Ahhh ~ Comfort For Me In The Kitchen!!

This is a product review ~ telling you up front.  I don't have any affiliation with either of these companies.  Many of you know I have my fair share (and some extra) of medical issues.   I have severe Fibromyalgia, spinal injuries that affect my neck, mid range back and low back from disc and vertebra damage, and terrible osteoarthritis. But life is what we make of it.  I am grateful for each and every minute of every day I can wake up, get both feet on the floor and stand up. Takes longer some days, takes help some days, but as long as I get up on the sunny side of the grass, I feel life if pretty grand and I am greatly blessed!

Many of you that have followed me for a while also know one, of which there are many, of my passions is scratch cooking and baking.  I love, love, love to cook and bake, make jams and pastries, just about anything.

When we moved into our new home in 2006, I found the beautiful tile floors we had were horrible for my back (as well as my feet and legs!) Cooking went from being a passion to a drudgery. While thumbing through the Fibromyalgia Network Magazine, my sweetie found Gel Pro Chef's Mat.

I phoned them, spoke with them about my issues, their product and they gladly sent me samples of the color range.  These weren't as readily available in 2006 and 2007 as they are today, so when I saw the advertisement again in The Arthritis Today Magazine, we decided to purchase them.  Now - I need to be very clear - NEITHER OF THESE MAGAZINE COMPANIES ENDORSE THIS PRODUCT, they simply advertise with them.

Now the reason for the product review - and please read down to the bottom because I was blessed by finding a replacement I will show you!!!  The first three - and those of you who have checked these out will tell you - are not cheap by any stretch - but after a couple of years I began tripping over them!!  A little at first, and then to the point of being afraid of another fall - which in my case could have been catastrophic!

Take a look at these!  All edges had curled, and had become a hazard for me.
After checking online, we did find this was a common problem for the company.  We called, sent them photos like these, and were sent three brand spanking new mats!  We were very surprised, indeed.
Fast forward another year or so, and whammy, they started getting a bit slippery.  And day after day, it got worse.  Until one day I stepped from in front of my stand mixer onto the one in front of the sink and did the splits!  Holy Cows jumping over the moon - scared the pants off me!!  After checking on the Internet once again , it showed how yes the company had solved the rolling edges, but now developed a slippage problem.  The answer, they sent me Rug Grippers.  I must say, GEL PRO did stand behind their product, and even though it didn't work for us, they sent boxes and a return slip - and then a check for the full amount we paid FOUR YEARS AGO!

Problem now?  Hard floors once again, and in the last four years, my back condition worsened.  Finding a replacement for these mats was now crucial.  We got samples - would you believe some companies send out 3/4"x1" samples for you to feel the comfort!?  Well those Holy Cows are back, because I don't walk on my fingertips!  We searched and searched the Internet, and then found another company.  We found WELLNESSmats.  I watched videos of the products, and gosh they looked great!

So, I decided to give a call and chat with someone at the company and ended up speaking with a fantastic woman named Marissa.  I told her my concerns and health problems, and she talked about her company's products.  She offered to send me a sample - and guess what?  The sample size is 3 1/2"x3 1/2" which means you can not only squish it with your fingers (which no other company's sample I could do that with as they were not soft at all!) but you can actually stand on it with the ball of your foot and toes!  Oh the samples were like heaven!!

The other mats were 18"x6' and these are a full 2'x6' with a whole 2" slope, so no curling!  and look and the design!  The is my favorite and is called Bella Motif and is in burgundy.  Oh my gosh, my Sweetie and I are like two little children!  We start at one end and walk all the way around the kitchen on the mats when we go to get a cup of tea or coffee or tea.  Honest to goodness, these are like walking on clouds!  So soft, and even the finish on your feel is soft and cushy!

These came yesterday, and I called the company right away to let them know we were so happy with them.  My contact wasn't there, and when she called again, we'd already had them for about 18 hours and decided to purchase another 2'x6' for the entrance of the kitchen to the front of the fridge!

Price wise, I think they are about the same price as the first ones from Gel Pro because they are 6" wider.

I will be sending a copy of my blog to my contact at Fibromyalgia Network Magazine and then over to Arthritis Today because I feel that strong about these mats, and this is after only about 30 hours!

Those of us who suffer with life altering medical issues love to share what helps us in our lives.  There's so much stuff out there in the market place, and we are so desperate to have a normal, or as normal as possible life again, many times we need to hear the experiences of others.  That's why I'm sharing. I email with many of you and know some of you suffer as I do, or have family that does.  Honestly, I really love these mats!  Oh - and I forgot to tell you something important!!  The warranty on these WELLNESSmats - A FULL 7 YEARS!!!  Yes SEVEN years!  Not 1, not 3 - 7!!  Now that's standing behind your product!

Blessings to all!
Hugs with happy feet,
Donna