Kid Reviewer Miitopia Nintendo 3DS Game Walk Through

August 17, 2017 by Momstart 2 Comments

As part of the Nintendo Kid Reviewer program, Zoe and Miles are on their own. This is their thoughts on the Nintendo 3DS video game Miitopia.

By Miles Bishop:

Miitopia is a really fun game to play something that I like about the game is that there are a lot of customizations for the characters to choose from. The farther into the game that you get you can build your mii warriors’ relationships between each other. Another feature I like about the game is that you can choose the entire mii cast with your own miis.

Miles also created a video for us:

By Zoe Bishop:

Miitopia is fun game, but I don’t like that I had to delete my brothers game to start my own game. When you play, you can only have one game going at a time, so when it was my turn to play I had to just use his game. The boss levels are sort of hard and you only get to create four characters. I like the characters and that you get to customize them and their outfits I wish the outfits weren’t so expensive in the game. I like the raffle tickets and how you get to win things for your characters but how does that relate to the game otherwise?

Questions About Miitopia

What is your favorite game feature?

Zoe: the costumes

Miles: My favoriate game feature is how hard the enemies are

What is your least favorite game feature?

Zoe: the bad guys are to hard

Miles: I don’t know if I have one

What is your favorite character?

Zoe: the character I make

Miles: My favorite character is me and the mage

What does this game make you think of or remind you of?

Zoe: nothing

Miles: doesn’t really remind me of anything

Would you recommend this game?

Zoe: yes

Miles: Totally!

Zoe is 10 and Miles is 9.

Get Tickets: American Express Seattle Seahawks Dinner On The Field

August 15, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

American Express is offering card holders the chance to do something quite amazing. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks can purchase tickets to dine on the 50 yard line at the stadium and I’m going to partake. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and the price is right.

American Express is back with the return of “American Express Dinner on the 50” at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday, August 29 at 6:00PM PST, offering 400 Card Members and Seattle small businesses the opportunity for a unique, four-course dining experience on the 50-yard line. Additional event highlights this year will include appetizers and desserts from top Seattle-area businesses, Seahawks game day programming and special guest appearances by Seahawks players Bobby Wagner and Tyler Lockett.

These tickets are exclusive to American Express Card Members and they go on sale August 17th at 10:00 Am PST on a first come first serve basis. You can purchase up to 4 tickets and you must be over 21. There will also be more than 150 small business owners there as well. Oh and of course there will be Seahawks players, the Sea Gals, and the Blue Thunder Drumline.

Features of American Express Dinner on the 50 this year include:

A four-course meal (similar to the four quarters of the game) and a pre-dinner cocktail reception

Special appearances by Seahawks players Bobby Wagner and Tyler Lockett

A variety of special game day programming, including appearances by Blitz, the Sea Gals, the Blue Thunder Drumline, Taima the Hawk and the Lombardi Trophy

Attendees will receive an exclusive Seahawks gift

American Express has a strong partnership with the Seattle Seahawks. Bringing back its All for the 12s platform that involves working with Seattle businesses and the Seahawks to provide a variety of benefits for Card Members and the 12s all season long. Benefits include the Section 12 pre-game activation, Seattle local business offers, in-stadium deals at concessions for American Express Card Members and the return of Hawks Island later this year. There are so many fun things and this is just the kick-off event.

Event Details

WHAT: American Express Dinner on the 50

WHEN: Tuesday, August 29 at 6:00PM PST

WHERE: CenturyLink Field

How To Address Separation Anxiety in Pets #PurinaPartner

August 14, 2017 by Momstart 13 Comments

This is a sponsored post with Purina

It’s back to school season and we’re running around getting everyone ready. We’re getting school supplies, making lunches and signing up for sports. We’re getting everyone ready but have you remembered your pet? Pets get used to all the activity, the littles being home and playing with them every day. They get used to all the attention and excitement every summer day of activities brings. Then what happens when they are in an empty house? Pets can get separation anxiety, and that can cause trouble for everyone in the family. We know from experience. Thanks to Purina, we have some tips for separation anxiety in pets to share with you.

