Sinner, the same book that the new USA limited Series with Jessica Biel is based on. I'm dying to find out what's going to happen. I'm just hoping the ending isn't lame. It's pretty disturbing so far!

What I can't wait to recommend...

The last thing I want to mention is this months Popsugar Must-Have box! I absolutely love this month and highly recommend it. It has some great products in it and there's a bit of a birthday theme, which is really fun since my birthday is coming up in September. The contents are a metallic pink journal, a friendship bracelet by Dogeared, some delicious Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, some glittery birthday candles (which will def be put to good use!), a nourishing face mask by First Aid Beauty, and a really fun serving tray - which you can see in the pic above. Sometimes the box can be hit or miss, but I really loved everything this month!!! You can still grab this specific box, but hurry, they'll run out soon. Use code PARTY for $10 off =)

So that wraps up the latest products and things I'm loving. I would love to hear what you've been using, reading, watching, etc! Make sure to let me know in the comments!!!


Christy
xoxo





DISCLAIMER: Please note that while this is not a sponsored post, it does contain some affiliate links. Popsugar kindly provided me with a sample box for my review. However, I was not financially compensated and all opinions are my own.

Why You need a Food Scale - A Review

Hi Lovelies! I can't believe it's almost July already! With the hot weather, I've amped up my health & fitness routine to prep for shorts. Part of that is continuing to do BBG, but the other part has been really fine-tuning my eating even more with a food scale. I already track my macros, but I know that if you're already on top your food consumption (meaning calorie amounts, macros, and such) and not losing fat, your serving sizes can be more than you realize. If you tend to eyeball like me, you can really underestimate how much you might be eating. This can make a HUGE difference! I know with myself, if I'm not on point with my meals and staying on top of sugar and grain-based carbs especially, the weight can start creeping up again. 

So that's where this nifty little food scale by EatSmart comes in to play. You can choose to weigh food in ounces or pounds, and you can also weigh food on a plate or in a bowl, without the weight of the container effecting what is shown. I've been using it daily for the last couple of months, and it has helped me tremendously. I was absolutely eating more than 1 serving amount of food and without a doubt it was effecting my results. Case in point, I've been eyeballing pistachio servings lately. But today, since I'm really cutting again, I decided to break out my scale. Whoooooooaaaaa!!! I was eating at least twice the serving size of pistachios because I was using the cup amount on the nutritional info. Yikes! That just goes to show that it's easy to get comfortable with feeling like you "just know" a serving size, and also why Intuitive Eating doesn't always work for everyone. 

This scale is a great price point as well. If you've been struggling with fat loss and clean eating with a good fitness routine in place, I highly recommend giving this food scale a try! It might just be the missing piece to the puzzle that you need. Ps - It's also on super sale right now on Amazon!!!

Make sure to check out EatSmart on their Social Media channels. They make some other really neat gadgets!

FaceBook - Twitter - Instagram - Pinterest

Check back soon to find out who makes my most favorite protein ever!!! 

Christy

xoxo

** while I received no financial compensation for this post, I was provided a scale in return for my honest review.

My Newest Hydration Obsession...

Hi Babes! Wow.... I seriously can't believe my last post was in November!!!! That's crazy. Between the holidays and catching up after, time just flew by. I actually meant to get organized to start actively blogging again after the New Year, and then a difficult family situation came up and we've been going through such a hard time since then. All the days and weeks kind of run together, and I have just had what feels like zero time to sit down and write.

But I'm so happy I'm finally easing back into a schedule, because I have the most amazing water to tell you about. I know what you're thinking.... "Water? C'mon Christy, it's water, how amazing can it really be??" Am I right? Well this type of water was new to me and I love it! A few weeks ago I was so lucky to receive some Essence PH10 water to try out. If you're not familiar with Essence PH10, here's some info in a nutshell:

"Essence pH10 is a premium alkaline water that contains 10% of the daily recommended allowance of calcium, magnesium, and zinc acetate. Additionally, we add organic hibiscus making this the only nutritional water on the market. This patented formula is designed to produce a sustainable pH10 that helps to restore the bodies pH balance. Essence pH10 is 100% sodium free."

I was immediately intrigued! Knowing all the benefits of an Alkaline diet, I was stoked to finally try some Alkaline water!!! I have to be honest, I didn't try it for a few days. You see, one of the key things is that Alkaline water can disrupt the stomach acid which is what your body uses to digest food. Because of this, you shouldn't drink it less than 30 minutes before and/or up to 2.5 hours after meals. I kept forgetting to try it during some windows of time. Then I ended up getting a stomach virus and was beyond sick. I was struggling to keep anything down and my stomach just felt so acidic with nothing in it. Then I remembered my Alkaline water and decided to give that a go. Within a couple hours I was able to keep some liquids down and started to feel much better. I attribute this to the water neutralizing all the nasties in my gut! That's not medical advice - just my little two cents ; )

I also recently tried it on a long, 5 miles of Sprint Intervals and it was perfect! It didn't run right through me like regular water seems to do and I felt really really hydrated. I also love that the Hibiscus (which is tasteless by the way) helps to neutralize free radicals. Win! 

This water is amazing, and after just getting back into my workout routine, I'm so excited to have it to properly hydrate. I really feel like it's going to help me step up my game!!! So after hearing all the fantastic benefits of Essence PH10, how would you like a chance to win some of your own?! Essence PH10 will be giving one lucky winner a whole case of Alkaline water to try! 

For your chance to win, simply leave a blog comment below telling me why you would love to win your own case of Essence Ph10 & what activities you think it would help you hydrate for, then go through the Gleam widget and enter your info! This MUST be done or I will not be able to include you in the drawing- there's also opportunity for extra entries! And don't forget to check them out on their website, twitter, facebook, and Instagram  - sorry, this giveaway is available to US residents only


Essence PH10 Giveaway


Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: While a product sample was provided to me for my honest review, I was not financially compensated in any way. All opinions are honest and are my own.