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Hey all, this post will be brief. If you haven’t heard of/aren’t familiar with blue light, you need to be ASAP. The deal is that the only source of blue light used to be the sun, but now it is all around you, legit, everywhere (think every single thing that has a screen in your life) and includes LED/fluorescent lighting.

Per Bluetechlenses.com, “(Blue light) can cause eye strain, physical and mental fatigue and headaches if you use your electronic devices or sit in front of a computer all day. Our eyes have not evolved to provide filters against this type of artificial light. Prolonged exposure to blue light may lead to macular cellular damage, which may lead to loss of vision.

The medical profession is concerned about exposure level of blue light for adults and children. Here are some interesting statistics:

  • 43% of adults have a job that requires prolonged use of a tablet or computer
  • 74% of teens between the ages of 12 to 17 use electronic devices at least occasionally
  • 70% of adults that regularly use electronic devices report symptoms of digital eye strain
  • 93% of teens have access to or have a computer.”

I kid you not, but – during my life’s most trying times back in 2012 – I remember all of this stuff becoming public about my case (due to my will and choosing to expose my ex and those who were protecting/enabling him), but I still wasn’t prepared for the response that it would generate, so there was one day that I was on my phone for maybe 6 hours in a row just laying in bed, and, all of a sudden, I could no longer see. Not like I was blind, but I couldn’t focus my eyes at all. They hurt and everything was blurry (beyond distance which is what my natural eye sitchu is); I mean, I couldn’t see right ahead of me, and I recall telling my friend in a panic that I had done something to my eyes. Of course, I had; I had strained them with a tremendous amount of unfiltered blue light.

Not only can blue light be harmful to one’s eyes, at night, it can also suppress the secretion of melatonin and disturb our circadian rhythms (perhaps you’re inability to sleep isn’t that you’re “getting old” or some deep, dark underlying health issue but just that you stare at your phone for hours all day and well into the night right until you go to bed).

Some easy ways to help combat blue light include:

  • Reduce time on gadgets as and when possible.
  • Turn apps (like Twitter & Facebook) to “Dark Mode.” (Google to see if you the apps you spend a lot of time on offer this feature).
  • Take breaks and blink your eyes on purpose while working.
  • WEAR BLUE LIGHT GLASSES

K, on that note, you know me: I’m always gonna be as real as reals can be and present all the options. The first is what I personally bought from Amazon and have liked/has worked just fine, but – at the bottom – I’m sharing what I’ve been using ever since I got them. Click on title or images to get to where you want to go.

ANRRI Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Average 4.5-star reviews (of over 1400 reviews); $21.95

For added affordability – you know, perhaps one for you & your boo:

FEIYOLD Blue Light Blocking GlassesAverage 4.5-star reviews (of over 160 reviews); $20.99 (extra 5% off coupon at time of writing on 8/16/19)

One more 2-pack option:

K KENZHOU Blue Light Blocking GlassesAverage 4.5-star reviews (of over 344 reviews); $19.99 (extra 5% off coupon at time of writing on 8/16/19)

WIDER OPTION: Reading Glasses (Can get 0.0 prescription) With Anti-Blue Light, $26.99 (presently 10% off coupon, 4.5 star average review, free returns) 

KIDS OPTIONS (so important!)

Kids Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Blue & Red, flexible, bendable, and unbreakable. 5 star review average (of over 113 reviews). 1 pair for $13.55

Kids Blue Light (ages 3-12); includes a strap option of younger kids (just click through):

K, now what I’ve been using for the past few weeks instead of the very first option (the ones on the left). These feel amazing on my face, and they are CUTE AF. Of course, for being a more fashion-oriented brand, they cost more, but I believe them to be well worth it because I find myself actually going to where them more intuitively. They are presently available for a limited-time intro offer of $39 and will soon be $79. If you are interested, please just email Candace at hellopinklemonadelove@gmail.com

Alrighty, that’s all from me. Protect your peepers, peeps!

Enjoy and, until next time,

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Disclosure: Smita Shares is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.  Amazon, in turn, offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports my being able to share the things I love (& genuinely personally use and recommend to friends and family) at no additional cost to you

What about sponsored content? 
I do not write sponsored posts.  I want to bring you real, unbiased information.  However, if a post is sponsored by a company, I will disclose this clearly in the beginning of the post. 

