A GAL NEEDS...

Tips On How To Recruit For Your Favorite Presidential Nominee

2012-01-21T11:36:00.001-07:00

I've been volunteering at the campaign office of my favorite Presidential Nominee for awhile now. It's just that I feel that this election is such a crucial election for our country and so many things are on the line. No matter who gets the Presidency, it won't be easy for us. It's gone too far downhill for that. But maybe, just maybe, our country will be able to have a chance at gaining back some ground after all that we have lost. I really don't want to live in a European Socialist State. I really like Capitalism and I love Freedom. Here are a few things I have learned since volunteering at Mitt Romney For President. If you'd like to join me, please feel free. It's fun and it's a great feeling to know that you're helping your country.

1. Maintain a calm tone and demeanor, even though people are yelling at you that you are the millionth caller for the elections, and that they are NOT going to vote for your candidate simply because you are calling. Statistics show that those calls do make a difference and in all probability, those same people yelling at you will end up voting for your candidate just because of name recognition alone.

2. If they are polite, thank them profusely!

3. If they say that they will be voting, thank them profusely, regardless of who they are voting for.

4. Scripts are there for those who are unsure. If you know that something you are doing works well, do it.

5. If they say they are undecided, ask them to give your candidate a 2nd look and give them ONE specific reason why.

6. Give them some validation as an individual for doing the right thing (especially if they switch their vote to your candidate). I tell them that the campaign loves and appreciates them for their support. People seem to appreciate that so much! I've had people tell me that they were changing their minds just because I said that. People love to matter.

7. Don't say anything if it isn't sincere. People can tell if you're for real.

8. Have a light-hearted approach to your calls. Let folks know that you enjoy talking to them. If you are calling into different states, let them know how it is in your state!

9. Be aware that time is important. Sometimes you get people who want to get in a spirited debate about politics and how the country is going to hell in a hand basket. Try to keep moving because it's your job to reach as many voters as possible in the time you have.

10. Always try to get in a mention of who you are campaigning for, even if it's only a "this call was paid for by Mitt Romney For President!"

I'm Determined To Stay Well This Year!

2012-01-09T21:01:00.001-07:00

The Flu Bug

I haven't heard a whole lot this year about pandemics or runaway flus. That's a great thing because I am trying to keep up my good fortune and I don't want it to run out. I haven't been seriously down-in-the-bed sick for well over 3 cold and flu seasons. And I'm around some of the worst carriers around--teen-age kids-- who come to school sometimes on their deathbeds just to be with friends, keep their grades up (this one, not so much), or sadly, just because there isn't anywhere better to go. Furthermore, I'm probably the most careless person around for putting hands on face during the day and/or not washing my hands as regularly as I could. I DO wash after going to the restroom, but then I may negate the whole process by opening the door without the aid of a paper towel. So, what has been the difference between me and others, who seem to get 1 or 2 contagious illnesses every year? I checked out an article in Prevention Magazine and I checked myself against the 10 check points they gave for staying well during this time of year.

1. Don't Stay Away From Others - Recent studies show that the ones who are most apt to get sick are the ones who isolate themselves from the outside world, whether it is because they are afraid of getting sick or are just not able to socialize. The most healthy individuals are those who have at least 6 social interactions daily! So, yes, I pass that test. I'm talking to many different people each day because of my job at Independence High School!

2. Get Enough Sleep - Adults need between 7 - 9 hours of sleep per day. OK, this is my absolute essential ritual. I crave sleep. I love sleep. I am selfish with sleep. People know that if they want to get along with me, they need to let me have my sleep. If I miss my sleep during the night, I will come home and take myself a lovely, afternoon nap. Actually, it's one of my favorite things to do. Incidentally, less than optimum sleep will lower your immune system. You can either get enough sleep now, or get the needed sleep as you are recuperating from an unwanted, uncomfortable illness...you choose.

3. Be More Of An Optimist - Apparently, and I do know this, those who are going around like Eeyore rather than Tigger are going to have more illnesses. Basically your brain power is a powerful partner to your immune function. How do I rate? I must admit, some days are better than others with this one. I'm actually going through some really hard things right now that can make me very sad if I dwell on it at any length and sometimes the only thing I can do is cry about it. (I miss you, Eddie and Joseph) Thankfully, I'm a generally happy person and when I psyche myself up, I'm able to handle things. I think the best way to get into that happy state of mind is to always remember that whatever you are going through, there is always someone else who has it way more difficult than yourself and to reach out to others (See #1).

4. Express Myself but do it positively - Whew! I need some work on that one. When something bothers me, I can express it, but it sometimes comes out more like a freight train roaring by instead of feeling like a spring breeze wafting through the trees. That's why a lot of times I just don't express myself at all and that's dangerous because I'm bottling it in. OK, I need some more help on self-expression. I want to able to express myself asseertively yet not come off as hard core or angry. I think that it takes a certain skill, if not an inborn talent to do that.

5. Stress - Is it possible to not be under stress these days? It seems like they're saying, though, that the ongoing stress is the bad one. If you can leave behind your day at work and come home and relax, then there's nothing wrong with that. But stress that is present day-in and day-out is really hard on the immune system. Grieving is a form of stress that takes its toll.. I recently went through about four months of grieving when my son moved out of our house. Empty nest syndrome is no picnic. But I'm OK now. I still get to see him once a week and I have been able to move on a bit.

6. Using My Own Stuff - Do you use your own keyboard? Your own pen? Things that pass from hand to hand are really dirty! Me? Yep, I use my own pen, but people come along and swipe it and then either put it back or never return it. I used to get a little irked when people swiped my pens. Maybe I should just be grateful they took it, and their germs, with them.

7. Exercise - People who don't exercise get sick more than those who don't. OK, I'm about 50-50 on that one. I like to put my feet up after work and don't like to get out much after that. It's especially hard in the winter, when it's so darn cold. But my dang dog is going to save me yet. I come home and she is waiting for me in the backyard, looking so dejected and forlorn. I know that she wants to go on a walk so badly that she can barely stand it. If I even look like I'm headed toward the door again, she will quietly start crying, hoping I'll pick up on her subtle hint. That's why I say 50-50. Half the time, I'm a real softie and will go get the leash and we'll head out for an adventure. The other half, I say, sorry girl, not this time, Mama's toooo tired!

8. Pollution and Ciggies don't help - first or secondhand smoke is bad for you. So stay away from it if possible. Your immune system will thank you for it. Ummmm....no problem. We have a no-tolerance policy for smoking or drugs in our High School. We don't smoke at home either. What we do have is bad air quality. In the winter, the Utah Valley gets clogged with smog, trapped in until a storm clears it out. Not the greatest to be out in, for sure.

9. Don't Know How To Use Antibiotics -The thing that is so scarey about using antibiotics w/o just cause is that it puts a strain on the whole community of antibiotic users and potential users, rendering many of them ineffective because the germs they were meant to kill now are resistant to them. Only use antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection and use the whole course. I haven't used antibiotics for years.

10. You've gotta laugh! This is going to really help boost those pheromones and immune assisting chemicals in your brain. Fortunately, I have a husband who is a big goof and he makes me laugh more often than not. I'm not saying that he never falls flat. And I let him know. I think it's his mission to try out his running comedy routines on me and if I give it a thumbs up, based on my laughter, he knows he's onto something. I wonder if fake laughing counts? I do a lot of that as well over at the high school, where kids think they are the funniest things since Bob Hope and I play along with it sometimes,albeit sometimes they are good too.

Really? Is that it? Wow! I think I do OK on most of those points. Not excellent, but OK. So what is it that has brought me such luck with the colds and the flus? Could it be genetic? I don't think so...Is it the fact that I take some really, really great vitamins and have done so for, get this, 20 years? Yep, I take Melaleuca Vitality For Life Vitamins and supplements and I'm thinking that they are pretty amazing as far as vitamins go.

But for whatever reason I have been spared, I'd like to go for another healthy year.

What are some things that you think make the difference when it comes to the cold and flu season? How do you do on the 10 points of prevention?

This article was written by me with no cash or other incentives.

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New Year's Celebration and $25 To Your PayPal #Giveaway!

2011-12-31T23:06:00.001-07:00

I'm launching a New Year's Giveaway to precede all the other great giveaways that I have planned for 2012! Have you noticed all of the blogs that are combining to give away great gift cards and PayPal cash? I've been a part of some of them and I've had a lot of fun. I will occasionally do more of them, but I really love the personal involvement I have when I do one of my own.
I just had a brief Twitter conversation with a blogger who I admire very much and we talked about making New Year's Resolutions. It was about whether or not we were making resolutions this year. At the end of the giveaway I'll let you know if I made any and if so, what they are. If I didn't, I'll tell you why. In the meantime, I want to know if you've made any New Year's Resolutions! So go ahead, enter for the chance to win that extra $25 to your PayPal account and here's to 2012 and all of our hopes and dreams! May they come true for you!

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How Much Should I Pay For Pants?

2011-12-30T19:22:00.003-07:00

The holidays have taken a toll on my hips and thighs and so I went a-browsing to see what I might find in the way of some new pants. I happened to remember a really trendy site, which I remembered had lots of options for the above-mentioned. I love looking at clothes! I'm not much different from the majority of the female sex when it comes to that. A few years ago, when I was even more on a budget than I am now, I had a Singer sewing machine and I became obsessed with going to WalMart and looking at all the Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls, Vogue and other sewing patterns in the craft section. I would then pick out the patterns and material that I thought were so cute and sew my own clothing and even make clothing for my son. I rationalized that I was saving money. I was actually paying about the same price as I would if I were just buying my clothes from WalMart. But I had a little bit of the designer going on in me and it satisfied the OCD/ADD in me which needed to obsess on something. I wish I saved some of my creations because there were some real doozies! And I wore them with pride because I had created them. Anyway, back to the site that I was visiting. I won't name any names because I'm not out to hate on any sites or for that matter, promote any. But seriously, would you pay this much for a pair of bloomers? And I don't fault you if you would, 'cause sometimes you just gotta have it! But for realsies, while I think some of these creations would be just the ticket to hide my surge in poundage due to the holidays, would I be willing to plunk down this kind of lettuce? Take a look:


Let's start with these red beauties	at $253


These are a bit more flashy, so $425

I can tell you that I'm liking these pants - plenty of room for disguising my more-than-ever generous hips. No one would ever know. I think I could even hide a small child in there as well. Is it worth it, I ask? Here are some more options:

Pretty gorgeous, no? $845


These would be my skinny pants	later - $895

Maybe I... should make it a theme in

blue and get two pairs. One pair for now and one pair for later when I'm much, much thinner!

And finally, a study in price extremes. We have the budget pants alongside the priciest pair of the lot!

A steal at $104?

These are oh, so cute! But $1,215 cute?

Any advice for a gal who needs...a pair of pants to make her feel great after the holidays? Maybe I should just go back to WalMart and buy the clothes off the rack this time...

Reflection - Things Look Brighter After Today

2011-12-22T21:15:00.007-07:00

We passed Winter Solstice today and thank goodness! The days will get a little longer from here on out! The Winter Solstice occurred early this morning, marking the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. There is only one place I want to be during the shortest day of the year and that is in front of my fireplace in the den, watching T.V. I know, I should be out doing last minute Christmas shopping and getting those last minute deals, but it's just too cold and dark after about 5:30 p.m. But at least I don't live in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. For people who live there, it's dark 24-7. I'm also glad that I am off for the Christmas Break. I work about 38 hours a week at a high school as a special education para educator. So this was my first day off for a 2-week vacation!

I actually look at Winter Solstice maybe a little differently than some. I know that it is an ancient Celtic celebration and even some traditional Christmas symbols can also be traced to the ancient celebrations of Solstice. For instance, lights and candles were put out to ward off the darkness and encourage the coming of Spring during Solstice. I love the Celtic influence in Christmas celebrations. I have Scottish ancestry and very much appreciate watching the 'Celtic Women' Christmas PBS Special each year. For me, it is one of the things I look forward to every year.

Since we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ very soon, I look at today, this most dark of days and ask myself what it was like for the world before the Savior was born. The world's inhabitants had no way to save themselves from their own sins. We are taught that nothing can dwell in the presence of God that isn't perfect. And since all of us sin, man was doomed to live outside of Heaven and dwell in their sins forever, spiritually dead. How dark was that? I'd say it couldn't get much more. How much it meant to the world when finally the Savior was born, the only one who would be able to save the world from its sins. Because of His birth, the world came out of darkness and was given hope.

"Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.
Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.
Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.
Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.
Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life." -Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

And so, Winter Solstice is a very fitting preliminary event to Christmas, reminding me of how dark the world was before Christ's birth and how much brighter the world was, after His birth. May you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy it in the ways that are special to you! Thanks for letting me share!

