A Workout with An Elementary TOY?!...Not quite!

Hello, again, all!


Recently, I've slacked quite a bit on my gym-ing. This has led to pretty much...self loathing in the worst way possible. I'm also convinced that exercising wards off depression and anxiety. I am very prone/afflicted by anxiety, and I found that a good, hard run always made me feel better. In my search for finding a way to get a good workout at home, I was prompted to apply for a promotion that I might not have considered before: the Naturalico jump rope. In applying for this promotion, I knew I had nothing to lose. The jump rope would be in exchange for my honest opinion, so I decided to give it a shot.

Now, if you're like me, when you hear "jump rope", you think of a neon-colored hollow plastic tube attached to two mold-poured, neon colored, plastic handles of a different color. The plastic tube disappears into the handle, and most often, was tied in a knot on the inside of the handle (the handle was hollow as well). This meant that, if your knot came untied, your jump rope didn't work.

I honestly didn't know what to expect.

When the rope arrived, I immediately took it out of it's neat little storage bag (complete with a drawstring!) and examined it. The handles were nice and heavy, the "rope" part was thick and weighted-feeling. I also noticed that there were little metal contraptions at each end that allowed the handles to both slide to one end. Having this quality allows for the rope to be adjusted very easily. The metal contraptions allowed the rope to rotate smoothly and spin freely.

I couldn't wait to try it!

When I did, I was pleasantly surprised. The rope span and rotated much easier than I remember my Elementary jump ropes operating. The weight of the rope was nice in that it projected itself forward, allowing for minimal effort from the hands and arms. Given extra length, I was easily able to adjust the rope by trimming and tying it.

The design is very grown-up and professional looking. With a strictly black color scheme, the silver hardware really pops. The rope coils effortlessly for storage and actually compacts nicely for storage in minimal space.

If you're looking for a new workout partner, I highly suggest Naturalico's jump rope! I am currently in the middle of really putting it to the test, but I will soon have photos posted (before and after) and the number of weeks of use at each stage. I'm so excited to share! (Hint: I've lost 8 lbs!!).

Protect Your Jewelry with Active Rings!

Recently, I was offered the opportunity to review a product that I had never seen before. In exchange for my honest opinion, I was sent Active Rings. Active Rings are for those who lead an active lifestyle, and have wedding jewelry that risks being broken at the gym or during physical activity. However, my interest in the jewelry alternative was in being an artist and an art teacher. Many times, I have to take my rings off due to mess. If I don't, my rings get extremely dirty, and it's an extra step to have to clean them. 

Now, in my opinion, you shouldn't need a ring for honesty reasons. If I'm at the gym, and a guy approaches me, I TELL him I'm married, regardless of if my rings are on or not. I don't think that's the purpose of the product. I DO think that it helps to avoid awkward situations. If you're approached by someone who's interested in you and they don't see a ring, they may think it's ok to "make moves". Having the Active Rings band there, while not having the purpose of keeping you honest, helps you to avoid these awkward conversations with someone who may have their hopes up.

For me, I work in clay and ink mostly. My Active Rings serve as a memory tactic. I have an AWFUL memory, and looking down at my Active Ring while I'm cleaning up an art mess is a memory boost as to where I've put my real wedding set. Sculpey clay leaves a sticky residue while kiln-fired clay has a grit to it that will damage metal over time.

As a product, I think the idea is useful and innovative. The product itself is made of high quality rubber. I say "high quality" because I feel that it would be difficult to cut the rubber, even with scissors. The rubber is thick and the colors are very vibrant. They aren't dull and they're easily seen from a distance. As far as sizing goes, I wear a size 7.75 in rings. I was sent a size 7-8. The Active Ring fit my hand perfectly, but I was curious as to how it would fit on a finger about 3/4 of a size bigger, so I put it on my middle finger. The rubber stretched, but as you can see from the picture, it left an indention. I did try to stretch one of the rings, and I think with enough stretching, you could adjust the size permanently. When released from stretching, the band went back to it's size and shape. Sizing-wise, I think the measurements are accurate as to what it will fit. 

I would highly suggest this product to my gym and art loving friends! It's very useful, especially if you're as forgetful and messy as I am!