Tips for Separation Anxiety in Pets

1. Set A Routine – I know for our dog a routine is so important. Emma, our German Sheppard is used to getting up in the morning, going out, then eating breakfast and then going to doggy day care. When the kids are home she knows she’s not going to doggy day care. This year we have to set up a new routine. To do this Purina suggests that leaving the house at the same time and getting back at the same time will help. Also dedicate a certain time of day to play with your dog, this structure and consistency will help them deal with loneliness and anxiety.

2. Spend Quality Time – In the advice above we recommend that you set aside some play time with your dog. Your dog needs exercise and attention. Give them a walk, a cuddle session or a mental exercise. It’s this time that will keep the pet mentally sharp and from feeling neglected.

3. Turn on Some Music – The first time the kids went to school and I was left home a long the house was way to quiet. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t concentrate. I had to turn on some background noise. The same goes for pets. You can play some soothing music or sounds while you are away. Music has benefits for pets including distracting them from worrisome noises and it promotes relaxation.

4. Give them a Toy – For our dog who loves to chew we like to give her a rawhide or a chew toy. My sister’s dogs love toys too. A toy keeps your dog occupied during alone time. You might also consider a scratch post or furniture for your cats. Give them things to keep them busy. Puzzle toys are also a great idea for pets.

5. Play It Up – So if you notice that what you have done so far hasn’t worked and your pet is experiencing destructive behavior, you just need to play it up. That means they need even more physical activity. They need rigorous play that gives them an outlet and relieves all the stress and pent up energy. Our dog needs lots of extra exercise we she has to walk in the morning, at night and if I have time in the middle of the day. Running is even better, and I let my son do that with her.

For more information on pet separation anxiety and how you can address it with your cat or dog, check out this piece at https://www.purina.com/better –with –pets/7 –tips –separation –anxiety and be sure to tune in to Purina’s Facebook Live on this topic taking place on Tuesday, August 29 at 12pm CT.

New Krusteaz Protein Pancake Mix Review & Giveaway

August 14, 2017 by Momstart 50 Comments

Breakfast is such an important meal to get your household off to a good start. It’s a struggle though to get protein in my daughter because she’s so picky. She’ll have toast or some sugary cereal. She’s not a fan of eggs and sausage, but she will eat bacon. Another thing she love to have for breakfast are pancakes, and we’re a family that always has a box of Krusteaz pancake mix on the shelf. Krusteaz makers of premium pancake and waffle mixes (they make amazing cookie mixes too), is launching a new Buttermilk Protein Pancake and it’s fantastic.

The new Buttermilk Protein Pancake mix has 13g of added protein keeping your family full and energized all day long. In addition to adding they protein they kept all the ingredients wholesome and free of partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. It made the perfect pancake for my kids. I even threw in a few chocolate chips.

One of the reasons we keep Krusteaz pancake mix in our pantry is so on those mornings when my kids want pancakes I can get them together in a flash. All you do is add water (but I usually put in milk instead of water). Mix the batter and you have pancakes in a flash. If you want even more protein might I suggest adding peanut butter to the batter. This is what I did. I put some peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl, warmed it up so that it was extra creamy and very easy to mix into the pancake batter. Oh wow they were so delicious.

Enter to Win:

Krusteaz Protein Pancak Mixes

A whisk

A Blender Bottle and Tote bag

To Enter:

Tell me what you do to add protein to your breakfast

Extra Entries:

Use the rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hiking Essentials: What To Take On a Hike

August 14, 2017 by Momstart 18 Comments

I’m proud to be working with CVS Pharmacy to help spread the word about #BetterHealthMadeEasy and how to #FindYourHealthy. All opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.

I love hiking, I love walking, I love being outside on a nice day. Zoe and I loaded up our bags with Hiking Essentials this past weed. We were supposed to go to Mount Rainier to go hiking in Paradise, but we woke up on Sunday morning to rain and cancelled our trip. Luckily, we haven’t had a lack of nice weather this summer and have been hiking more than once and will make plans to make it up the mountain again soon, and we’ll be ready with supplies thanks to CVS.

What to take on a hike:

Zoe and I made a video of the things we think you should make sure you have when you go hiking.

Hiking Essentials:

1. Number one item is a safety kit. Make sure you have the supplies you need in case of a minor injury.

2. Snacks, lots of snacks. CVS has so many snack options. Protein bars are perfect for camping because they give you that burst of energy you need, before during or after your hike.