$25 to MyBabyClothes.com {Giveaway} #Rafflecopter

2011-12-15T22:01:00.002-07:00

I was so excited to work with MyBabyClothes.com. I have a sister who just had her 3rd sweet little boy! He came in October and is just so adorable. He had the most amazing head of hair right out of the hospital. Now, little nephew #3 is the proud owner of the Mud Pie Little Angel Lounge Set (I love the little angel wings on the back)!

I think that she should enjoy him while he is little, sleeping and cooing and adoring her. Before long, he'll be into everything, making messes, throwing things, and pitching fits. Then it would probably be more fitting to suit him up in a little devil's outfit. But for now, the angel label is more than fitting! He also got the Baby Deer Taupe Suede Shoes! I got them just a tad large, 6 - 9 months, so he could wear them later on. But they are actually not that big on him. He'll be wearing them really soon. Probably before spring!

At any rate, we both were thrilled with the quality of the items. I was really happy with how quickly the baby clothes were shipped and delivered. My sister was happy with the quality of the items. She did say, however, that the items run small. The little angel outfit was for 3 - 6 months. Angel boy has got a few more days before he hits 3 months and he probably won't fit into the outfit by 5 months. (Of course he was 8 lbs. 15 oz. when he was born, so quite a big fellow).
Just a word, too, about the little girl section of this great store! They have the most adorable things, like Tutus and Baby Headbands! For instance, if I had a little girl, I'd want to put her into this little outfit! I think that for $29.99, it's a great bargain!

The Mud Pie Chiffon Tiered Dress

And for both little boys and little girls, check out their baby hats!

So funny and cute! Makes me smile!

One final thought--do you have a cute little one who would be oh, so cute in front of a camera? You should enter the Cutest Baby Photo of 2011 Contest! You could win $150 to MyBabyClothes.com! Submissions run until December 31st and voting begins on January 1st of 2012! Just go to MyBabyClothes on Facebook and enter!

It was Alex Liz Robinson's lucky day! Entry # 156 - Congratulations! Thanks, everyone, for entering! Stop by after New Year's for more great giveaways and fun!

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Snow Day

2011-12-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks for this post from Sylvester Campbell

This morning, I woke up and there was a ton of snow outside. I have lived out West before and know how to deal with the snow, but there was so much this morning and no one was stirring. The roads hadn’t been scraped and everything looked like a winter wonderland. New England is usually really prepared for the snow, and I had heard something on the news about there being a storm. I just never expected to log onto wireless internet New Brunswick and visit my school’s website and see that classes had been cancelled. I haven’t seen a snow day since I was a kid. When I was a kid I used to hope and pray that school would be cancelled because of a snow storm. Now, as an adult and teacher, I usually assume that we are going to have classes. That means I still have to prepare lessons and grade papers as if we were going to have to go into work the next day. The snow day was actually really nice and relaxing. It was a good surprise. I will just have to be careful not to get my hopes up for another when the next storm rolls through New England.

#Giveaway For A Kindle Touch! #Rafflecopter PLUS $50 to Amazon

2011-12-01T18:20:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Winter Wonderland Giveaway Event. I have partnered up with lots of different and wonderful bloggers to bring you some fabulous prizes, just in time for the Holiday Season!

Giveaway starts December 2nd at 12:01 AM EST to December 15th at 12:01 AM EST. Giveaway winners will be announced through the Rafflecopter widget and notified by email by the end of the day on December 17th, 2011. Winners must reply to email notification within 48 hours of delivery, or a new winner will be chosen.

Participating Blogs that made these giveaways possible:

Pink Dandy Chatter
Outnumbered Mama
PS Mom Reviews
Pawsitive Living
Spilled Milkshake
Thrifty Divas
Indiana Coupon Savings
Social Studies Momma
The Frugal Mom
Debs Dealz
Mamalou's Gems
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
Disney Contests and Sweepstakes
$uper $avin' Momma
Personalized Sketches and Sentiments
Half-Pint House Handouts
Horseshoes
Chitown Cheapskate
Get Outta My Head Please
Capturing Magical Memories
Finger Click Saver
Tenuous Thoughts of Candy
Reading Teen
Sober Julie Doing Life
One Busy Moma
All In One Mom
Luv Saving Money
Jenny At Dapperhouse
My Secret Home
Black, Divorced and Virtuous
A Gal Needs...
Mommy2Nanny3Doggy1
Sweeping The USA
Between The Lines
Mommies and Beyond
Crunchy Beach Mama
Savin' It Up
Mayra Calvani
The Working Writer's Club
Counting My Kisses
Lily's Laundry
Thrifty Mommas Tips
Yummy Boy Mummy

GIVEAWAY PRIZES:

* Winner will receive one Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display Kindle Touch

*This giveaway is open to the US Only

*There will be 1 winner chosen to win this giveaway

***

* Winner will receive one $50 gift card to use at Amazon.com

*This giveaway is open to the US Only

*There will be 1 winner chosen to win this giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENDS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH AT 12:01 AM EST

GOOD LUCK!!!

Simply Eden Bath & Body Christmas #Giveaway #Rafflecopter

2011-11-28T21:47:00.004-07:00

When I am looking for a great gift, I look for something that won't end up in the re-gift pile the week after I give it to someone. And for that to happen, the gift needs to be unique, useful and beautiful. This year, I think I've found that in Simply Eden Bath & Body! Simply Eden is a Bath & Body Delight! It is for the discerning soap connoisseur and for the budget-conscious luxury lover. It is for those with the most sensitive skin and for those who simply love sumptuous suds. And that is why it is such a great fit for many people. I'd tell you all about the benefits of goat milk soap but I think Athena does it best on her site. I WILL tell you, however, that I now know a bit of the history of soap that I didn't know before. It is quite fascinating.

I counted no less than 37 different fragrances of soap in the soap section! The names intrigue my scent imagination--Apples & Oak, Mistletoe & Ivy, Orchid Rain, Cucumber Melon, Georgia Peach or Spiced Rum! And the soap is so beautiful! It is swirled with colors that match the particular scent!

I was also able to try the Black Raspberry Vanilla Body Butter, the Simply Radiant Face Cream, the Holy Goat Soap (with Frankincense and Myrrh) and the Hair Sculpting Wax. I was so impressed and wowed with each of these exceptional products. So much so, that I made another order for Christmas for my 2 sisters and 2 nieces! I know they will definitely love the body butter! It definitely won't be going in the re-gift pile!

Simply Eden and A GAL NEEDS... are teaming up to bring you a great giveaway, either for yourself or a fabulous Christmas gift for someone you love!

One reader will receive their choice of 2 soaps, a body butter and lotion! (ARV $40) You can enter to win in the Rafflecopter form below!

Congratulations to the winner - entrant #42, Kasee Johnson!

#Win Gourmet Gift Baskets Christmas Classic Gift Basket! #Giveaway

2011-11-25T22:54:00.002-07:00

I love Gourmet Gift Baskets because it makes it so easy to convey a special message to someone special! Last March I got to take the Snack Classic Gift Basket ($59.99) to school and had my class rate it. You just know they loved sampling all the yummies in it. It got a thumbs up!

Some others I'd love to try are:

Soups and Crocks Gift Basket $79.99

The Holiday Sweets & Treats Gift Basket $49.99

Day In Paris Gift Basket $99.99


Chocolate Gift Basket Premium $99.99 Sweet Decadence!

But enough day dreaming and on to business! A lucky winner will receive a Christmas Gift Basket Classic ($59.99)! It has some great food in it, like Almond Pecan-dy Crunch by Morley Candy Makers (so good, I've tasted it!), Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies by J & M Foods and Buttered Peanut Crunch by Old Dominion Peanut Company!

A Kindle Fire Giveaway!

2011-11-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to have one of these babies since they started promoting them at Amazon! Unfortunately, nada as of yet! However, the very next best thing is to go in with some other great bloggers and give one away to one of you! Plus, the lucky winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card to use in any way they'd like! (Maybe some great downloads for your Kindle Fire!) Please take a few moments to enter here!

Chevy Impala

2011-11-24T23:16:00.002-07:00

Do you have a fond memory of a particular car your parents had when you were a kid? I sure do! It was a baby blue 1956 Cadillac. Now, one of these cars in good shape is worth a lot! Back then, for me, it was just embarrassing. I didn't like being seen in a baby blue car. I remember actually ducking my head if I saw someone I knew. But my Dad loved it so much! He drove it until it finally died. I was so glad to not have to be riding in it anymore. But now, I wish I could find another one and just give it to my Dad. I know he would act like the guy in this video did!

BTW, no one asked me to post this video featuring a Chevrolet car. I received no compensation of any kind for posting this.

Holiday Cash Bash! $100 PayPal Cash

2011-11-23T20:26:00.006-07:00

Welcome to the Holiday Cash Bash! It's sponsored by Chicn Savvy Reviews et al and will run until November 30th! Thanks to 10 bloggers, they are excited to offer a lucky winner $100 to their Paypal Account! Enter here and have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Thanks to all of the blogs that participated and helped contribute to this great holiday giveaway!

Black Friday Cash Giveaway

2011-11-14T18:20:00.003-07:00

This Giveaway organized and brought to you by A Well Being and The Busy Woman’s Guide to Surviving Motherhood

Need a Little Extra Spending Money this Holiday Season – How about a LOT? Enter to win $500 Cash (via PayPal). Several Bloggers and Businesses have joined together to make your Black Friday the best yet!

Using the Rafflecopter below – all you have to do is “Like”, Follow, Subscribe and/or tweet as directed. You can do all or just some of the entries. Please note that all entries are subject to verification and must be complete (this especially applies to email subscription – you must confirm your subscription for it to count).

The $500 Black Friday Cash Giveaway starts on Monday November 14^th, 2011 12:01AM EST and ends on Wednesday November 23^rd, 2011 11:59AM EST

Here is a list of all Participating Blogs and Businesses:

The Busy Woman’s Guide to Surviving Motherhood
A Well Being
A GAL NEEDS...
KidClings
It Works - Jessica Pena
LaMomba
Thrifty Divas
Multitasking – All Day, Everyday…
Sapphire Says It All
Mamalou’s Gems
Sprinkle Me Pink
Indiana Coupon Savers
Debs Dealz
Spilled Milkshake
Learn How to Crochet
Learn How to Make Bows
Debras Dollars
Music and Mommies
Pink Dandy Chatter
A Traveling Thought
Sweet Peas & Buddies
Newly Wed, Newly Bred
It Works! - Desirea Garcia
Burning Moon

Best of Luck! Open Internationally – all you need is a PayPal ID to receive payment!

Day #3 - 12 Days of Shabby Apple Discounts

2011-11-14T13:41:00.001-07:00

The beautiful Shabby Apple dress that is featured today for the 12 days of Shabby Apple discounts is a throwback to the roaring twenties. This fully-lined cotton sateen skirt sports tier after tier of flapper fringe that shifts and swings as you saunter your way through the streets (of old Paris?) in search of the next great dinner party. Cut in a classic pencil shape and falling just to the knee, it is a seasonless surprise at any special event. It's the Tambourin #18 Silver Fringe Skirt and the code to be entered at checkout is Day3. Normally priced at $78.00, the code will get you 25% off - today only. So if you love, love this skirt, now is the time to get it!

12 Days of Shabby Apple Discount Codes!

2011-11-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Shabby Apple is doing 12 days of deep discounts - one dress for each day! I missed telling you about Day 1, which was yesterday, but today, Day #2, is a gorgeous dress! It is the French Quarter Dress and you get 25% off today only if you use 'Day2' as the code! So check out Shabby Apple and the rest of their beautiful dresses. If you absolutely love the French Quarter Dress, today would be the day to get it! It's in the All That Jazz section, normally selling for $96! Check back tomorrow for the dress of the day!

A Toast To 2012 Giveaway Hop

2011-11-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

First it was blog hops, blog memes, then it was Follow Fridays and now the latest blog fun and building tool for you is the group giveaway with huge prizes at stake! I'm afraid I have caught the bug and find myself entering and/or participating in at least 1 every month or so! One that just came to my attention is Toast To 2012, brought to us by Just Married With Coupons & Sweep Tight! This will be occurring January 10th - 17th! If you are a blogger, visit one of the blogs mentioned and sign up. You can either write your own original post or you can sign up for $5.00!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas Carnival Event!

2011-11-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

It is a perfect time to find what gifts you would like to give to your mother. Makobi Scribe is proud to present Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Carnival Event from May 10 12:01 PM EST to May 18 at 12:01 PM EST and is accepting signups now.

These events are huge for bloggers because of the traffic that flows to their sites. This is a great chance to have enough time to get some great sponsors to participate!