As for my social media pages where I use Amazon & other affiliate links for product recommendations, I will include a link to this post, or put “(affiliate link)”, or #ad in the post. 

This will be a brief post, but – over the years – I have been asked “how my teeth are so white” by a plentiful amount of people. Humbly, for someone who went through a major Diet Coke (I know, I know) phase and loves coffee and tea, my teeth are very white, and the simple reason is STRAWS (staining happens but in the back of my teeth). The below is a no filter pic.


Back in 2011, I bought my first set of glass straws (I was a trailblazer in the reusable straw use!) for a whopping $26 for FOUR. Prices have come down considerably, so I wanted to share!

I personally prefer glass straws, but they are (obvs) more fragile and require more delicate handling. That being said, I use steel straws as well. Yes, #ALLTHESTRAWS!

Glass option: ($12): https://amzn.to/2lO3s5x

Steel option: ($12): https://amzn.to/2lgEKKx

Enjoy and, until next time,

 

 

 

 

 

* Disclosure: Smita Shares is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.  Amazon, in turn, offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports my being able to share the things I love (& genuinely personally use and recommend to friends and family) at no additional cost to you

What about sponsored content? 
I do not write sponsored posts.  I want to bring you real, unbiased information.  However, if a post is sponsored by a company, I will disclose this clearly in the beginning of the post. 

As for my social media pages where I use Amazon & other affiliate links for product recommendations, I will include a link to this post, or put “(affiliate link)”, or #ad in the post. 

This post was first written in May & shared with folks in South Carolina (when I visited my bestie for 6 weeks and was working remotely from #allthecoffeeshops) who kept asking me about my desk. This post was then edited in September after sharing to my entire network so the items – including the amazing umbrella light and my fave citronella candles – from the featured photo have been all been added below!

Hi everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I’m writing this post with a quickness, because – in the past week, while working from a cafe in Orangeburg, SC – 6 people have come up to me asking me about my portable laptop desk stand that I bought in 2017.

Of all the things that I have ever purchased (SO. MANY. THINGS.) this is one of my absolute favorite and most used. To me, the benefits were just intuitive – knowing that the average American adult sits 6.5 hours per day – but I was pleased to know the following summarized from this Healthline article.

  1. Standing lowers your risk of weight gain and obesity.
  2. Using a standing desk may lower blood sugar levels.
  3. Standing may lower risk of heart disease.
  4. Standing desks appear to reduce back pain.
  5. Standing desks help improve mood and energy levels.
  6. Standing desks may improve productivity.
  7. Standing more may help you live longer.

While I can’t speak to #7, I have absolutely experienced #s 1-6, and I have been so thrilled with my experience of my standing desk that I have traveled with it in my suitcase for extended travel and always roll with it in my car – whether it is heading to Broisha’s place or South Carolina. I, legit, don’t know how to work sitting down anymore; it just feels so awkward to me. So much so that this reflection and post are inspiring me to buy a second desk stand just so that I don’t have to fold up the one I use at my home office. We’ll see. I may be being extra which is highly likely and having 2 desk stands really doesn’t align with my de-cluttering/aspiring towards minimalism (where I can, within reason) life plan.

Anywho, the two that I recommend and that friends of mine have purchased (the original model that I purchased has since been retired, so these are new and better-made iterations of the same design) is right below, and I have also included links to some other popular designs.

My ask to anyone reading this who may feel so inclined to get a desk stand is to please kindly click on the link below, so that I may be able to share more things that I love in an effort to help make all of our (collective) lives better.

DESK OPTIONS 1 & 2:

Saiji Portable Laptop Stand, $35.99


Kavalan (2 sizes, multiple colors) Portable Laptop Table, $44.99 ($39.99 for smaller size)

Additional set-up (from pic below) items right under image:

Please always keep in mind that Amazon offers a 30-day return policy on most items (review return policy for individual items before purchasing), and I highly encourage returning things that do not work for you (even if you need to pay to ship them back – although I noticed I don’t have to do that anymore with Kohls’ drop off – as that is better than collecting junk and adding to clutter).

As always, if something I shared benefits your life in some way, I would love to hear about it, but – more importantly – please share it with your friends and family in an effort to help them too. In my opinion, sharing the small things that make our lives better and “paying it forward” (whatever “it” may be) is a huge part of changing the world.