3. Water, arguably this would be number 1 on the list. You need to stay hydrated. It’s great to have one of those water bottles that purifies river water, but just to make sure you have water at all pick up a water bottle from CVS. They have plenty of options.

4. Band-Aids, antiseptic cream, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol. These are all things that will probably be in your basic safety kit. It’s important to check your kit and make sure that they are in there and if not grab some from CVS.

5. Athletic/elastic tape, this isn’t something that I would have thought of but my sister in law says it’s amazing to have. She said you can wrap that around your joints and it reinforces them making them feel stronger.

BE Prepared with CVS

Stopping by a CVS Pharmacy can make pre-travel immunizations easy

In Case of Illness on the Road

In case there are any minor illnesses or injuries that happen on a trip, MinuteClinic could be a convenient alternative to an Emergency Room visit

6. Matches, just in case you want to start a campfire for lunch, or if you end up staying the night. I think it’s just important to have them just in case. It might be overboard for a hike but it’s better to have them.

7. Burn Pads, if you have matches be prepared to get burned. I mean be prepared to deal with that burn you might get. It’s just better to be prepared.

8. Ibuprofen, I don’t go anywhere without Ibuprofen. Headaches are no fun, so I keep this stuff with me for just that reason. But it also comes in handy when my son takes a tumble and that’s about all the time. I have to be prepared for his accidents.

My little monkey!

A post shared by Louise Bishop (@momstart) on May 16, 2017 at 8:53am PDT

9. Compass, it seems that most people just use phones now for direction, but what if you get into an area where you lose reception. Having a compass is really helpful if you get off the path.

10. Flashlight, it’s great to have a flashlight just in case you get lost or it becomes dark.

We also want to remind you of the importance of checking for lice after your hike. Lice have been really bad this year and it’s important to find them quickly and get them off your skin properly. Check a site like WebMD for proper removal when you find one.

Meal Subscription Box: Dinnerly Everything You Need To Cook

August 8, 2017 by Momstart 6 Comments

Weeknight cooking gets mundane sometimes as we get set on cooking the same things over and over again. Of course I could look up recipes but sometimes it’s about what’s in the pantry because I don’t want to go to the store. That’s just two of the reasons why I love having dinner meal kits sent to our house. These Meal Subscriptions box kits are perfect for our family needs. We recently received a meal kit from Dinnerly and Zoe did a box opening so you can see everything that we received in our first box.

Another reason I love these subscription meal box kits is because it gives us a chance to cook together or for Zoe to cook on her own. Zoe loves cooking and what I love about Dinnerly is that everything comes pre-measured and with easy to follow directions. Zoe was able to make a dinner and there was hardly any mess and under 30 minutes. Each box seems to come with three different meals. You pick how often you want the boxes and you can always put it on hold. You don’t have to get a box every week. You can choose between a couple box that feeds two adults for 38.99 and a family box that feeds four adults for 68.99.

My husband and I are on a KETO diet so I adjusted the recipes to work for us. Using our box, we made burgers one night with the beef and home made potato chips.

We also made Sausage Pasta. For my husband and I, we omitted the pasta. It was delicious.

But I think our favorite recipe was the Chicken Chili recipe. OMG, this was amazing and even my kids who are picky about chicken gobbled this up.

DINNERLY is the first affordable meal kit delivery service to send all the fresh ingredients to cook weeknight dinners for just $5 per serving! With most kits being around $10 per serve, this represents a big weekly saving for families who love the convenience of meal kits. I love this price point.

Dinnerly targets those that want to cook but don’t want a lot of hastle. They keep the price down by having fewer ingredients keeping the recipes simple. They also have digital recipe cards verses printing up full color cards keeping costs down per box. Dinnerly is currently on the West Coast including California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho with expected expansion by end of 2017.

DINNERLY will send quality ingredients like antibiotic free chicken and free range ground beef to make delicious family-friendly meals like turkey burgers with sweet potato fries, or a Harissa pan roasted chicken that will satisfy even the fussy eaters!