Ugly Trailer Antiques {Giveaway}

2011-11-07T21:54:00.002-07:00

Sometimes the most interesting things are found in the most remote spots! Case in point, Ugly Trailor Antiques in Hurricane, UT! I've heard a lot about this little spot in the Southern Utah desert town and evidently it is quite the tourist attraction, let alone place to get great memorabilia from many different eras. Fred and Sue Thomas have put their talents together to create this unique little place that oozes hospitality, charm and fun! It is a very easy stop to make if you are on your way to or from Zion's, Bryce, or even Grand Canyon National Parks. Also, St. George, UT is about 20 miles from Hurricane.

It's rather hard to miss the company's trademark "ugly trailor", parked in the front of the store. The location itself has a lot of history behind it. It was the Hurricane Jail for 50 years, from 1920 to 1970 and the restroom is a converted jail cell along with an iron bar door.

The whole antique store boasts 22,000 square feet. Besides finding their own pieces, the owners also do consignment and as a result, have almost everything you can imagine. Plus, the prices are extremely reasonable!

"if you like to walk down memory
lane, this is the place to do it"

"It was so much fun! Like visiting
your grandparents home!"

The different rooms are themed and so, if you come knowing what you'd like to find, chances are you'll definitely find it! The holidays
are especially busy for Ugly Trailor Antiques because
many people want to find the perfect unique gift for
the discerning antiquer in their life. They have 30-day layaway to make it easy!

Fred and Sue Thomas, owners of Ugly Trailor Antiques would be pleased to give one lucky reader a $20 store credit for any item of their choosing! To enter, please complete the mandatory entry and any other extra entries you'd like to do, maximizing your chances of winning! Please comment on each entry you completed. One comment is equal to one entry.

Mandatory: Tell me what kinds of memorabilia would be fun to collect?

(+3 entries) Visit Ugly Trailor on Trip Advisor and "like" the post there!
(+3 entries) Like Ugly Trailor Antiques on FB!

Tweet this - #Giveaway-Near St. George, #Utah? Stop by Ugly Trailor Antiques in Hurricane! 22,000 sq ft of pure nostalgia! #Win $20 to shop! @melahelen (Can do this daily for an extra entry daily! Leave the tweet link each time!)

(+3 entries) Follow me on GFC!

(+3 entries) Follow @Melahelen on Twitter!

(+3 entries) Follow me on Networked Blogs!

(+5 entries) Spread the word through posting on a linky, Facebook, your blog, Stumble or any other form of publicity you can think of! Just leave me the link where you did it!
Follow my Giveaway Listings Blog!

Giveaway will end on November 27th. Must be 18 years of age or older. Open to U.S. Winner will be selected through random number generator and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 72 hours. I received no form of compensation whatsoever. I have not yet been to this location, although I intend to go soon! Thank you for partiicpating!

The Jeremy Robinson Kindle Culmination and Questions Answered

2011-10-28T00:01:00.026-06:00

Here are my questions, answered by Jeremy Robinson on the last day of his book tour! Books by Jeremy Robinson include 'Pulse' and 'Instinct.' These books are high fantasy adventure, very well-received by Young Adult readers. And since lately I've enjoyed the Young Adult Genre more than others, I intend to check these books out. Not to generate any confusion at all, but he also goes by Jeremy Bishop and has a whole other set of books in another genre, and that includes 'Sentinel', a great horror read about a ship and other scary things. So with only a Happy Halloween to you, without further ado, Jeremy Robinson!

Welcome to Jeremy Robinson’s Great Kindle Giveaway and Blog Tour.

“Hurray for free Kindles!” you say, but who the hell is Jeremy Robinson? Allow me to introduce myself. I’m the author of eleven mixed genre novels, published in ten languages, including the popular fantasy YA series, THE LAST HUNTER, and the fast-paced Jack Sigler series (also known as Chess Team—not nearly as nerdy as it sounds), PULSE, INSTINCT and THRESHOLD from Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press. I’m the co-author of an expanding series of novellas deemed the Chesspocalypse, which take place in the Chess Team universe. If that doesn’t wet your whistle, I’m also known as Jeremy Bishop, the #1 Amazon.com horror author of THE SENTINEL and the controversial novel, TORMENT. For more about me, or my books, visit www.jeremyrobinsononline.com.

I have watched for years as my fellow authors held online events called blog tours. Some would visit ten blogs. Others, as many as ninety. And every day they would bring something different, waxing eloquent about a multitude of topics. When I finally decided to have a blog tour of my own, and settled on doing each and every weekday in October, my first thought was, “This will be cool,” which was immediately followed up by, “Holy crap, I can’t think of something interesting to say twenty times in one month!” I can barely think of something worthwhile for my own blog just once a month. The solution is what follows; each blog participating in the tour could ask me ANY three questions. That means, if the subject matter bores you, I’m not to blame! Huzzah!

But fear not. There are other rewards for sloughing through the questions and answers. I’ll be giving away two Kindles to two randomly selected readers who sign up for my newsletter. Details on the giveaway can be found below. On to the Q&A!

1) When you come up with an idea for a book, how much of a pre-writing process goes into it?

Well, the time between idea and actual writing of a novel can be years. Literally. For example, if I came up with an idea today, and decided I absolutely had to write it, I couldn’t until after writing: ISLAND 731 (due out in 2013), RAGANAROK (Chess Team book 4), the final two LAST HUNTER books, and a new Jeremy Bishop novel. So there are at least five novels that have to come first, not to mention a few ideas already in the cache. But this is the true test of the idea. I may love it today, but will I love it a year from now? Two years from now? Some concepts that I think are great fall flat a few months later. Those that still interest me after this percolation period are the ones that get written. My book TORMENT (writer as Jeremy Bishop) stayed on my mind for five years before I had a chance to write it!

If the book moves ahead to writing, I generally spend about a month on research, usually while editing a previously finished novel. While researching, I’ll come up with names and bios for the main characters using the character worksheets from my only non-fiction book, THE SCREENPLAY WORKBOOK. I’ll keep those next to me as I write in case I forget the color of someone’s eyes. Sometimes I’ll write an outline, but usually only when its required of me by the publisher. I tend to know how I want to end things, but tend out outline just a few chapters out at a time. I like to throw in surprises and find that they work best when they’re a surprise to me, too, so I don’t like to lay everything out, and if I do, I tend to then ignore it. And then, the writing starts! For me, it’s usually a pretty quick prep period because I’ve been thinking about the story for years and have a pretty good idea of what I want to write.

2) How important is research when writing your books?

On a scale of one to ten, I’d say research ranks a seven for me. There are general details about locations, history and science that authors should get right, especially if they’re well known or established fact. Getting that kind of stuff wrong can pull a reader out of the story pretty quickly. But this is also fiction, so there has to be some room for imagination. The author should be able to add buildings that don’t exist, or streets, or even entire towns (like Stephen King does). The real key is to do enough research so that you can convince the reader that you know more about the topic than they do. That way, when you slip in something that’s fiction, the reader doesn’t notice. And for this reason, no matter how educated a reader feels after finishing a novel, they shouldn’t trust the information. It’s likely that at least a portion of the history, science or location details are fictional. So for me, research is important and helps frame the story, but if something doesn’t line up perfectly, I have no qualms about altering the real world, short of changing the laws of physics. Well, most of the time.

3) What is your general daily routine when writing a book?

I tend to spend my mornings working on non-writing aspects of the business. Marketing, edits, interviews (like this one) are all completed by lunch. And if they’re not completed, they get pushed back to the next day. Because once I’m done eating lunch, I switch gears to writing and generally pump out two chapters a day between the hours of 12:30 and 5:00. It’s a pretty rigid routine, but it helps me keep up with the ridiculous number of novels I’ve decided to write every year (five). Since I started working with a group of co-authors on the Chess Team novellas, CALLSIGN: KING, CALLSIGN: QUEEN, etc, I’m now editing most nights, too. There are seven novellas coming out in 2011 (three are out now) so there is always something to take the red pen to. The last week has been surreal. I’ve been doing edits for my next hardcover novel, SECONDWORLD, for Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press in the morning, writing my next YA novel, THE LAST HUNTER – ASCENT in the afternoons, and then acting as editor on CALLSIGN: BISHOP at night. Bouncing back and forth between all these very different worlds is sometimes confusing, but it’s also very fun.

Hope that was as good for you as it was for me. Now how about that kindle giveaway?

Here’s the deal: to be entered to win one of two free kindles all you have to do is visit my website—www.jeremyrobinsononline.com—and sign up for the newsletter. That’s it. The first kindle will go to a randomly chosen newsletter signup on October 31. For the second kindle, there’s a catch. The second giveaway will only be triggered if one of my kindle books hits the Amazon.com bestseller list (top 100). So pick up some books (most are just $2.99 a pop) and spread the word! If one of the books squeaks up to #100 for just a single hour, the second kindle will be given away to another randomly chosen newsletter sign up on October 31.

*When you sign up for the newsletter, be sure to include the name of the blog that referred you in the field provided. I’ll be giving away two $50 Amazon.com gift certificates to the blog that refers the most sign-ups and another to the blog who referred the first kindle winner.

** I will announce winners via Twitter, Facebook, my blog, and newsletter (which you will be signed up for!) but I’ll also e-mail the winners directly—I’ll need to know where to ship those kindles!

Thanks for spending some time with me today. Hope you enjoyed the Q&A, and good luck with the kindle giveaway!

-- Jeremy Robinson

In Honor Of The Ta Ta's Giveaway Hop! #Rafflecopter Giveaway

2011-10-21T01:40:00.006-06:00

In honor of this pink month, I have gone as pink as I can! I have a prize package from Simply Eden and Bombay Fashions!

Bombay Fashions is the premier online one-stop destination for affordable fashion jewelry and accessories! They recently introduced the Bella Collection, a large selection of statement earrings, bangles and necklaces! Although prices vary, the average price of the pieces is $20! Very reasonable, if I do say so myself! Their earrings in the Bella Collection average only $5.00, but they are so cute and there is such a big selection. With the way I lose earrings, this would be a smart idea. I could buy a few pairs and not be out too much if I were to break up a pair here and there.

One celebrity who really likes Bombay Fashions is Oprah Winfrey! She wears the orange gold bracelet ($13.39) for her current publicity shot for her OWN Network. She has also worn many of Bombay Fashions for her "O" Magazine cover shots!
Right now, to celebrate the festive season of Diwali, which is now here, Bombay Fashions is automatically taking off an additional 25% from all merchandise, which will be automatically deducted at check-out!
__________________________________________________

Simply Eden Goat-Milk Soaps and Bath & Body Products are simply amazing. They are hand-made using quality ingredients without all of the harsh chemicals and detergents that commercial products contain. The soaps are made with the the cold-process method, which requires at least a four-week cure period to ensure a mild, luxurious bar of soap.Athena uses goat milk due to its mild cleansing, as well as moisturizing properties. All of her soaps are made with recipes that she has formulated, using skin-nourishing oils such as Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, and even Hemp Seed Oil or the exotic Babassu oil. In addition, all of the oils that she uses are sustainable and do not contribute to the deforestation of the rain forests.

Simply Eden's Bath & Body products are delicious and smell so good. The soaps are amazing and the Body Mousse is delectable! For more information, please refer to my review and to the Simply Eden website!

GIVEAWAY: One reader will receive a prize package from Bombay Fashions and Simply Eden worth at least $50! You will receive your choice of two items from Bombay fashions from their Bella Collection and you will also receive a Black Raspberry Vanilla Body Mousse and matching Black Raspberry Vanilla Goat-Milk Soap!
Just complete the giveaway on the Rafflecopter entry form! There will be one mandatory entry and the rest of the entries are optional. Also, don't forget to visit all of the other blogs that are participating in this Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Hop! Best of luck to everyone!

Jeremy Robinson's Great #Kindle #Giveaway Blog Tour!

2011-10-20T15:25:00.003-06:00

I am a lucky participant of the Jeremy Robinson month-long blog tour. He will be visiting 28 blogs during the month of October, one for every week-day. I'm #28 and therefore, he will be visiting me on October 28th. He will answer 3 questions I posed to him about writing. He writes for several genres, including Horror, Young Adult Literature Science Thriller (Chess Team Universe or Chesspocalypse), and Humor.

At the end of this month, he will be giving out two kindles purchased at Amazon.com! One will be given out to a random newsletter subscriber and another one will be given out if one of his books reaches the Amazon best-seller list (top 100)! Check out THE SENTINEL!

To enter, go to his blog, check out his books, sign up for his newsletter and tell him that #28 sent you! (That's me!) 'Cause if I send the most subscriber's, I'll get an Amazon gift card! Woo hoo!!!

Also, stop by on the 28th to see what questions I asked him and what his answers to me will be! I've always been curious about the book-writing process so my questions will have something to do with that. Jeremy ought to have some knowledge on the subject since he has authored 11 books so far and is working on at least a dozen more! (OK, I don't know if it's a dozen. I do know that he's working on at least several.)