Until next time, love and light,

 

 

 

 

 

* Disclosure: Smita Shares is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.  Amazon, in turn, offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports my being able to share the things I love (& genuinely personally use and recommend to friends and family) at no additional cost to you

What about sponsored content? 
I do not write sponsored posts.  I want to bring you real, unbiased information.  However, if a post is sponsored by a company, I will disclose this clearly in the beginning of the post. 

As for my social media pages where I use Amazon & other affiliate links for product recommendations, I will include a link to this post, or put “(affiliate link)”, or #ad in the post. 

** REVISED: 8/19/19 with new images from my scale of choice below ** 

TL;DR: Scroll right to the bottom for images from and a link to the scale.  If, however, you are down to read the backstory about how I “blessed and released” my once-upon-a-time obsession with my weight, here you go:

So, real talk. I honestly hesitated in sharing a scale – one that measures a person’s WEIGHT – as a “favorite thing,” but I landed on feeling comfie doing so, because of my own personal hugely transformational change in perspective about a number that haunted me for more than 20 years of my one and only precious life.

Here’s the Cliff Notes summary of my former dysfunction around weight (please know that – if this is you presently – I greatly empathize, I get it more than you will ever know, and I know there is a way to not feel as you do, because I am no longer plagued by that which used to be so burdensome to my existence):

Basically, I was a “skinny” (I loathe these words now) kid. I ate a large NY style pizza by myself in one sitting at age 8 and weighing in at a whopping 45 lbs, and no one even blinked an eye or find that remotely alarming. I could eat exorbitant amounts of food (the jokes were “she has an extra stomach” and “she has tapeworm”), and – like so many people – I was an emotional eater (still am and still working on it) who ate whatever I wanted because I didn’t gain weight and everyone wrongfully thought “skinny = healthy”. Every. Emotion: happy, sad, bored, lonely, and everything in between. Then, between ages 11 and 12, I had a growth spurt and gained 7′ and 30 lbs, which was nothing short of devastating because – even at this young age – I had deeply internalized that my being “tiny” and “skinny” was highly valued  and something that the whole of the female population aspired towards (other girls my age talked about it all the time as something they admired/envied/wished they were). Therefore, “gaining 30 lbs” – read as: GROWING NORMALLY AS CHILDREN DO – meant that I was now “fat” in spite of still only being 90 lbs at 5’4″. I mean, obvs. *Rolls eyes and then proceeds to weep for me of back then and wishes she had present day me to guide her*

It was at 16 (the photo right above is of me at my Sweet 16) that I would – after years of subscribing to YM and Seventeen Magazines which forever offered “8 tips and tricks to a bikini body” (oddly, I never wanted to actually wear a bikini but I desired a bod that – in my mind – had the *right* to wear one) – kick off my very first diet and would continue with the yo-yo dieting roller coaster ride for the next 20 years. How loathsome I was towards my body – always deeming it unworthy and deeply flawed – will forever break my heart, which is why it is a primary life purpose/mission of mine to make sure that as many women are freed from this vicious cycle of self-loathing based on an arbitrary and (for the most part) meaningless number on a scale that says nothing more than your gravitational pull towards the Earth and nothing about your worth and value. Most of all, I wish to spare as many young women – like my beloved niece – from ever having to embark on this path.

It is too long of a story to explain everything including dieting for perpetuity, my life trauma as a domestic violence survivor in a brief 3-month-dating-no-love-on-the-table relationship with a psychopath (“the events of 2012” which caused me to gain 40 lbs in 2 years), the complete disconnection from myself (as in my existence) in the aftermath, and then, finally, embarking on a path of healing, visiting a fitness resort, later working at that resort and hosting 2 lectures there, and where I have landed now which is: complete comfort with the number on the scale. At my current weight, I am 52 lbs heavier than my high school weight (that photo above is what I aspired towards – stuck it onto my mirror and errthing – all through my 20s and early 30s thinking I need to “get back to” that # on the scale and size), and that causes me no feelings whatsoever.

