Weight Watchers Ice Cream Review

My Weight Watchers VoxBox (or envelope)

My Coupons

Hey everybody,

Today I wanted to stop by real quick to review Weight Watchers Ice Cream bars and novelties that I was lucky enough to receive free from Influenster. Now years ago I was a part of Weight Watchers and I have to say that I did have luck with their program. However they were just starting to introduce their own products into stores and ice cream wasn't one of them. Fast forward to today and they have several different ice cream products in stock. I was sent two coupons to try two free full sized items of my choice. I chose the English Toffee Crunch Bars (Points Plus Value:3) and the Snack Size Double Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Cones (Points Plus Value:2).

 

English Toffee Crunch Bar

The English Toffee Crunch Bars remind me of those Heath Ice Cream bars that I would get from the ice cream truck that used to come around the neighborhood. On the outside is a hard milk chocolate shell peppered with toffee pieces and inside is a delicious and creamy vanilla ice cream. For it being low in sugar and fat, I have to say that it was very decadent and I found it hard to just eat one.

Double Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Cone

The Double Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Cone puts you in the mind of a King Cone because of the chocolate topping with ice cream peeking through. I liked this one too but I did not care for the dark chocolate shavings or the caramel. They tasted a bit artificial to me but overall the vanilla ice cream and the cone with milk chocolate inside more than made up for it.

These items and many more retail for around $4-5 USD and can be found at your local Walmart and other grocery stores nationwide.


Disclaimer: I received these items complementary from Influenster for testing and review purposes. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

My Ankle Surgery Part 1

Over the next few days and weeks I will be writing about my experiences with my ankle surgery. So far it has been an adventure and a half. I am not new to having any kind of operation done on me. When I was fourteen I had a spinal fusion for scoliosis. For those who don’t know scoliosis is when your spine curves in either an “S” or “C” type pattern. Mine was definitely an “S”. What the doctor did was put a metal rod and hooks into my spine to straighten it back out. However when I was 20, I developed a staph infection on my back and the culprit was determined to be my hardware from the spinal surgery. So I ended up having the hardware removed. Fast forward to 2009 and 2012 when I had Hushpuppy and Dumpling and there were two more surgeries. So suffice to say I was a pro at being put under general anesthesia. 

My ankle problems began back in 2012. I had a love for wearing five inch heels and one day after church we had a dinner in the family life center. Well during the dinner, Hushpuppy wandered off and of course me being in mommy mode, I took off after her. However my heels decided that they were not made for running and slipped which in turn led to me twisting my ankle. After that there were days when my ankle would be sore but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. However in December 2012 after starting to work for the Corrections system and all the standing and walking that it entailed, my ankle started to really hurt. So I went to an orthopedist who at first prescribed an ankle brace, contrast baths, and PT that I could do at home. So I started to do those things and for a while everything seemed alright. Then of course one day I stepped the wrong way and my ankle became sore again and I went back to the orthopedist. He then had me fitted for custom orthotics for my shoes because my left ankle (the problem one) had absolutely no arch left in it and my right foot had slightly more. He figured that the flat footedness was contributing to my ankle problems.

My First Ankle Brace (but not the last)

Well I used the orthotics and continued the at home PT until one day when getting up for work, I stepped wrong on my left foot and my ankle gave way. The pain was excruciating. I swore that I broke my ankle. Lovey carted me off to the emergency room and after they did x-rays they saw no fractures but recommended that I get in touch with my orthopedist right away. Well I went back and he had me fitted for an air boot to give my ankle time to heal and a MRI to see what was going on. When the MRI came back it showed that my joint was damaged and I had lots of inflammation and scar tissue on the tendon that ran along the inside of my foot (classic symptoms of over pronation and flat foot). I was given a cortisone shot and orders to keep the boot on for six weeks. Well after six weeks my ankle was still a mess. So I was referred to a surgeon (who happened to have done surgery on my mother’s ankle as well as a consult for my grandmother). He wanted me to try outpatient PT and to keep the boot on for a few more weeks to see if that gave my ankle some relief. It did not. So it was decided at that time to schedule me for surgery. 

My Airboot (Which I still wear now)

The procedure that would be done was medically called a calcaneal osteotomy with FDL tendon transfer. Basically what was going to be done is the doctor was going to take another tendon from my foot and run it along the inside of my foot to replace the worn out one. Then he was going to reset my heel so that my foot would point forward again instead of out. I was ready for it but I had no idea what would be in store for me afterwards...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Trying to Find the Best Regimen For My Skin

Ask anyone in their thirties and they’ll tell you, adult acne stinks!! It’s true. I have struggled with skin issues ever since I was a teenager, but they really seemed to flare up once I had children. In fact there is a picture of me and Hushpuppy when she was a newborn and I have a zit the size of Raleigh on my chin from the hormones starting to fluctuate. Every so often I get an outbreak on my chin or worse near my mouth. I have googled and googled trying to see why I break out in these places. I even posted a pin on my Pinterest board that explains why breakouts occur where they do. 