Winners will be announced on Twitter, Facebook, his blog, my blog and his newsletter (which you will hopefully be signed up to!)

Murad Skin Review and Giveaway!

2011-10-17T21:43:00.006-06:00

When looking for a good skincare product, I look for a few things--one of them is company reputation, another is track record and yet another is cutting edge technology that is effective. Murad seems to have all of those things. That's why I thought I'd give it a shot.

Complete Skin Renewal Set

Renewing Eye Cream

I was able to try the Renewing Eye Cream and the Complete Skin Renewal Set. That is a total of 5 products and I will tell you which two were my absolute favorites.

Renewing Eye Cream: This cream is very dense and has substance. A little bit goes a long way. I really love it and it is one of the two products that I very highly recommend. It is the best eye cream I have ever used. It seems a bit pricey at $73, but it ships for free and a little goes a long way, so it will last a long while. I noticed a difference in the elasticity around my eyes and the dark circles were diminished.

The Complete Skin Renewal Set ($42) consists of Refreshing Cleanser, Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30, Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture and Complete Reform. All of the products were excellent (!!!), but the one that stood out above the rest for me was the Complete Reform. Again, I noticed the firmness of my skin, namely the jaw area and the neck area, take on a measured improvement and I was quite impressed! When I put it on, there is just the slightest tingle. Complete Reform is a "patented treatment shown to increase the firmness of the skin by 61% after just one application while also improving skin texture to reveal softer, smoother skin." Buy this product in it's full size for $67 with free shipping and enter the code COMPLETE for an additional free gift from Murad.

Murad has a great beauty blog called 'Skin Deep' that is well-updated and quite informative! Today's article is about 3 must-have ingredients in an anti-aging product. Check it out!

Without further ado, Murad would like to give someone the same products I received for their own use and enjoyment, a $115 value. To enter, please complete the mandatory entry of being my GFC Follower and also visit Murad and find a product you'd like to try different from the ones I mentioned. Leave your product find in the comment section along with your GFC Name. Then proceed through the rest of the Rafflecopter Entry form for more entries if you'd like to increase your chances of winning!

Simply Eden Bath & Body Products - Review and Upcoming Giveaway!

2011-10-15T23:47:00.001-06:00

I was so lucky to be able to try some products from Simply Eden! A little goat farm with sweet little goats, whose milk has been used to make the most delicious bath and body products! My favorites are:
Grapefruit Peppermint Essential Oils Goat-Milk Lotion. ($14) This lotion smells so refreshing and invigorates me when I put it on. It sinks into my skin and it becomes baby soft. It is an amazing skin boost!

Black Raspberry Vanilla Goat-Milk Body Mousse. ($9) This is like a whipped topping that melts into the skin leaving the most yummy lingering scent. It comes with a matching goat-milk soap! There are a variety of scented Body Mousse to choose from, all amazing!
Raspberries and Cream Lip Balm. ($3.25) Wonderful lip treatment! It makes my lips feel super soft and supple. Contains mango butter and is lightly tinted!
Red Rock Cedar Goat-Milk Soap! ($5.75) This soap feels and smells amazing! It's raw cut and handmade. The goat milk and oils in the soap make the skin feel wonderful! My husband loves this soap and it smells so good! I also love the Grapefruit Peppermint Essential Oils Soap!
Athena is the master soap maker and matron of the farm. Much love and care goes into the making of her products. She started making them because she was very sensitive to regular products and needed to have alternatives for her own use. Lucky for those who try her products that she didn't stop with herself. She lovingly shares her products with friends near and far. Her little goat farm may need to be expanded if many more people hear about these products.
I love her idea for parties and baby showers. She makes soap cupcakes and bundt cakes! Guests can leave with a take-home gift of a "slice" of soap cake! How cute and unique!
Athena, at Simply Eden, will be awarding someone a Raspberry Vanilla Goat-Milk Soap and a Raspberry Vanilla Body mousse when we participate in the upcoming In Honor Of The Ta Ta's Giveaway Event Hop on October 21 - 24!

My Latest Timed Mile Run

2011-10-15T11:14:00.006-06:00

I posted earlier about a really easy way to predict the kind of health you will have in your later years. All you have to do is do a mile run and look at the time you did it in. So, I thought I was in fairly great shape because I take my dog on runs, am not seriously overweight and can still do the splits. But my time earlier this summer wasn't great, that's for sure. So I vowed to do something about it. I did, until I started back to work at the high school and since then I've been absolutely horrible about keeping up my cardio. But thanks to Alice, my Alternative HS's Physical Education Teacher (and my well-respected friend), I decided to do a timed run again with her students. She has started making her own students accountable for their cardiovascular health by doing several timed runs during the school year and measuring improvement!
    Thursday morning was a crisp fall morning as we made our way out to the river trail, which is adjacent to our small school. I had made one discovery since my earlier timed run. If I stop, it's really hard to start back up again. So I promised myself I wouldn't stop, no matter what. If I was doing the old-lady two-step shuffle by the time I was through, so be it, I wasn't going to stop.
   Alice's whistle blew, and off I went, along with about 25 other students. It was so funny. Everyone blew by me. I just knew that I was going to be so humiliated and come in dead last. Oh well, this wasn't to impress anyone. I just wanted to see if I could beat my last time. Darn, now I was regretting my negligence about working out these past 3 weeks. I just kept telling myself, "don't stop, don't stop, whatever you do. You've been through childbirth, nothing can top that, you're a strong woman...."
    It wasn't long before I noticed that some of the kids were walking and that I was passing them! I also noticed that when they saw that I was passing them, they started back up. I guess it WOULD be the ultimate humiliation to have someone as old as their mom or even older, passing them up. And so we kept going. I reached the halfway point, took the candy from the lady, to prove that I had indeed reached the halfway point, and started back. I passed more winded students up, and then I saw the finish line. I had enough in me to speed up as I crossed.
When it was all said and done, I increased my original time by over a minute! I'm super excited and it did a lot for my motivation. This morning I took my dog out for a trail run/walk and enjoyed it immensely! Have a wonderful fall! You can do it too!

Relief For Those Living With Constant Pain

2011-10-12T20:42:00.000-06:00

I feel really badly for those of us who have to live in constant pain. I certainly am no stranger to pain, having survived a serious head injury about 6 years ago, where I am fortunate to be alive, let alone not brain-damaged. I've been through childbirth in all its glory, and banged my shins countless times because of my extreme clumsiness! But constant pain is a whole different thing. Whether it is from an accident, a physical condition or side effects of another problem, constant pain is with you every second of the day. My life would be severely curtailed if I had to deal with constant pain every single day. Many people rely on drugs for a short period of time, but when the pain turns into a long-term condition, drugs would not be the way to go, for obvious reasons. One would be making a bad situation worse because of the great possibility of addiction.
There are several methods that can effectively help alleviate pain, one of these is using Muscle Stimulators, which give similar results as physical therapy to the affected area but without the discomfort of post exercise. Tens Units are also very effective in helping patients control pain. They work by strategically placing electrodes at the site of the pain. Electrical current travels through the electrodes and into the skin simulating nerve pathways to produce a tingling or massaging sensation. This helps the brain block the perception of pain by controlling the message it receives. It is also believed to produce endorphins similar to what drugs produce, but without the dangers of addiction! If you want to get an extra pain-zapping effect, you can combine the two above methods with the LG-Tec Dual Combo TENS Unit And Muscle Stimulator. Visit LGMedSupply Online to get prices of different pain units. Thousands of customers worldwide have been helped by LGMedSupply, and their specific goal of helping alleviate pain. Additional information about them can be found at their online customer blog!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Going To College After 30

2011-10-06T21:46:00.003-06:00

    I got my degree from college after I turned 30. Before I went back, I wondered if the "college kids" would think I was still one of the cool kids. I had 2 small children of my own and really didn't fit into the party scene or the "hey, let's hang out after class" group. I had responsibilities and a family to get back to.
It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life! The college kids did accept me and I enjoyed it more than when I was with my peers right out of HS or, in my case, Junior College. I related so much better with my professors and could see their point of view to a greater extent.
The only drawback was the distance I had to travel. I lived in Floyd, VA and I attended class in Radford, VA. It was about a 40 minute drive each way and took quite a chunk out of my already busy day to make the trip there and back.
    If I had to do it all over again, I might think very heavily upon using an online university to get my degree. I've heard about Waldon University and when I looked into WaldonU.edu, the degree programs look well-represented and complete. I also noticed a lot of Walden University Graduates make the news and also are named as staff for other universities once they graduate! Walden was named by U.S. News and World Report as having the No. 1 online graduate program in education by enrollment and the No. 3 online graduate management program by enrollment, to name a few accolades!
If I was ever to get serious about going back to school for an MA, I would definitely consider Walden University's online degree programs. Getting an advanced degree in the comfort of my own home is an appealing option! The more I learn about Walden, the more I am drawn to their accessibility and assistance to non-traditional students like myself!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Good Digestive Health With ReNew Life Review and #Giveaway

2011-10-05T23:49:00.006-06:00

Congratulations to #87,Jessica McGhee! Thank you for participating everyone!

We have all heard the saying "You are what you eat" but it would be truer to say You
are what you properly digest and the nutrients that you properly absorb. I used to have issues with my digestive system as a younger adult. I would get horrible stomach aches and be in misery until it finally went away. I also had bowl problems. I couldn't go! It was painful. I finally realized that I needed some help with my digestive health. It took a few years before I began taking probiotics, soothing herbs for my stomach issues and more fiber--both soluble and insoluble. Now lest you think I took many different products to fill my needs, the answer is no. I simply found one great product with all of the things I mentioned built right into it. It helped my health so much! ReNew Life has a product called FiberSMART, which includes probiotics, herbs and a balance of soluble and insoluble fiber. I feel safe using ReNew Life because they select only the finest ingredients, free of harsh contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, PCBs or any other ingredients that work against the body's natural cleansing and detoxification process.

If you haven't heard of ReNew Life, it's about time. ReNew Life is The leading digestive care company in the US; ReNew Life is featured in food stores including Whole Foods, GNC, Walgreens, and CVS.

ReNew Life Young Adult Education Initiative

Digestive health awareness should be developed early because young adults can suffer with digestive problems, like I did, especially since they are usually running crazy busy lives and eating horribly! In association with the Young Adult Education Initiative, ReNew Life started the 'How Does Poo Move You' video contest (some very hilarious potty humour), which was very successful and has stressed a few key points in order to make young adults and everyone more aware of the importance of digestive health. They are:

1. Make your diet a healthy diet, rich in fiber, low in processed carbs/sugars, along with taking an all-natural probiotic supplement.

2. When taking a dose of antibiotics, supplement it with an all-natural probiotic supplement within 2-3 hours. Turns an upset gut into a healthy gut.

3. Daily exercise means a healthy metabolism. Sitting idle throughout the day will make it difficult to go #2.

4. It should be a lifestyle goal to have 2-3 proper bowl movements a day.

Right now I am trying the ReNew Life DietStart Cleanse System, designed to jumpstart a weight loss program and enhance metabolism, something I need to do. I'm hoping it doesn't make me have to go to the bathroom too much, since I work full-time at a high school in a classroom full of obnoxious boys, who would totally tease me if they found out I was on a cleanse or had to go poo a lot. But there are some great reviews for this particular product, 29 to be exact. In general, they gave this Cleanse System great ratings. I may wait until this weekend to start, though. ;) I'll let you know in a later post how it goes!

Right now, enjoy 5% on all purchases and free shipping on orders over $50! ReNew Life offers a 60-day money back guarantee (minus shipping and handling) on all products ordered directly from their website!

I'm pleased that ReNew Life would like to give one of my readers a $50 Gift Certificate to their online site! There are so many great products you could take advantage of at their site! For a chance to win, please complete the mandatory entry and any extra entries you'd like to in order to increase your chances of winning!

A Magic Elixir..Could it be Apple Cider Vinegar?