Period Underwear: Knixteen #ShutUpPeriod – Knixwear launches Knixteen

August 7, 2017 by Momstart 2 Comments

This is a partnered post with Knixwear. Makers of KnixTeen. Knixwear, the leading brand of active intimates reinventing women’s underwear, launched of the first line of leakproof period underwear designed specifically for teens.

We just found a pair of underwear that my daughter loves. My daughter hasn’t had her first period yet but we are expecting it any time now. She’s as prepared as she can be. She’s learned about her body, we’ve talked about different hygiene products and now she has this amazing pair of underwear that are perfect for those little accidents or slips we sometimes have in-between trips to the bathroom.

She wants like 10 more pairs because of how comfortable they are alone! The Knixteen brand and line of products will offer the same performance, technology and protection as its top-selling adult counterpart. The brand features two styles of black leakproof, seamless panties – a boyshort and a bikini cut that absorb the equivalent of two regular tampons and provide back up protection and peace of mind for teens.

For the launch of this new product Knixwear created a serious of videos that use humor to encourage girls to face their periods head-on. They all use the hashtag #ShutUpPeriod and can be seen here! We’ve decided to share one of them below!

Everything about Knixteen has been developed with input from teen girls themselves. Born from a culture of listening, Knixwear uncovered a need amongst the underserved youth demographic after seeing the success of its line for women. Even the ‘Oh-No’ Proof Underwear packaging, a reusable pouch, is perfect for use as a period emergency kit, a pencil case or make-up bag. The pouch also comes with instructions that explain how it can be reused as a heating pad to help combat period cramps.

My daughter loves the collection of things that came with the underwear also. She really feels ready and I can’t wait to updated this post with how they work and how she feels after she has her period. For now, I’m probably going to be purchasing her another pair or two just because of how much she loves how they feel on.

A Marvel-ous Smoothie Recipe #StreamTeam

August 2, 2017 by Beeb 11 Comments

MomStart is a member of the Netflix Stream Team. This is a partnered post.

I’ve been a big comic book fan ever since I was a little girl. I remember being a toddler and feeling frustrated that I couldn’t read, because my dad had a novelization of the Supergirl movie and I wanted to be able to read it, too! I’ve gone as almost every comic book character for Halloween, made my own X-Men crafts out of corndog sticks, and even created my own Incredible Hulk-inspired gingerbread man!

Making Incredible Hulk cookies in the 1980s

My culinary skills have gotten a little more advanced since then, it’s true. 😉 But I still have fun coming up with comic book-inspired recipes for special occasions – like the time I threw a Spider-Man themed party and made a Green Goblin Veggie Platter! Since I’ve been eating healthier the past few years, I take it as a challenge when I need to come up with recipes that are compatible with my goals but still party-friendly. I think I managed to do that with my latest drink creation, a smoothie that is super healthy but still tasty enough to be enjoyed by anyone, including kids. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer day like today – preferably while keeping cool inside watching the latest Marvel show on Netflix!

Even Wolverine loves this recipe!

Marvel-ous Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 banana
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1 cup Almond Milk
Ice

Directions:

Add all ingredients to blender and mix until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Just like my smoothie bridges the gap between healthy food and “Treats”, the new generation of Marvel programming has brought both comic book nerds and casual viewers together with shows that have something for everyone. You don’t have to know every origin story to enjoy the dark, edgy storylines in Jessica Jones or root for the underdog in Luke Cage. Meanwhile, hardcore fans can enjoy new and compelling adventures – one of my big pet peeves with comic book adaptations is when they rehash the same plots over and over again. I know how Wolverine got his powers, let’s see what he actually does with them!

Bringing different worlds and tastes together is part of the fun of spending time with other people – so go on, grab a friend, make some smoothies, and compare notes on Daredevil!

What shows do you use to “Bridge the gap” in your family?

Culinary Delights in Kissimmee #MyKissimmee #iFlyAlaska

August 2, 2017 by Beeb 5 Comments

Travel consideration provided.

Exploring new foods and restaurants is one of my favorite things to do while traveling. The first time I visited Florida in 2014, I had all kinds of memorable gastronomical experiences like tasting gator meat for the first time and eating the best steak of my life at Meliá Orlando Suite Hotel. So when I returned to Kissimmee this year, I was excited to see what yummy delights would be in store during this adventure – and my friends, I was not disappointed.