Since I had my ankle surgery (more on that in another post), I checked out a book from the library to pass the time called Brown Skin: Dr. Susan Taylor's Prescription for Flawless Skin, Hair, and Nails. In this book it gives information on how to care for African American skin and hair. I didn’t pay much attention to the hair part due to the fact that I pretty much have my hair under control. However I did get into the skin aspect of the book. I would describe my skin as oily. I used to think it was combination and in high school and college my skin did lean towards that direction. However the older I have gotten the greasier my face has become. Dr. Taylor recommended for oily skin a cleanser that would break down the oils on the skin as well as a toner to remove any excess oil and dirt. Finally she recommends using an oil free moisturizer to hydrate without adding back and oil to the skin.

After reading the book me and Lovey ventured out to Walgreen’s to find the Neutrogena Transparent Cleansing bar that was mentioned in the book. I read that while this cleansing bar cleaned the skin of excess oil and dirt, it also had glycerin in it to keep the skin from drying out. I have been using the bar for almost a month now and I can say that it does do the job. After cleansing, I follow up with a clear pore astringent from Dollar General that is comparable to Clean and Clear. Then I moisturize with a dual action moisturizer that moisturizes but also contains medication to clear up any acne blemishes and help prevent new ones from forming. It is also comparable to Clean and Clear and it is made by Wal-Mart’s Equate line.

One other thing that Dr. Taylor recommends in her book for oily skin is a clay mask at least once a week to exfoliate as well as absorb excess oil. What I have been using for that is Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Mask. I have been using this mask for over 10 years and I have to say that it is the best in the world. It does the job and leaves my skin smooth and tight. One of the claims in the mask is that it draws out impurities as well as blackheads that may be in the skin. I’m not quite sure it does that but I don’t notices as many small blemishes after using it, so maybe it is drawing all the bad stuff out.

In conclusion, if you are in the midst of breakout city like I am, feel free to give this regimen a try. Or look into reading books that are geared towards your skin type. Once I get back to work and get some money together, I may see about seeing a dermatologist and having a thorough analysis of my skin done to see if I am doing the right thing. Of course if you are still in a rut about what to do about your skin, I would recommend you do the same. 

Until next time...

Blogging While Cozy

Blogging While Cozy by afton-mosley-murray featuring 3 wick candles

Long sleeve sweater
choies.com

Dr. Denim blue jeans
$78 - vanmildert.com

Toast grey socks
$50 - toa.st

Speck laptop bag
$52 - nordstrom.com

Vintage eyeglass
80spurple.com

3 wick candle
bathandbodyworks.com

Christmas Shopping Outfit

Christmas Shopping Outfit by afton-mosley-murray featuring unisex shirts

Unisex shirt
etsy.com

H m trousers
$39 - hm.com

ASOS ballerina pumps
$20 - asos.com

Party handbag
yoins.com

Fragments disc stud earrings
lastcall.com

DIY White Chocolate Mochas

Just a few of my favorite things (Pumpkin candles, warm drinks, and a pumpkin)

Hey everybody. If you know me, then you know I love me some Starbucks. I'll never forget my first frappuccino. I was a bright eyed college student and while out with some sorority sisters we stopped by the Barnes and Noble which happened to have a Starbucks inside. I had not idea what to order, so I settled on the Caramel Frappuccino. Let me tell you when it touched my lips, fireworks exploded and birds began to sing. I had no idea coffee (or things that contain coffee) could taste so good! Well fast forward a few more years and one cool day I wanted something from Starbucks but it was too cold for frappuccinos. So out of curiosity I asked for a venti White Chocolate Mocha. After paying for it and getting it, I blew on it a bit and took a sip. Man let me tell you something else, those firewords and birds were back! After that day, White Chocolate Mochas were all I would order. Well except for the occasional Shaken Passion Iced Tea with Lemonade, my Caramel and Caramel Crunch frappuccinos, and my Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Well last night before picking up the girls from preschool, Lovey and I had to stop at the Food Lion to pick up something for dinner. Well the sudden craving came over me for a White Chocolate Latte. Well I would have gone to Starbucks except for I like to use my rewards card because when I pay with it, I get a star towards a free drink. However, I only had $0.30 left on my card and I didn't want to have to load it again until payday. (That's how my budget works when it comes to Starbucks. I get $25 a month and after it is spent I wait until the next payday. Self control at its finest) So I decided that to get my fix I would have to make one myself. I whipped out my phone and went to Pinterest to get a recipe that was easy and quick. I found a pin and bought the ingredients which was some white chocolate chips, whole milk, and whipped cream. I already had coffee and my coffee maker has a strong brew setting.