2011-09-29T22:23:00.002-06:00

Do you know anyone who is an apple cider vinegar (acv) enthusiast? I used to know someone who was. It was my dear old piano teacher. She swore by it and raw garlic too! She had such a different aroma to her when I sat on her piano bench for my lessons. She finally died of cancer, but until then, she was always healthy and full of life. From what I've been hearing, there has been a resurgence of enthusiasm for this old remedy. Here are some things I've heard that are actually backed up with science--
Since ACV is a diluted acid, it may contribute to changes in the body's ph balance, making it easier to absorb the nutrients it takes in during meals. Apparently ACV does a great job doing that as well as possibly activating digestive enzymes which will, in turn, break down carbohydrates to sugar. This will slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream and gives the body more time to pull sugar out of the blood. Wow, a potential godsend for those prone to blood sugar spikes and diabetes. Another thing I've heard but not sure it is scientifically proven is that it is a great metabolic booster and aids in weight loss. That would be great, since it is a lot more cost effective than many weight loss secrets! One thing to be careful about is taking ACV straight. It is highly acidic and could erode the enamel on your teeth. Taking it with water or juice is highly recommended. Also make sure it is the cloudy kind - the more murky and brown, the better! The label should read organic, unprocessed, or unfiltered. The standard dose is 1 - 2 tablespoons mixed with water or juice. It also may be mixed with organic honey at a 50:50 ratio
Now here are some things that people are saying about ACV. Take these suggestions at your own best disgression -

Gets rid of toe fungus by saturating area with ACV

1 Tbsp before meal for dramatically lowered blood pressure

1 Tbsp before meal for natural weight loss

When mixed with honey 50/50 will cure ulcers

cures and prevents bladder infections

Use it to remove problematic moles and warts

Cures and prevents Shingles

Cures Acid Reflux

Kills Lice (Wash hair, clothing and bedding with it)

When taken with honey (50:50) cures sore and achy muscles.

Take it to get rid of sugar cravings

Increases Energy

Prevents Cancer

Gets rid of watery eyes

Drink 2 oz. of vinegar to save life if you are allergic to bee stings and get stung

Cures the common cold. Drink 2 tsp of ACV in glass of water at the first symptoms and do several times/day.

Clears up acne
Cures hot flashes and balances hormones
Strengthens hair, fingernails, collagen and cartilage
Takes sting from sunburn and prevents peeling
Take ACV diluted during flu season to prevent the flu!

Wow! Sounds like organic apple cider vinegar should be an essential part of anyone's food and medicine cabinet!
Disclaimer: I have not tried all of these suggested uses and am only repeating what has been told to me and what I have read in testimonials. Use at your own disgression! I intend to do the same!

COTTONAGE.com REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

2011-09-27T19:54:00.014-06:00

I'm going to get a massage this next weekend! I love the whole experience of being systematically relaxed by a trained expert. I love the whole atmosphere - the candles, the relaxing music, the beautiful art, the trickle of water from a fountain, the quiet conversation or better yet, no conversation, and the cotton robe and slippers that I get to wear! It makes me feel so comfortable. I love a soft well-worn cotton robe to put on when I'm relaxing.

That's why I was so happy to hear about CottonAge.com. They have amazing deals on cotton robes, towels, slippers and other things cotton!

The robe I got from CottonAge.com was a 100% Cotton Waffle Diamond Spa Style Robe in white. I love the high quality cotton and also the texture, which is very absorbant and has the potential to become very very soft after washing. It was their one-size fits all and I loved how it gave me plenty of great room but I wasn't swimming in it either. I'm about 5"5 and of average weight...ahem. I also let my husband try it on and it fit him well too! He's a big guy, at 6"1 and 228 pounds. So one size truly does fit all!

Giveaway: One reader will receive the same robe I reviewed and also the Hair Wrap Towel that I reviewed earlier this month!

 Here's how to enter the giveaway!  First do the Mandatory entry!

An Option for Adoption

2011-09-22T23:05:00.004-06:00

I love this poem and believe it is true~
"I didn't give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know the love I feel is deep and real...as if it had been real. For us to have each other is like a dream come true. No, I didn't give you the gift of life but life gave me the gift of you." --Unknown
    I believe that there are many families in this country who would gladly open their hearts and homes to children domestically and from other countries. But because the process is so difficult, children around the world have been left to fend for themselves.
    There have been several times where my husband and I have talked about adopting. We weren't able to have children of our own, even though we both have children from our previous marriages. We both really wanted to have children, but because Greg had a vasectomy that was 15 years old, the reversal didn't work.   I was heartbroken and wanted to adopt. The thing that prevented us each time we talked about it was the prohibitive cost of adoption. We had already spent $15,000 on the reversal and because I was 42, the doctor strongly discouraged us from using my eggs for artificial insemination. So we looked into adoption. That's when we realized how expensive the process is. Now, we're definitely not affluent, by American standards. But by some standards, especially 3rd world countries, we'd be considered very wealthy! But the cost of adoption is crazy!

    One couple in Genola, UT fell in love with their sponsored orphan, a 14-year-old boy, who they were only having in their home temporarily to introduce him to people here in the States who might potentially want to adopt. They already have 6 children but this boy fit into their family so well and it felt right. Now they are trying to adopt him, along with his younger sister who still lives in the Ukraine. To make this adoption happen, they will have to put up $55,000, a sum which they certainly don't have just hanging around in an extra account somewhere. What they do have is creativity, drive and motivation. Even so, it will definitely take awhile for them to reach that goal.
     For these two children, should they be lucky enough to be able to be adopted into this family, their life will be much better than if they were to stay in the Ukraine. According to the family, orphans in the Ukraine have a very bleak outlook. 70% of girls living in orphanages end up in prostitution and 60% of the boys end up in forced labor situations or forced to enlist in the Russian Army. With no one to help them with education or housing they are forced to choose between one of these lifestyles.
    In my opinion, the cost of saving these children from those lifestyles seems like it is a very brisk business and profiting some individuals very well. It almost seems like human trafficking but to a different class of people--people who want to help these children and who would love them. Why is it be so expensive to save these children from lives of drudgery, poverty and crime? Not really an answer from anyone other than it takes a lot of agencies to complete an adoption and all of them require money.
    But it is what it is. Is there an easier way around that? Most families who are thinking about adoption don't have sufficient and available funds to do so. But over time, they would have the means to raise or accumulate enough funds to complete the adoption process.
    Right now there is an idea floating around called the Perpetual Adoption Fund. It is based on the idea of the Perpetual Education Fund, an already tried and proven system to help motivated individuals in 3rd World Countries. Basically it is a collection of donated or otherwise accumulated monies set aside for the purpose of helping individuals or small groups accomplish a common purpose. In the case of the Perpetual Education Fund, it is for the purpose of furthering the education of people in 3rd World Countries. It works like a low-interest loan, with the recipients paying it back when they get their new jobs. The repayment goes back into the pot so that other people can benefit from the fund as well.
     With the Perpetual Adoption Fund, people would apply to be helped with the fund as they go through the adoption process and then they would pay it back when the adoption is complete.
      I think this is a fabulous idea and I hope that the embryo of this idea will flourish and become a fully developed program someday.
     In the meantime, the family who is attempting to adopt the two orphans from the Ukraine are trying to accomplish it the old-fashioned way! It's a noble and worthy cause and I wish them well! Read more about it here!

Why I Endorse BSOA

2011-09-19T18:02:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boy Scouts of America for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My son, Eddie, is a pretty talented guy. He is 23 and he completed his degree in Urban and Rural Planning at BYU and now is in the midst of his MPA (Master's of Public Administration) Program, also at BYU! He did it on his own while working and while doing something else he loves--fighting MMA, his chosen sport, with a team called Team Unbreakable. He has done really well with that, winning most of his matches. I attribute a lot of the discipline it takes to accomplish that kind of work to something he learned much earlier in life--when he earned his Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts of America.

I remember attending a meeting with him when he was just a little guy and there were several elements that were great. First, it was very patriotic with the habitual flag ceremony. It was great to see how the boys were taught to honor their country and treat the flag reverently and respectfully. Another great thing to see was the recognition these boys received when they earned their merit badges. No effort goes unnoticed and it is always recognized with badges or certificates. I think that the positive recognition for their effort helps to spur on even more elbow grease to achieve greater goals. Last but not least, the refreshments were always there. I love that parents are involved to help their kids achieve goals. Eddie always had a good time whenever we went.

There are so many reasons to Be A Scout, among them just a couple I will mention here! For one thing, are you looking for a way to get your son out and active? Scouting offers activities that help kids stay in shape and educate them on proper nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. It just comes naturally with all of the activities and outings that occur as a result of being a scout! It also involves you, the scout's parent, and helps you teach a wholesome system of values and beliefs, while also building and strengthening relationships among family members. But it isn't all camping and tying knots. There is a new emphasis on STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math. There are 31 STEM-related merit badges, to help Scouts develop critical skills that are relevant in today's competitive world.

I know that we value our sons and want them to do the best they can in this world and in life. I strongly recommend looking into what Boy Scouts has to offer! Boy Scouts of America

CottonAge.com Review and Upcoming Giveaway!

2011-09-17T12:06:00.000-06:00

I found this really great site for all things cotton! If you love cotton towels, bathrobes, teeshirts, hair wraps, slippers, bags or outerwear, you must visit this site. Not only is the quality very good, the prices are amazing and the shipping is free in the continental U.S.

I was able to review the Hair Wrap Towel and I really love a few things about it! I've always made due with a regular towel to wrap my hair after washing. After trying this hair wrap towel, though, I've become a spoiled woman. My hair always feels like it is getting pulled when I wrap my head in a regular towel and it is also really heavy on my head. I really can't stand having my hair in a towel any longer than absolutely necessary. But this CottonAge.com hair wrap towel is lightweight, yet highly absorbent because of the micro-fiber. It is extremely comfortable and doesn't pull my hair.

As a matter of fact, I can use this towel for a lot more than just after shower because it stays put so well because of the elastic edging that keeps it in place so that it doesn't just fall off. It woud be great for pre-conditioning my hair before a shower, a facial, a sauna and applying make-up! Also, you won't believe the price--right now they are on sale for $2.99. An absolute steal if you want my humble opinion. So really, A GAL NEEDS...a cottonage.com hair wrap towel! I will be having a giveaway soon for one of these plus something else pretty special! So stay tuned. In the meantime, look at some of the other things you can get with free U.S. Shipping at CottonAge.com

Waffle Bathrobe $11.99

Women's Crew neck Tee $5.99

Cotton Tote Bags 5 colors - $2.69

eShakti's Dress Length Theory

2011-09-13T20:06:00.001-06:00

I love the way eShakti lets me be the one to decide where my dress should fall. I happen to like my dresses to fall right at the knee. Not longer, not higher. Right at the knee. eShakti lets me be in charge of that, regardless of what style it is. I love that. Right now through October 31st you get a full $20 off if you use this code: HELENA0811

U.S. Open - Nadal/Djokovic

2011-09-12T18:35:00.001-06:00

I'm sitting here watching the grand season finale of my favorite spectator sport, tennis and the U.S. Open. It's no joke that Djokovic is the favorite and won the first 2 sets with absolutely no problem. I am a longtime fan of Rafa Nadal and in spite of that, had to place my wager on Djokov because of his absolutely brilliant play this past year, taking home 2 grand slam championships and taking home every win available in other tournaments. And as I sort of expected, Nadal just couldn't seem to pull anything off against this warrior. Djokovic won the first two sets easily, making Nadal look almost like an amateur. Then in the 3rd set, Nadal pulled off a tie and sent it to a tiebreaker. Nadal has always done well in tie breakers and that was no exception--Nadal won the tiebreaker. Djokovic then went down physically and had to call a medical time-out to treat his back. After that, there seemed to be no stopping him. I'm watching the final set where Djokovic has broken Nadal twice and I'm just waiting for the final set to be over. What a run for Djokovic. Rafa looks so totally resigned to the fact that he will lose this match. I just love him though. It's heartbreaking to see. Here we go--championship point and the winner of the U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic. A great run and a great end to the tennis season.

Flash Follow Giveaway at Simply Stacie

2011-09-11T15:01:00.001-06:00

I now have the winner for my flash follow giveaway! The winner is #683, Brianna Beers! She will be notified by e-mail! Thank you all so much for entering!

A heads up reminder for everyone who loves giveaways! Tomorrow on September 12, Simply Stacie will be doing a flash follow giveaway for 14 different blogs! Each blog giveaway will be open for one hour only and each blog will be giving away a different prize! It will be absolutely crazy from 9 am to 11 pm at her place! I wouldn't want you to miss it, especially mine, which will be held at 5 pm - 6 pm. So get those kiddos fed early and hop on because I will be giving out a $25 Paypal cash award! See you there!

Tribute To Rafa Nadal at the U.S. Open

2011-09-06T20:42:00.000-06:00

I have thoroughly loved watching this guy play for the past 5 years. I am hoping he wins this year. But the odds are that if Novac Djokovic stays true to form, he would win. I'm not quite ready for that, as much as I admire Novac's great winning streak that put him at the #1 seed this year. Go Rafa!