Elaine Alves Catering, Inc.

When we arrived at our vacation home the first night, Chef Eliane Alves was there to welcome us by catering an amazing dinner. Having a catering service prepare a meal right in your vacation home’s kitchen is such an awesome way to kick off a trip in the most relaxing manner. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy while an amazing meal is prepared for you, with leftovers packed up and put into your fridge for you afterwards so that you have easy meals to grab during the rest of your stay. It’s especially perfect for the first night of a trip, when you might be too tired to go out to dinner and can just relax on the couch instead!

Elaine and her team were so friendly and made the perfect hosts to welcome us on our first night in Kissimmee, pouring us a Peach Bellini Coquetel to start off our evening while we enjoyed fresh bruschetta appetizers.

They set out a beautiful table for us!

The main course was a Lobster bisque served with an amazing homemade Quiche Lorraine (Soooo good!!) and Romaine salad with fresh mozzarella, caramelized walnuts, figs, strawberry, a selection of Truffle Glazed balsamic & Lemon Olive Oils and grilled chicken and prosciutto on the side.

We were spoiled with not one, but two desserts! First up was a lovely Tiramisu.

And when Elaine read the itinerary and saw that her dinner guests would be three ladies, she said that her first thought was: These ladies need cupcakes! Elaine knows an amazing baker and enlisted her to create dainty cupcakes with edible glitter (!!) that would be perfect for a group of ladies. Her intuition was totally correct – Carol, Jana and I loved the cupcakes, especially the NUTELLA cupcakes! Elaine didn’t just show up with a pre-set menu – she created something special just for us, and it was amazing.

For More Information:

Elaine Alves Catering, Inc.
ElianeAlvesCatering.com
Phone: (954) 292-3921

El Tenampa

During the second day of our trip, we stopped at El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant for lunch. The recommended dish was grilled arrachera (flank steak) and nopales (cactus), which I was excited to try – I always seek out the specialty dish when I visit a new restaurant, and I’d never tried cactus before! I also loaded up on chips because it was national chips and dip day, so I had to observe the holiday, naturally! Yum!!

For More Information:

El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant
4565 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy
Kissimmee, Florida 34746
Phone: (407) 390-1959
Facebook

Homecomin’ Kitchen

For dinner on our second night, we were treated to Walt Disney World’s new restaurant, Homecomin’ Kitchen. My friends, this is comfort food at its finest! Using local ingredients to create “Upscale down South” cuisine, this restaurant features can’t-miss fried chicken and moonshine cocktails. We started our meal with The Mood Changer cocktail and a selection of tasty appetizers, then dug into my main course: Chicken and doughnuts!

When you see a dish like this on a menu, you have to order it. I never understood the concept of chicken and waffles until I visited Memphis, and then it all became clear to me. I thought that chicken and doughnuts was an intriguing take on this concept, and oh my goodness, it was amazing! The crispy doughnuts and syrup perfectly complimented the flavors in the chicken – in fact, the doughnuts reminded me of homemade doughnuts that my mom made for me when I was a child. The fried texture of her doughnuts is a memory that has stayed with me since I first ate them, and I haven’t had anything like it since she made them all those years ago, so I thoroughly enjoyed these. The creamy potatoes were an absolutely delicious side and I ate and ate and ate this amazing meal!

For More Information:

Homecomin’ Kitchen
1602 East Buena Vista Drive
Orlando, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 560-0100
HomecominKitchen.com
Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

Market Street Café

We started off our final morning in Florida with breakfast at Market Street Café, a fun diner in Celebration. Since I had been enjoying a lot of decadent food during my trip, I opted for a lighter breakfast with a whole wheat egg white & spinach burrito – with a side of tots, because hey, life is all about balance. 😉 My burrito was super delicious – it’s so nice to easily find a healthy option on a menu that isn’t just a salad!

For More Information:

Market Street Café
701 Front Street
Celebration, FL 34747
Phone: (407) 566-1144
Market-Street-Cafe.com
Facebook – Twitter

Columbia Restaurant

I visited Columbia Restaurant last time I was in Kissimmee, so I was looking forward to tasting their famous 1905 Salad again! This time, I opted for a half order of the salad with a Cuban Sandwich. It was a big lunch, so I took my sandwich in a to-go box and ate the other half of it on my Alaska Airlines direct flight home to Oregon that afternoon – yum!!