After dinner and getting the girls into bed, I set on making my at home latte. Lovey even wanted to try one and he never drinks coffee or anything with coffee in it. Following the pin instructions I made a makeshift double boiler and in the glass bowl added the milk and white chocolate chips. I stirred constantly until the chips melted and the milk was hot. In the mean time, my coffee was brewing in the machine. Then I mixed some of the milk with the coffee and then added the rest of the milk to my cup. I topped it with the whipped cream and sprinkled a bit of cinnamon on top.

From first impressions, not bad at all. It was a bit too sweet to my liking but that's nothing a little more coffee would be able fix. Even Lovey enjoyed it. However, we may have to use 2% or 1% milk next time as the whole milk was a bit much for our stomachs before bedtime. That aside it is something I will be keeping in the back of my mind whenever a Starbucks craving hits and my allotted funds have given out. Below is a link to the pin as well as the recipe. If there is anything else I should make and blog about or any general blogging ideas let me know in the comments below.

Hugs and Kisses

Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha

1 1/3 cup whole milk

1 cup white chocolate chips (I used Nestle Toll House brand)

1 cup strong brewed coffee

whipped cream (I used Food Lion brand)

ground cinnamon (for garnish)

1. Warm milk using double boiler or for makeshift double boiler place glass bowl over pot of boiling water (bring water to boil then lower to simmer)

2. Add white chocolate chips and stir until melted and milk is hot

3. Put some of milk mixture in large mug and add coffee. Then top with remaining milk mixture.

4. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle cinnamon on top

Find the original recipe here. I doubled the recipe so there would be enough for me and Lovey. I always say best to make too much than not enough.

Sunshine Blogger Award

Hey everybody! Long time no see I know. Well I’m back and with good reason. I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger award by Nisa at Ms. Direction. We follow each other on Instagram and I have to say it was an honor and a privilege just to be thought of for the nomination. If you are unfamiliar with the Sunshine Blogger Award, here is how it works...

Rules:

• Acknowledge the nominating blogger with a link to the website. Thanks Nisa!!
• Share 11 random facts about myself by answering the questions the nominating blogger has created for me. 
• List 11 bloggers I believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love! (I can't nominate the blogger who nominated me.)
• Let the 11 bloggers know you nominated them.
• Post 11 questions for the bloggers I nominate to answer. 

Questions:

1. What inspired you to start a blog? What inspired me to start a blog is that I enjoy putting my thoughts in words that I can go back and read. My first blog was on MySpace (really lol) and it went on from there. What keeps me blogging though is just tracking the journey that my hair has made.

2. Who is your biggest supporter? My biggest supporter is my husband. When I first started blogging, we were dating. I really wanted him to know how I felt about him, but I couldn’t verbally express it. So I let my blog do it for me and I like to think it worked. He is always asking when my next post is coming and that he still likes reading both of my blogs.

3. If you could live anyone's life for one day, who would it be? Why? I would have to say either one of my daughters because I just miss being a kid sometimes and they make it look so easy and fun.

4. What quality do you value most in a person? Honesty. Just be honest with me. I might be a bit upset at the truth, but it is temporary. That’s part of why me and my husband work because he is honest to a fault.

5. What is your favorite quote? “When you love someone you gotta trust them. I mean there’s no other way. You have to give them the key to everything you own. Otherwise, what’s the point?” Sam Rothstein (Casino)

6. When was the last time you tried something new? A few weeks ago at Trader Joe’s I tried guacamole for the first time and I have to say it was amazing.

7. What day stands out as the happiest day in your life? Argghh!! Too many to narrow down to just one. I’ll say my top 3 are the days my girls were born and the day I got married.

8. What's your favorite thing about you? My sense of humor. I would say it is a mix of sarcasm and sharp observations. It doesn’t come across as mean, but I have been told that I am a true smarta$$ lol.

9. What is one thing you usually forget? Where I put my car keys. I can sit them in a common spot for five minutes and if I am asked where they are I couldn’t tell you. I also forget appointments if I don’t write them down.

10. What does friendship mean to you? Friendship means a lot to me, but because I’m so introverted at times it may seem like I don’t enjoy having friends. It is further from the case.

11. Would you rather be dumb and awesome or smart and boring? Smart and boring because being dumb is just not me.

Who Do I Nominate?

Well I honestly can’t think of eleven bloggers who would pay attention to this or have not already done this, so instead I nominate anyone with a blog who has read this post. Easy way out? Possibly but I don’t mind.

Questions?

1. Is there a subject that you would not blog about?

2. What is your favorite dish to cook?

3. If you are stranded on an island, what 3 things would you be stranded with?

4. What is your most embarrassing moment?

5. What is your favorite body part?

6. If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

7. Which superpower would you choose: invisibility or flight?

8. When is the last time you told someone you love them and who?

9. Spiders: nature’s friend or your sworn enemy?

10. If you could go back to any period of time in history, what would it be and why?

11. Which do you like more: the new Ninja Turtles or the 90’s version?