A First Year As An Organ Donor

2011-09-03T13:53:00.001-06:00

My driver's license came up for renewal this year and for the first time I checked the little box that says 'yes' for organ donation. Prior to this, I've had mixed feelings about my being an actual donor. I've heard how much it helps other people and all, but I just felt a tad squeamish over the fact that after my immediate demise people are hovering over me (like vultures, it seemed to me) and harvesting my remaining healthy organs. Please, I just need a moment to be....dead?
But as story after story comes to me about the people who are affected and given another chance at life, my heart has changed.
   One story recently shows what an impact just a little check in a box can make. Last summer, July 2010, a wonderful, healthy, good-looking boy was just living his life. Brandon Curtis had lettered in 3 sports that year at his Springville High School. After football practice, he was goofing around with some members of his team of which he was captain. They were driving in the parking lot, doing donuts in a jeep. Not exactly the smartest thing, but something not unlike what any teenage kid is prone to do with his buddies. Believe me, as a teenager, I've done some pretty stupid things myself. The difference is that somehow, I'm still here, while Brandon lost his life that day when their jeep rolled and he was pinned underneath.
This was not an ordinary kid by any means. This was a boy who thought about everyone. "Brandon was the kind of person that if you couldn't finish running your quarter mile and he was done, he would come back and run with you and help you." -Conrad Beach, 15, teammate
"Brandon loved to bake and cook. I'm a lunch lady and Brandon would bake and make cookies for me. He was a friend to everybody." -Cheryl Beutler, family friend
"brandon was a good friend to me he was there when no body else wanted to talk to me he made me feel like i was part of the group and i always went to the games to support him he is going to be missed by all who knew him" -elisia, friend
It was because of who Brandon was, that his father wasn't surprised that he had chosen to be an organ donor. And with that decision he was able to help 6 people continue on in their own lives.
   Because of privacy laws, Brandon's parents weren't given the names of those who Brandon had helped, but one day it happened anyway. Marlee Dalton walked into the Reams grocery store where Brandon's mother, Dianne Curtis works. She was looking for information about Brandon Curtis so she could visit his grave. Instead she ran into his mother and told her this story. As she was in the hospital waiting for her kidney and pancreas that was to be donated by Brandon Curtis, she closed her eyes and saw a young man facing her. It startled her. It was only later after reading about Brandon and seeing his picture that she realized it had been him. (That brings chills to me) She was able to meet his mother by coincidence (?) and thank her and tell her about this experience. In addition to Marlee, a 10-year old boy received a kidney, a 27-year old father received a liver, a 66-year-old man got a new heart, a 44-year-old man received two lungs, and one other woman was also a beneficiary of Brandon's generosity in death.
There are many more examples of how one choice can mean so much to so many. And while I don't want to be in a position to make this gesture anytime soon, it's nice to know that I might be able to count for a little bit more good on this earth before I'm finally laid to rest someday! In the meantime, thank you Brandon and all like you, for seeing the needs of others and acting on their behalf, even after you're gone.

Brandon Curtis

source

Shabby Apple Giveaway - The Mad Hatter's Time Keeper #Rafflecopter

2011-08-29T08:49:00.001-06:00

Shabby Apple - what an interesting name! This is what comes to mind when I think about that title. Shabby - relaxed, a little retro, not uniform, free-spirited. Apple - Abundaance, nourishing, of substance, roundness as opposed to angular, many colors and textures.

And indeed this is what you find at www.shabbyapple.com, home of beautiful women's dresses, both vintage and modern, also with accessories and maternity clothing.

Not only do you find dress after beautiful dress in their big selection, but they are all bunched into different themes! There is Yosemite, Inca Trail, Up And Away, Carousel, The Berkshires and more. Each of these themes takes my imagination away to a beautiful place where I'm not at right now but would love to step into, if only for just a few moments. What better way to do that than with a gorgeous dress that fits the mood and surroundings of the location?


From The Yosemite Collection - "El Capitan"

From The Up And Away Collection - "Fork-Tailed Devil"

They have a wonderful collection of little girls dresses from Shabby Apple too!

I'm excited to be able to offer a great coupon code for 10% off anything at Shabby Apple! The code is: agalneeds10off and it is good for 30 days from today! So hurry and get shopping!

My Giveaway: I chose a beautiful and conversation-worthy piece from the jewelry collection. It's a beautiful pendant from the Alice In Wonderland collection. The Mad Hatter's Time Keeper was interesting to me because it is both chunky and delicate at the same time. It's an Antique brass filigree pocket watch with etched detail on back suspended on a delicate 24” long chain. The pocket watch face opens up to reveal a working clock. Handmade in the USA and valued at $66.00, it will be a great addition to any jewelry collection!

Enter the giveaway: Complete the mandatory entry in my first Rafflecopter giveaway and any other entries you care to do!

$20 coupon code at eShakti!!

2011-08-16T15:36:00.001-06:00

Have you been able to wear all the cool, beautiful dresses you wanted this summer? I hope so, because we're looking at fall around the corner! I love a great dress and I've seen plenty of great ones at eShakti! Right now, you can get $20 off on any dress purchase if you use the code at the bottom of this post!
eShakti is wonderful because they customize your dress according to your specs! Just follow the easy-to-follow chart and answer the questions according to your needs! Check out some of these cute dresses!

Of course dresses aren't all eShakti carries! They have jackets, shirts, pants, skirts, accessories and jewelry too! But oh, their dresses...

$59.95

$54.95

Check out the entire selection of cute dresses! They ship in 3 days with all your alterations made and ready to wear! Here is the coupon code: HELENA0811 Use it at checkout! You'll get a full $20.00 off of the price!

Pampering At The Aveda Institute in Provo! {Review and Giveaway}

2011-08-13T23:03:00.007-06:00

Congratulations to #37, Deanna, who said, "tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/dlw447/status/108854997004988416"
The best thing to give myself is self-respect. (According to Benjamin Franklin) Close second - a trip to Aveda Institute for some pampering (According to Me)!

This week I got spoiled at the Aveda Institute in Provo! I got a cut, blow and style! AND I got a 90-minute facial. I loved it!

The haircut: Courtney was my stylist and she was so cute! She is a senior at Aveda Institute and will be graduating with the required 1200 hours in January. She knows her stuff! After I got my complimentary cup of Aveda comforting tea, a 100% organic, no caffeine, herbal tea, we headed into the salon. With every cut at the Aveda Salon a scalp massage with a sensory journey is included. This means that you get to choose one of several hand-selected natural oil fragrances for your scalp before you shampoo. It is wonderful! I picked vanilla.

Natural Make-up Display in the lobby

Courtney asked me what I wanted to do with my hair and how I would describe my hair. She gave me her own product recommendations based on the Aveda line. We decided that I should use a lot of the Brilliance Line because I have thick, frizzy, dry hair. (It's a nightmare, actually) The Brilliance Line is designed for all of those features. Also the Dry Remedy Line is for extremely dry hair. I love all of their products because they use as many natural ingredients as possible and that is very important to me. Almost all of them are 100% certified organic! She brought an instructor to OK the selection she had made for me and we got started.

First we went back to get shampooed The shampoo room is beautiful. They have massage chairs you can relax in while you watch beautiful nature scenes on their big screens. And you get even more scalp massaging with the wash. I almost fell asleep during that time!

Next came the cut and the style. She was great at what she does and at the end, there was an instructor making sure that everything was done right. I loved the way my hair looked and felt after the session. It took about an hour and a half.

The Facial: This was a first for me at Aveda. Kaylynn, my esthetician, took me back to the quiet facial rooms. Here again, I was first introduced to a sensory experience and given my choice of 3 oils. This time I chose lavender because I wanted to relax! Kaylynn took me through the facial experience by asking me what I was concerned about for my skin and would like to see in a facial. I thought that I'd like to have an anti-aging experience, since my summer hasn't been very relaxing and I feel like I have aged about 10 years so far this summer, with my son graduating from college and my 14 year old being a crazed adolescent. Kaylynn introduced me to the Green Science line, which is for anti-aging concerns. And so to classical music, I received a foot soak, foot massage, 5 facial treatments (cleanse, tone, treatment, eye treatment, and moisturizer), scalp massage, neck massage, decolletage treatment and hand massage. It was wonderful and when I was done, I saw a visible difference in my skin! I felt really relaxed as well! Thanks so much Kaylynn!

Kaylynn, my esthetician

Aveda Institute Provo is located on 1700 S. State Street, Provo, UT 84604. For services call 801-375-1501. If you are interested in becoming a student at Aveda, and being part of one of the top 200 salons in the country, give Tiffany in Admissions a call at 801-448-2683. They are accepting new applicants!

GIVEAWAY: If you live in or near the Provo, UT area, you can win the same pampering spa package I had from Aveda Institute Provo! ($60 ARV) Trust me, it's a good one!

Mandatory Entry: Check out the Aveda Corporate site and pick out a product that you'd love to try and come back and tell me what it is!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES - The more you enter, the better your chance! (1 entry = 1 comment, 2 entries = 2 comments, etc.)

(+1 each) Like @AvedaProvo and @Xocaisgood on Twitter!

(+2) Visit Aveda Institute Provo and tell me about a service you'd love to try!

(+2) Visit Aveda on YouTube and like a video. Tell me which video you watched.

(+2) Follow @evmiller on Twitter and tweet "@evemiller Aveda rocks-- @Xocaisgood sent me to say hello and give you a follow" Leave me the tweet link and your Twitter name!

(+5) e-mail 5 friends about this giveaway! Make sure you CC me at helenalemon@comcast.net!

(+1) daily - Tweet this: "Get pampered with a pamper-me package @AvedaProvo ($60 ARV) @Xocaisgood #provo #orem #americanfork #heber http://bit.ly/p64xlf"

(+2) Blog, Facebook, Stumble, Digg or list this giveaway post on a giveaway linky. Let me know the link where you do! Do as many as you want! 2 entries each!

(+2) Click the +1 icon on the bottom of this post for Google +1!

This giveaway will run through August 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm at which time a winner will be chosen with random.org and notified with e-mail. Winner will be given 48 hours to respond. Open to Utah residents only. Thanks to Aveda Institute Provo for providing services for review and giveaway! Special Thanks to Brittany Sharp for facilitating this giveaway and for all the great students and professionals at Aveda Institute Provo!

Underage Drinking - Lots Of Hazards

2011-08-09T21:07:00.004-06:00

Today I read about a mom who is charged with hosting an underage drinking party.

"Julie A. McPike, 49, of the 200 block of Beverly Road in Barrington was charged July 28 with hosting an underage drinking party at her home..."

image

There are so many things on so many levels that are wrong when a parent chooses to host parties like this. I can almost hear the rationalization--"well, at least they're at my house so I can monitor their behavior...." Apart from the stark fact that alcohol kills more teens than all other illegal drugs combined, here are a few hypothetical situations:

What about the neighborhood kid who gets so drunk at the party that he totally forgets where he lives? He staggers around the neighborhood and finally recognizes a familiar street corner and that's when it hits him.....the car, that is. Seriously, 6000 kids per year that are 15 or under end up in a hospital because of alcohol!

Or what about the inebriated kid who is just playing around and accidentally shoves a broken bottle into his friends face, lacerating him badly and then ending up in juvenile detention for it? It's true that 1 in 5 sixteen year old kids are involved with violence after drinking alcohol!

Here's another possible scenario--A young 15-year-old girl goes to a party and gets royally smashed for the first time. But that's not the only first. She also hooks up with a guy there and they have unprotected sex and then she ends up with a baby. Yep, 1 out of 8 15-16 year old girls have unprotected sex after drinking alcohol.

It's just too easy for teens to become victims to the effects of alcohol. And for adults to think they are doing any favors by promoting drinking in any way, shape, or form, is a badly misguided mistake!

I'm glad that some states are stepping up and holding adults responsible for what is happening on their property. For instance, Missisippi just stepped up to the plate and established the "social host" law, which holds adults responsible for underage drinking. Violations result in a $1000 fine and/or 90 days in jail.

I have a 14-year-old son and I feel inclined to not only be aware of the friends that he will be with, but also have a good feel for the parents. Just because he is going to a party and the parents will be there doesn't mean that he will always be in good hands. Thankfully, I know many of the parents in my community and I absolutely shouldn't have to worry about something like that. But it's always a good idea to be sure!

Another thing that should give my son pause when confronted with a drinking situation is that we don't drink in our own home. He sees his parents doing just fine without booze and so most likely he will stop and think twice before drinking. Personally, one of the reasons I don't drink is that I want to know when I'm having a good time! That's just me, though!

Here are some more reasons, if you're still on the fence, as to why you shouldn't expose your underage child to alcohol!

• Teens who begin drinking before age 15 have a 40 percent higher chance of becoming alcohol dependent than those who wait to 21 to begin drinking.

• Teens who drink regularly can shrink the part of the brain that controls learning, memory and decision-making. An adolescent's brain is still developing and is especially sensitive to alcohol and drugs.

• According to a recent Monitoring the Future survey, nearly 1 out of 5 10th graders and 1 out of 4 12th graders had engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous two weeks.