For More Information:

Columbia Restaurant
649 Front Street
Celebration, Florida 34747
Phone: (407) 566-1505
ColumbiaRestaurant.com
Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

Enjoying good food helps create wonderful memories, and I certainly did that during my latest Florida adventure!

Which of these restaurants (Or Chefs!) would you visit first?

Getting Botox For The First Time: My Experience

August 2, 2017 by Beeb 5 Comments

Complimentary services provided for review.

Back in May, I shared my experience of getting laser skin resurfacing at Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery in Portland, Oregon. It was a really great experience – the maximum result comes through about 4 months after treatment, so I’ll be posting an update after the wedding to show the final result, but I honestly started seeing a difference in how I felt just from the consult alone – before I ever had any treatment at all. The treatment was provided by Robin Prusse RN, who impressed me with her honest and helpful skincare advice that was tailored to my specific skin and concerns. She gave me a good perspective on the condition of my skin and what I should focus on in terms of my skin care regimen.

The wedding has been a good reason for me to prioritize some of the things I’ve always wanted to do, so I’ve been taking the time to do things for myself like the laser treatment and spending time learning new makeup techniques and investing in new products. This is not because I “Have” to look a certain way for the wedding – I want to look like myself! – but because I love beauty and fashion, and have spent so much time focused on my career and other responsibilities over the last 10 years or so that I have little by little neglected self-care and the things I wish I could make time for. The wedding has been a good “Excuse” to shift my priorities a little bit and focus on other areas of my life that need attention, including some of the pampering I’ve been doing recently. Between my successful experience with the laser skin resurfacing and the makeup tutorials I’ve been following, I’ve actually stopped wearing foundation except for special occasions now – I feel so good about my skin now that all I feel I need for most days is a little swipe of eye concealer for my dark circles. As I said in my first post, I hadn’t necessarily expected a visit to a cosmetic surgeon’s office to make me feel more confident about my “Natural beauty”, but that’s exactly what happened!

One area of my face that still bugs me is my forehead lines. I mentioned this to Robin during the initial consult, and she said that the only thing that can get rid of those is Botox. She reassured me that everyone has these from a very young age and there’s nothing I could have done to prevent them; she also surprised me when she explained how little Botox I would need since my lines aren’t severe, and how affordable it actually is. I considered it carefully, and decided I would like to give Botox a try before the wedding, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

My forehead lines have been there ever since I was in my early 20s, so they’ve been annoying me for a long time.

Me at 24 years old – you can see the same forehead lines I have today in this photo.

Although I know the lines have deepened some since I was 24, I think they’re also a lot more noticeable because everyone has a high-def camera now. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, people only took photos every so often, and the camera quality was pretty blurry. Now everyone has an incredible photo built in to their phones and takes 1,000 photos a day, and since I work in social media, people take my photo all the time. As a result, I feel like I’m aging faster because cameras show a lot more than they did 10 years ago. Getting older as a transition millennial just isn’t fair sometimes. 😉

April 2017

I notice these lines every day and I’ve really disliked them for probably a decade at this point – it’s one thing I’ve always wished I could change. My forehead lines also tend to look deeper in photos than real life, so it’s annoying to feel like I look worse in photos than in day to day life, especially because I have to take them for work being a blogger. Oh, for the good old days when I sat behind a typewriter and no one knew what I looked like! 😉 Since Botox is an outpatient procedure and is temporary, I thought I should go for it and see what results I would get and how I would feel. Everyone has strong opinions about cosmetic treatments (And even makeup in general), and I totally get it. It’s not something to be taken lightly and it’s a very personal choice.

When I told Robin that I wanted to try Botox, I explained that I wanted a very light treatment and wanted to still be able to move my face and express emotion normally – I’d rather still have wrinkles and be “Me” than have a flawless, immovable face! Fortunately, individuals who have the “Frozen” look have either specifically requested that because it makes them happy, or they went to someone who didn’t have a lot of experience administering the treatment. I’d had such a fabulous experience with Robin that I trusted her to do what I wanted and be honest about what to expect, so I went in one week ago to Dr. Bohley’s office to get my first ever Botox treatment.