That being said, as someone who has family history of all kinds of health stuff, I finally have internalized that it isn’t the # on the scale that matters but my actual health and wellness (which really wasn’t on point simply because I was “skinny” back when I was eating trays of brownies, large NY style pizzas, and beating football players in eating contests). Accordingly, I love this Redover Scale, because it gives insight on so much more than just weight and measures things that are more reflective of one’s actual health (while, I must insist, these metrics still do not saying anything about a person’s worth and value nor do they speak to whole health & wellness. Mmkay, don’t get it twisted)

For example, the scale covers all of the below metrics and allows a person to track trends in things like % body fat, skeletal muscle, % water, or visceral vs. subcutaneous fat. Important notes: 1) One can have fat, but cannot be fat (you cannot be a molecule), so stop claiming that as your false identity, 2) Fat is okay – in fact, important – to have so don’t beat yourself up for the “having of it”; it is not a character defect (remember: As they say “You are not fat; instead, you HAVE fat. Just like you have toes, but are not toes.”), 3) I ignore BMI entirely as there are people who are tremendously fit and lean with high muscle mass (I am not one of them) who are deemed obese by this wonky measure, & 4) Y’all can think whatever about any of my #s; I, legit, don’t care and the fact that I’m sharing this with you speaks to my freedom from my weight-obsessed dysfunction*.

* If I am so “free,” you may wonder why I weigh myself at all &, for example, during these last 2 weeks, a total of 3 times. Here are several reasons: 1) I share naturally-derived wellness products (that are supposed to support health & not be a substitute/crutch for it) so – if I begin using something – I like to see what, if any, impact the product has. Similarly, I like to see how circumstances make an impact (for example, traveling in India for 2 months and eating #allthethings) 2) I began Intermittent Fasting (more on my experience with it later) in October through January 1st (full stop in India), and I believe IF has contributed the most to any improvement in my overall health more than any products; however, I do believe the products supported my efforts (that I made in the first place because I’m trying to stave off ever developing diabetes).

Re: Point # 1, if you are curious about what I was using during the below (between 10/3 to 1/1, then 1/1 to 3/2 while I was in India eating massive amounts of carbs and hardly any protein, see this blog post (but PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMERS!)

Redover Scale

Date Range: 10/3 – 8/19

On that note, thanks for stopping by and would love to hear if you end up getting the scale or the supplements and how you like them! Oh, and please be sure to follow me on my Facebook and Instagram to stay connected!

Connect soon,

 

 

 

 

* Disclosure: Smita Shares is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.  Amazon, in turn, offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports my being able to share the things I love (& genuinely personally use and recommend to friends and family) at no additional cost to you

What about sponsored content? 
I do not write sponsored posts.  I want to bring you real, unbiased information.  However, if a post is sponsored by a company, I will disclose this clearly in the beginning of the post. 

As for my social media pages where I use Amazon & other affiliate links for product recommendations, I will include a link to this post, or put “(affiliate link)”, or #ad in the post. 

Hi Everyone!

I am so excited to share my first (official) “Favorite Thing!”* I feel like Oprah!

Anywho, I am going to keep this one short and simple because there really isn’t much one can say about a heated shower cap. Basicallyyyy… I recently posted the absurd photo below to my personal Facebook page talking about how I went out looking this “this” (heated shower cap, bathrobe, & no bra as an act of rebellion, which my mom – aka “Momma Moon” – was not pleased with).

Everyone was, like, “yeah, that’s cool, but tell us about this heated shower cap!” so here we are!

The cap I use is the BOMB DOT COM, and it not only feels AMAZE while using it (you just pop it in the microwave and heat to the temperature you prefer), but it also definitely makes a difference when using any kind of deep conditioner or hair masque. Click here for an Amazon link to my personal favorite heated shower cap that I have been using for over a year now, and I love to use it with this incredible (4K+ reviews averaging a 4.5 rating) Argan hair masque!

On that note, thanks for stopping by and would love to hear if you end up getting the cap and how you like it!

Connect soon,

 

 

 

 

* Disclosure: Smita Shares is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.  Amazon, in turn, offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports my being able to share the things I love (& genuinely personally use and recommend to friends and family) at no additional cost to you

What about sponsored content? 
I do not write sponsored posts.  I want to bring you real, unbiased information.  However, if a post is sponsored by a company, I will disclose this clearly in the beginning of the post. 

As for my social media pages where I use Amazon & other affiliate links for product recommendations, I will include a link to this post, or put “(affiliate link)”, or #ad in the post.