• A 2009 national CASA (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) teen survey found that 1 out of 3 teen drinkers usually drink with the intent to get drunk, and teens that get drunk are 18 times likelier to have used marijuana.

• Teens who drink are more likely to get poor grades, drop out of school, have unplanned and unprotected sex, and be a victim of car crashes, date rape, alcohol poisoning or suicide.

• According to a recent study, an estimated 29 percent of high school students rode in a car with a drunk driver in the last month.

• An alcohol conviction can limit a teen's scholarship opportunities and future career choices. Many careers require a license to practice, which may be denied.

image
source: cafeprevention.com

The Most Gorgeous Romantic Dress!

2011-08-04T12:35:00.001-06:00

I was being distracted this morning, and how I was led to Bon Bon Rose Girls Blog is rather puzzling. But nevertheless, there I was and was just amazed at the dress she posted there, with the intent on buying it for her upcoming tropical vacation! I'm so jealous, I admit it! I hope she got it though, because it is so gorgeous! I even left this comment on her blog:

I haven’t seen a dress in quite awhile that I’ll actually need to make a comment on. But this dress is absolutely exquisite, if you are talking romance and other worldliness! I looked at the other examples of mullet dresses and this one is by far the best!

Have you heard of this "mullet dress" trend yet? Seems like it is so very popular this year! Can I even say 'hot'? All in all, I feel that it is a very hard fashion to wear and can end up looking rather silly. But fashion is fashion, and if it's in, I want to at least find the best looking example of said trend. I think that I found it in this dress!

Oh, and maybe this one too!

I love anything she wears, probably because she is so gorgeous!

Can I just say these are not my favorites?

Katy Perry is lovely, but no...

Oh Miley...just let your Dad live down his mullet!

Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce {Review & Giveaway}

2011-08-02T20:01:00.008-06:00

Many Congratulations to the winners, #36 Cynthia, who said "I just made chicken thighs in the oven and they would have been great with bbq sauce", and to #35, Tarter95, who said "I "Like" Country Bob's on FB. #2"

I have been a fan of Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce for awhile now! This past weekend I used it to cook some venison that my dear son brought in! About half-way through the cooking process, I simply added about 3 Tbsp. of the sauce into the pan. It was absolutely delicious! And that's what I love about the "All-Purpose" element of this sauce. I can use it on anything. It's great with chicken, beef, and now, venison! I am also guilt-free, when it comes to the ingredients used in this sauce! For 1 Tablespoon it is 25 calories, 6 grams of sugar and 170mg of sodium. Those are quite impressive figures for such a great taste!

It was 1968 when Country Bob Edson perfected his sauce recipe and today we call it All Purpose Sauce because it was more than just a steak sauce. Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce has remained the flagship item since 1982 when Country Bob, Inc. was established.

In addition to the original All-Purpose Sauce, Country Bob's also has Spicy All-Purpose Sauce, BBQ Sauce and Seasoning Salt! Also, found exclusively in the gift pack ($19.95), two new flavors of the All-Purpose Sauce--Apple Chipotle and Honey Habanero! Yum! Country Bob's is available at grocery stores (just check their store location finder for a store nearest you) and available for purchase at the Country Bob's website! Also on the website is Cooking With Ken--a collection of savory barbecue and meat recipes, showing how to use Country Bob's products in them.
Keep up-to-date with Country Bob's on Twitter or Facebook because they always have something going on--either a great promotion, event or a giveaway.
I'm excited to be able to offer 2 readers 2 bottles each of Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce! Make the rest of your summer cooking something to remember!
Mandatory entry: Tell me something that you already cook that you think Country Bob's Sauce could work well with! (Remember, you can use it in most anything!)
Extra entries: ( 1 entry = 1 comment, 2 entries = 2 comments, etc.)
(+1) Follow me on Google Friend! (right sidebar, leave your Google name)
(+1) Subscribe to my e-mails! (Also on my right sidebar!)
(+1) Follow Country Bob's and @Xocaisgood on Twitter! (1 entry each)
(+1) Tweet this out using @CountryBobs and @melahelen (Use the tweet below for your convenience!)

#Giveaway A GAL NEEDS...2 bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce! bit.ly/oBjCZf @xocaisgood @countrybobs #cooking #barbeque #grill

(+1) Follow me on Facebook! (Leave me your FB fist name and last initial!)
(+2) Grab My Button and show me where you put it! (give me the link)
(+2) Like Country Bob's on Facebook! Comment on your favorite summer grilling food!
(+3) Blog, digg, stumble or Facebook this! Leave me the link!
(+2) Follow my giveaway listings blog!
(+1) Click the Google +1 button at the bottom of this post!

Giveaway will end on 8/19/11 at approx. 11:59 pm MST. Winner will be selected from random.org and e-mailed the results. Please respond within 48 hours. Giveaway open to U.S. and Canada. Thanks so much to Country Bob's for the opportunity to review this great product! Disclosure: CMP.LY/2

Making Your Own Stock or Broth

2011-08-01T15:14:00.002-06:00

Making one's own broth or stock seems like a lost art because you can usually get canned broths and bouillon cubes easily and not-too-expensively! But here's a case for making your own!
    First of all, you can control what goes into the broth. Oftentimes, monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be found, or even excess sodium or wheat gluten in the store bought offerings. Secondly, if it is done well, it can taste so much better! Thirdly, it can add a wonderful smell and a warmth to your home, especially in the cooler months! And last, it makes you feel really great when you can use up everything in a chicken dinner, including the carcass! Two things can make the project very easy and rewarding. Those two things are a slow cooker and a rotisserie chicken!
On an evening where you bring home a roasted chicken from the grocery store for a quick dinner, don't toss the carcass. Instead put the carcass in the slow cooker and cover it with cold water. Add any skin as well (it adds flavor and can be skimmed off at the end of the cooking process!)
    Clean out your vegetable drawer and put in celery (include the leaves), onion, carrots and garlic along with the chicken. Don't forget salt and pepper as well!
Turn the slow cooker on low and leave it for at least 4 hours!
    Take off the lid after that and continue the condensing process by turning the cooker to high and leaving it for 6-8 more hours. This makes it more flavorful and when it is done, will be delicious to add to your homemade soups and stews.

Pour the remaining liquid through a strainer, leave out for another hour and remove the remaining fat and store in airtight containers in the freezer! I guarantee you'll feel like such a diva chef!

Giveaway Alert for Utahans Who Love 'The Help'!

2011-07-29T17:04:00.000-06:00

I just entered a giveaway over at Simply Stacy and one at Carbohydrates & Conjugations for tickets to attend a special screening of Dream Works, 'The Help'! I read the book just two weeks ago and I ran the gamut of emotions while reading it. Although it took me awhile to get into the book, I was glad that I continued to read it! It got much better and by the middle of the book, I was spending every spare moment I could to read a few more pages. At one point, I even had tears! I have heard great things already about the movie, so here's your chance! If you live close to Sandy and know where the Jordan Commons Megaplex is(9400 S and State Street), you should definitely enter!

Social Goodies - Charitable Contributions Each Time You Shop!

2011-07-27T12:22:00.003-06:00

      Recently I was given a chance to purchase some cute shoes at Shoebuy.com with the help of an online gift card from SocialGoodies.com! Unlike other gift card vendors, I was pleased to note that when my purchase was complete, I had contributed $1.98 to charity! It wasn't an extra tack-on that I was required to pay, nor was the cost of the shoes higher in any way! I was simply using Social Goodies as my vehicle to purchase an item and because of that, I helped donate to the cause! Plus, I got a great deal in return!
Social Goodies is the brain child of Carie Salter, a former full-time career woman, with degrees from both Stanford and Harvard. As a girl in middle school she became involved in philanthropy because of the example of her grandfather. Together they volunteered and contributed to various organizations and also did good works on their own. She continued in this mode through college until she became swamped with work and with motherhood. Finally she made the decision to take an idea from the emerging popularity of daily deal websites such as Groupon and Living Social. But rather than creating another for profit company, she used the model to fund the good work of charities. And so, she quit her job and came home to be with her child and begin Social Goodies! Social Goodies exists solely to raise money for good causes!
    Every day there is a featured deal on the site as well as many other companies that you can purchase from. They are also participating in the concept of giving back and donating profits to charity. You can buy someone else a gift card or use the Goodie Bucks for yourself! Every time you use your Goodie Bucks to purchase an item, 20% of your purchase will go to charity. The featured charities this month are Teach For America, Doctors Without Borders and The Nature Conservancy.   Social Goodies is very careful with the money that they are entrusted with. They are careful to ascertain that the charities they donate to are using the money wisely.   Social Goodies is proud of the fact that they have raised $20,000 for the Tsunami Relief Fund, an amazing accomplishment!
     One of today's GOODies is $39 for a $99 photo scanning package from PhotoBin.com. Get all of those old photos scanned and permanently saved onto a CD or DVD, your choice. Once you redeem your Goodie bucks, PhotoBin will send you a box with everything you need to transport your 1 - 500 photos to them safely, complete with a shipping box and labels. They will then be treated with white kid glove attention and your photos will be safe forever. PLUS, $7.80 of your purchase will be donated to charity! And that is just one of the deals they have today!

Disclosure: CMP.LY/0

Tips To Keep Children Safe Around A Pool

2011-07-26T11:25:00.002-06:00

One of the things I always worry about with little kids is water safety. Kids are so fascinated by the water and some are even more fascinated than others and just dive right in! So when I'm at a location where little kids and water are in the same place, I don't totally relax. If you have a pool in your yard or know of someone with a pool, here are some tips so that you can relax more, if not totally, because accidents always happen! These tips are from The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP):

Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.
You must put up a fence to separate your house from the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your children's reach.
Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.
Do not use air-filled "swimming aids" as a substitute for approved life vests.
Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.
A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool. Even fencing around your pool and using a power safety pool cover will not prevent all drownings.

Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water.

Disclosure: http://www.cmp.ly/0

My Excitement Over This Season's True Blood!

2011-07-26T11:09:00.003-06:00

Guest post written by Mary Narins

Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a very big fan of all the stuff that's been going on with fairies in True Blood, although I guess that they have to explain how Sookie got her powers one way or another. But I am rather excited about the Sookie and Eric relationship that's been brewing. I have a friend who has read all of the books and I know that she's really been looking forward to this happening even more!
I was reading through some spoilers and predictions for the rest of the season not too long ago and while I was doing that I ran across the website CLEARWIRELESSinternet.com. After I looked through it some and showed it to my husband, we decided to change our home internet access over to the provider.
I think it would be an understatement to say that I'm expecting some big things from this True Blood season. It seems like they're pulling out all the crazy stops, even if some of them (like fairies) I question.

Disclosure: http://www.cmp.ly/3

How To Survive School This Year

2011-07-20T13:42:00.005-06:00

    It's a pretty sure bet that now summer vacay is more than half over, our thoughts are gradually turning to the inevitable back to school days and what that entails! I know that I am hoping for the best with my youngest son, who is 14 years old.
This last school year for us, as parents, was filled with monitoring homework, constant reminders about doing homework, talks about behavior in class and actually visiting a class once. More than once assignments were lost and forgotten about until the day before they were due. In the end, he ended up with A's, but we felt like we held his hand much of the way through 8th grade. Why did it seem so unimportant to be responsible for his own grades?? Why was he not motivated to get in there on his own, as we have seen him do when he really wants something? Is it because peers don't see being responsible as cool? I wonder...
As our son enters into high school as a freshman, I've got some great advice on how to survive the school year!

For the student: First of all, know that High School is where your real future begins. This is the game that says if and where you'll go to college. So play it smart. If given the choice to play around in the hall or play funny guy in class, think twice. These things will garner you a reputation that will be hard to shake. Teachers and administrators do go on reputation, whether you like it or not.
Wear good clothes but don't worry about being the most trendy kid in the school. Wear clothing that is comfortable, in style, but not too trendy. Again, you are playing the game for your future. If you're not viewed as the coolest kid in the school, OK. After you're done with school, no one cares if you were cool or not. They care if you did well in school. Funny how things change.
   For the parents: Make sure that you keep your finger on the pulse of what is going on in the classroom. Keep up to date on the teacher updates that most teachers do. Make sure that you check on assignments, tests and projects through e-mail or power school. Teachers appreciate your willingness to be involved. However, don't be a pest. Teachers are extremely busy people and they have plenty of people to answer to. Don't make them feel like they have to answer to you as well!
Set your expectations high as far as grades and homework. Put a reward system in place for good things done, like remembering homework, doing well on tests, staying out of detention, or finishing a project.
Keep unnecessary stress down by taking precautionary measures. For instance, if your student rides a bike, make sure that you have a good lock for it like Masterlock. Having a bike stolen would just be an extra stressor for you and take away energy you could use for something else!
Finally, make sure you set aside some time for you to re-focus and re-fuel. After all, it's going to be 9 long months until summer rolls around again!