May 2017 – Before Botox

Starting the procedure was very simple. Robin took me back into her office and explained the nuts and bolts of the treatment and aftercare, then put some numbing cream on my forehead. She told me that within a couple of weeks of treatment when it began to kick in, she wanted me to get some rice flour and mix it with Cetaphil face cleanser to create an exfoliant, and use that on my forehead every day to exfoliate the area and enhance my results. She said that they sold an exfoliant in the office that would also work, but it costs around $100 which is why she recommends the rice flour for a budget option. This is why I really trust Robin – she’s only concerned about telling me what works and how to get the best results from my treatment, regardless of how much it costs or whether it results in a sale.

About to get Botox

Getting the Botox was very fast and simple. Robin told me to move my forehead a few times, and pricked it with a needle that felt like getting a flu shot. I could feel the cool sensation of the Botox moving through as it was injected, but it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable – Robin and I were chatting about bridesmaid dresses the entire time!

Right after the treament, my forehead looked pretty red and had pinprick points dotted around the injection sites. I was a little nervous about this since I had a full day of back-to-back wedding appointments, but Robin assured me it would be gone quickly and that I could put on makeup about 15 minutes later if I wanted.

Riding the MAX in Portland 1 hour after my treatment – no makeup on my forehead

She was right about how soon the irritation went away, and I was able to go about my day as planned. You’re advised to avoid strenuous activity immediately after treatment and not lie down until it’s bedtime; you’re also told to avoid things like alcohol and ibuprofen in the first few days following treatment. But there’s no “Downtime” afterwards – I went straight from Robin’s office to a meeting with my wedding videographer, then went on to get my hair done and meet with my wedding photographer and Matron of Honor – it was a jam-packed, and great day!

One day after treatment. Oh yeah, and I FOUND MY WEDDING DRESS!!!

So what does it feel like? In the first few hours after treatment, I felt a “Cool” sensation in my forehead which reminded me of wearing a gel face masque. This feeling was not unpleasant and went away in a few hours. Unlike what you see in movies, Botox doesn’t actually kick in right away – Robin let me know that it would probably take about a month to see the full results. Within a day or two, I began to notice the effects of the treatment. My forehead started to feel “Tight” – I can still move my face to express surprise, scowl, etc., but I feel some resistance when I make those expressions and my forehead doesn’t move up as high. It’s not bothersome – I feel like my forehead was “Tighter” for the first few days and now I’ve gotten used to it.

The most noticeable and exciting effect has been the reduction in my lines! It’s been kind of fun watching the treatment kick in, because I feel like I’ve been aging in reverse this week. Each day, my forehead has looked smoother. The depth and appearance of the lines has been significantly reduced – before, it was hard to take a photo of myself without the lines being extremely visible, and now, it’s actually hard to get a photo that captures the lines!

5 Days after Botox – click to view full size

Selfie taken this morning, August 2nd

I am completely thrilled with the results thus far! It’s made a huge difference in just a few days. I’m so happy with how it looks and I feel like it definitely took years off my appearance. It was such a simple solution to something that has bothered me so much for so long, and it makes a world of difference in how I feel! If I continue Botox treatments in the future – which I definitely plan on – it will also help to prevent future lines. Some people will not agree with my decision to try Botox, and that’s totally fine. For me personally, I don’t see this as being much different than the fact that I got my hair done right after the Botox treatment. After all, I’m not a platinum blonde naturally either, but I have fun playing with the look! And since this is a temporary treatment that wears off in 3-6 months, it will be gone as quickly as my platinum hair if I decide I want to do something different. I spent a lot of time looking into the pros, cons, and potential side effects of Botox and since I was a good candidate, I felt like it was worth doing. Every person needs to decide what is appropriate for them, and while this certainly isn’t desirable for everyone, it was the right choice for me and has been so rewarding. Since the full results will be visible within a month, I will be posting an update after the wedding to share the final product and any follow-up thoughts and observations – so stay tuned!

For More Information:

Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery
10201 SE Main Street, Suite 20
Portland, Oregon 97216
Phone: (503) 897-8999
Web: DrBohley.com
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