Review and Giveaway: Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night CD CLOSED

As a stay-at-home mom, it's easy for me to get wrapped up in the day-to-day menagerie and forget to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. When I do get a minute to myself, my mind races with all the things I have to do. Fold the laundry. Wash the dishes. Vacuum. Relax? What's that?! There's never a dull moment. We all search for that elusive mommy time. I know I'm not the only one who stays up WAY too late at night trying to wind down once the kids are asleep only to regret it come morning. So, when I was offered the opportunity to review Suzanne Jessee's Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night, I couldn't turn it down.

Did you know 75% of all primary care physician visits stem from stress-related symptoms? Stress contributes to hypertension, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, ulcer, neck and back pain, among many other diseases. Suzanne Jessee herself knows all to well the effects of stress. Twenty years ago, she was hospitalized with severe depression and anxiety disorders as a result of repressed childhood trauma. While undergoing inpatient therapy, Suzanne discovered her life's passion to understand the nature of panic and to help others suffering from mental distress. Now a nationally recognized mental health coach, Jessee has helped thousands of people nationwide to reduce or eliminate stress in their lives. The core of her Escape program lies with the seven R's: Relaxation, Realization, Re-Education, Rehabilitation, Reinforcement, Responsibility, and Reassurance.

Suzanne's new CD, Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night uses a combination of guided imagery meditation, self-hypnosis, and relaxation response to achieve mental, physical and spiritual healing. This Cognitive Meditation and Imagery Therapy encourages the release of endorphins, which calm the mind and soothe tense muscles while bringing your body to a homeostatic balance. Through a series of deep breathing exercises, you'll work to promote oxygenation of the blood and facilitate harmony between your body and mind.

I received a copy of Me Time to review.

The CD is divided into three tracks:

1. Morning Time Cognitive Meditation and Imagery is designed to help you start your day with a positive attitude about yourself and your life. In just a few short minutes, the session will help you greet your day with energy and optimism.
2. Night Time Cognitive Meditation and Imagery guides you into a deeply relaxed state of being. You are called to mentally lay the events of the day and challenges of tomorrow to rest so you can calm your mind for a peaceful night's sleep. This session relieves stress-related symptoms like fitful dreams and a busy mind that are disruptive to restorative sleep.
3. The final track consists of gentle music and nature sounds that will further help you achieve a state of deep sleep. You will awaken feeling more well-rested than ever before.

I've had the chance to listen to the CD in its entirety for the past several days and I've been very pleased. This spiritual, holistic approach reminded me of the Hatha Yoga classes I used to take years ago. Suzanne acts as your tour guide on your journey to relaxation. The CD begins with positive affirmations to start your day off on the right foot. Using a blend of spoken word, visualization and breathing exercises, Suzanne gives you a more calm, less invasive alternative to that raring alarm clock. By listening and following her instructions, you can replace those morning blues and general grogginess with a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. In just 13 minutes, you'll find yourself "at peace with myself and with the world". I am SO not a morning person but I definitely noticed a change in my mood when I listened to this Daytime track.

The Nighttime session again uses a combination of imagery and breathing exercises to help ease the burdens on your mind for a peaceful night's rest (as long as your little one consents!). I found it to be much more effective than counting sheep. Suzanne's voice is incredibly soothing and it sets the perfect ambiance to achieve true, deep sleep.

The third session consists of 30-minutes of soft music and nature sounds. The sounds of waves and rolling water really helped me to fall asleep when I'm wound too tightly. If you practice yoga, this could be a great accompanying track.

The only disadvantage to the CD is finding - or making - the time to use it. Even though each session is roughly 15 minutes, quiet time is quite rare around here. In the morning, I tend to wake at the same time as my son so I don't have much alone time to really concentrate. Sometimes, I listen during his noon naptime but I also depend on that time to clean, pay bills and straighten up the house. Needless to say, I often have to skip this session. It is much easier for me to use at bedtime when Nate is already fast asleep and I can carve out some precious me time.

Bottom line: I would highly recommend Suzanne Jessee's Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night, whether you need a cure for your insomnia or just some relaxing time to yourself. It creates a serene wonderland that will take you away faster than Calgon.

BUY IT: You can purchase Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night (ARV $19.99) and other programs from www.suzannejessee.com.

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win some Me Time of their own!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit Suzanne's website and tell me something you learned while you were there. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Suzanne Jessee on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the tweet below or come up with your own:

Unwind your mind with @SuzanneJessee's Me Time: Positive Day - Peaceful Night. Win a copy @kris10chumley http://bit.ly/cqqMFG

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Add my blog button and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

4.) Tell me your favorite way to unwind after a long day. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on April 15, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I received a free copy of Me Time from Elliott at SSA Public Relations to facilitate my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed are purely mine. Your experience may differ.