Lose Weight With 'Green Tea Daily' {Review & Giveaway}!

2011-07-09T16:59:00.007-06:00

The Winner of this giveaway is #13, who said,

Have you ever wondered if there is a way to lose weight without having to go on a strict, regimented diet where you need to keep track of points, calories and servings? I have! I am just not successful at dieting that way. I need to eat when I'm hungry. I can't keep track of what I ~~shove into my mouth~~ eat every second of the day! I've got too many other things that I obsess about! ;)
I had actually come to the sobering conclusion that I would probably have to settle with the answer to the above question as a big, resounding N-O. But by chance, I was walking through my local mall one day and saw this great little kiosk with a really outgoing and cute salesgirl, who thrust an ice cold 20 oz. water and a little packet into my hands and said, "Try this!" When I asked her what it was she said it's Green Tea with a twist! My first question was, "How much caffeine does it have?" She said that first of all, the "caffeine" you get from this is equivalent to what is in a regular size candy bar! Secondly, unlike the energy drinks in the stores, the energy source in Green Tea is natural and has no side effects! My interest was piqued because it had been a hard week and my energy was zapped. Wow! Natural bottled energy with no side effects? Sounds like a no-brainer to me!
Then she showed me that not only does it have the benefits of "first flush" green tea, it also has other great natural ingredients to enhance the already great benefits of green tea! Noni, acai berry and maqui berry, all super fruits rich in natural anti-oxidants, are added. Calcium is also added for good measure!
If I got all that in a drink I'd be ready to get it! But the other great benefit of drinking MyGreenTeaDaily is that it naturally speeds up the metabolism and causes healthy digestion, which results in weight loss! OK, now I'm sold! I walked away with a month's supply! Guess what! It's the best! At this time last year I was 5 lbs. heavier and I haven't really done anything differently. In fact, if anything, I have been indulging even more, with my new found love of experimental cooking! (Pass the butter, please!)

I recently went back to get my 2nd month's supply and talked to Keri. She's 20 years old, cute as a button and was ready to tell me what greenteaDaily has done for her! She was a heavy diet coke drinker, and was addicted to it even though she would get headaches from the caffeine. When she switched to greenteaDaily, all of that disappeared and she still had the natural energy, but with no jitters. Whereas before she was spending $3.00/day for her coke habit, now she spends $2.00/day for her much healthier green tea habit! She also stated that she had really brittle fingernails and since she switched to GreenTeaDaily, her fingernails are stronger PLUS she lost a dress size around the waist!

"GreenTeaDaily began with one ingredient: premium quality green tea harvested at first flush. The whole idea was to introduce the power of pure green tea at its optimum stage. Rich with antioxidants and fat-burning properties, first flush green tea has the ability to elevate our body's metabolic rate, lower cholesterol levels, promote cardiovascular health, and most importantly, increase our body's immune power. Antioxidants are elements found in fruits and vegetables that help get rid of free radicals in our body. This, in turn, helps slow down the aging process, giving us young and beautiful skin, and strengthens our body against diseases. Ultimately, green tea gives us the energy we need by regulating healthy weight loss. Unlike the energy drinks found in the market today, the energy we get from green tea has no side effects and is completely natural."

greenteaDaily comes in 5 flavors, in convenient, tear-open packages and should be consumed within 2 hours of mixing to make sure that none of the nutrients dissipate. A month's supply is $59.99 or sign up for their loyalty program, which gives you deep discounts for automatically shipping it to you every month, 2 months, or every 3 months.
Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, their blog, their website or call them directly at 1.888.903.2459!
greenteaDaily would like to give someone a full month's supply ($59.99) of your two favorite flavors! If you would like to win this great prize, please do the following mandatory entry and any or all extra entries you choose!

Mandy: Be my GFC Follower (indicate blogger name) AND visit greenteaDaily and tell me which flavor(s) you'd like to try!

Extra Entries (1 comment per entry):
Worth 1 entry each:

Like greenteaDaily on Facebook! Tell them hello! Leave your FB name here, please!

Follow @greenteaDaily and @Melahelen on Twitter!

Subscribe to the greenteaDaily Blog!

Tweet about it daily for an extra entry each day you do! Please leave the tweet status in your comment! (click on the time stamp of your tweet to get it!) Copy and paste:

"Lose weight & increase metabolism naturally! #Win a month's supply of @greeenteaDaily ($60 ARV) @Melahelen http://t.co/uwCVOWt #weightloss"

Worth 2 entries each:

Link this giveaway to a giveaway linky! (Only one link to this giveaway per linky please)

Mention this giveaway on FB or your blog! Leave the link!

Like this page on Stumble!

Follow me on Stumble!

Subscribe to my e-mail updates!

Worth 3 entries each:

Sign up for My Likes with me! Leave your MyLikes name!

Follow my Giveaway Listings Blog!

Subscribe to my e-mail feed! (right sidebar, don't forget to confirm through your own e-mail!)

Giveaway will end on July 25, 2011 at 11:59 MST. Open to US and Canada. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Winner will be selected by random number generator and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours to avoid another selection. I was provided a product sample for review! All opinions expressed are my own.

A One-Day only 40% off Sale at Grateful Body!!!

2011-07-07T21:41:00.001-06:00

Pssst....heads up! Grateful Body will be having a one-day 40% off on any and all products tomorrow, July 8th!! This is a fabulous deal, one that I will definitely take advantage of myself! Happy shopping!

Wimbledon Moments!

2011-06-29T15:14:00.005-06:00

For anyone who cares to know, I am a tennis buff, thanks to my husband who at one time, had us out playing tennis at least once or twice a week. That has dwindled into an afterthought, but we still love watching National Tennis on T.V.
This week, Wimbledon is going strong. And if you are familiar with tennis, you know that Roger Federer, the greatest player of all time, just went down in the quarter-finals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It's sad seeing a great player such as Federer, succumbing to "old age" .

A disappointed Roger Federer

     Once a tennis player approaches 30, they become vulnerable to the younger, stronger players between 20 - 25. Both Venus and Serena Williams have already gone down this year at Wimbledon. Venus is now 31 and Serena will be 30 in September.
   I've heard a few explanations as to why this is so. Since the days of Pete Sempras, tennis has become increasingly more punishing. The racquets have become significantly lighter, allowing players to swing them with higher speed, thus making the ball travel much faster. With the lighter weight, however, the impact of the hit is absorbed into the joints, muscles and bones of the player. And as many times as a player is required to hit, the repeated stress is bound to take its toll. Also, with the increased ball speed, the athlete is required of necessity to be quicker, more agile, more active on the court. It requires a great deal of flexibility, endurance and speed to play and defend at championship level.
     But watching a finals match at any of the National Tennis events, be it US Open, French Open, Wimbledon, or Australian Open, is beautiful to behold.   It is not only a match between the best technical player, but it is literally a match for the players with the strongest psyche.   For example, sometimes players intentionally try to get into another player's head. I'm still trying to figure out if Rafael Nadal had an injury to his foot severe enough to delay the game for over 10 minutes while he consulted with a trainer and subsequently had his foot wrapped.   He was at a clear disadvantage to Juan Martin Del Potro during the 4th round match at Wimbledon yesterday and Del Potro was on a roll, ready to take advantage of it. But the 10-minute wait did something to him. He was clearly irritated at having to wait and the momentum shifted soon after. Nadal is known for taking his sweet time at serving, often getting warned for taking too much time.   Del Potro ended up losing yesterday and Nadal is going on to the semi-finals. So who was the stronger player? There is no doubt that Nadal beat Del Potro not just with skill, but he stayed focused and Del Potro got rattled.

Rafael Nadal, the other greatest tennis player

I'm thoroughly enjoying this final week of Wimbledon and you should really check it out if you get a chance. Also, there is still the US Open to look forward to at some point this summer! I can't wait! Here are some fun video highlights of this year's Wimbledon, which, by the way, Prince William and Princess Kate are attending!

Update: It turns out that yes, indeed, Rafael does have a foot injury. He has actually had it numbed for the rest of the tournament and has opted to deal with it after the play is finished. Good luck Rafa!

$25 To Your Pay Pal Giveaway! (7/12)

2011-06-28T15:36:00.005-06:00

Thank you, one and all, for your great comments! I loved reading them! Unfortunately, just one was chosen by random.org. It was #75! If I could put $25 in each of your paypal accounts, I would definitely do so, but I just don't have an extra $3,800. Do keep coming back, as I'm known to host these little events every so often! It's my way of saying thanks and have a great day!

______________________________________________

It's time for me to give away $25 to someone's PayPal! Don't know what PayPal is? It's easy to set it up. You get paid through your e-mail! Google it and set it up! It's easy! And for me, being paid to my PayPal is better than a gift card because I can choose where to spend it! It's true, Money is like an arm or leg - use it or lose it!
I'd love to get a few comments on some of my poor, neglected posts! So I'm giving you a choice of entries today! Pick one of the blog posts under my tabs above: (fashion, health & beauty, life in general or noteworthy news), make a comment there, and come back and tell me here that you did! That's it! If you want extra entries, make a few comments on different posts and come back and let me know! Commenting is unlimited and counts as one entry each, as long as they are constructive and you let me know on this post which ones you commented on! Sound good? Great! I will select a winner on July 12th at 11:59 MST! The winner will be notified by e-mail and given 48 hours to respond. I will then deposit your $25 into your PayPal! Happy commenting!

NOTE: Some of your comments may end up in my comment moderation section and may not show up immediately. Don't worry, if that happens I will retrieve them and make sure they get published!

Winner of Blog Bash '11 Giveaway

2011-06-27T10:47:00.000-06:00

I went through a little process to choose my winner but I think it was fair! My main Blog Bash Post was where the mandatory entries were to be entered. All you were supposed to do there was tell me that you were a Google Friend Follower! Everyone did great! My other 3 posts were the extra entries posts. You could enter on those as well. I picked one person from each of these posts with Random.org. There were four finalists. The four finalists were:
1) Main Post - tlcrum06 #66
2) Miracle Body Post - Grace Matthews #22
3) Purity by HairClinics Post - Retro Design #47
4) Grateful Body Post - BeautyToLove   #6!
   I then also used Random.org to pick the final winning entrant:
tlcrum06 #66!!! Congratulations and thanks for all those extra entries as well! You will be notified today by e-mail! Please respond within 48 hours or one of the other finalists will be selected! And thanks, everyone, for your wonderful participation and great support. Keep it up and your turn will come!

Blog Bash 2011! Time For YOU!

2011-06-22T00:01:00.014-06:00

I've been preparing for this day for some time now, and I'm so excited to be participating in this event. I think it's so cool that no one will be walking away with a prize package worth less than $100! Many of the packages are worth much more.   I'm confident that one of you will be walking away from here very happy indeed!
     I am constantly dwelling on the fact that we as women, moms, wives and homemakers need time to be pampered and sometimes that is hard. So I am giving a shout-out to all the ladies out there and also the participants in Blog Bash! One of you is going to win some pampering from head to your toes! (Not quite, maybe to the mid-calf?) That is because I've got 3 great sponsors. For your hair, I've got a set of all-natural Purity Hair Products by HairClinics.   For your skin, I've got an amazing organic, all-natural skin-pampering duo by Grateful Body! And to make you feel and look like you've just lost 10 lbs, I've got a pair of jeggings from MiracleBody Jeans! So enter my great giveaway and let's party!
    All you need to do to enter this giveaway is complete this mandatory entry in the comment section and that is: Follow me publicly on GFC! Please leave your Google Friend name! If you'd like extra entries, I've got plenty on each of my sponsor spotlight posts! Find those on my right side bar or above, where I linked to them in this post.   Just leave the appropriate entry comment on the sponsor post you choose to visit! At the end of the event, I will total up the comments on each sponsor spotlight post, plus this one. I will then pick the winner with Random.org! If the winning entry is from the sponsor spotlight post, I will check this post to see if you completed the mandatory entry as well. If you didn't complete the mandy, I will draw again.
Please feel free to use my linky below to hop to all of the other great giveaways on the other participating blogs! I know I'll be doing some hopping myself! Thanks to Michelle at Family Approve for all the hard work and for making this such a great event. And thanks so very much to my great sponsors for coming out and making this one of the best giveaways ever!

Miracle Body Jeans!

2011-06-20T14:31:00.012-06:00

I'm very excited to introduce my final sponsor to Blog Bash 2011--MiracleBody Jeans! I have been wanting a pair of these amazing jeans for the longest time! And I may have to wait a little longer, but you don't have to! Miracle Body wants to give one of you a pair of their best-selling jeggings for Spring 2011! (This has a $64 ARV)

Indulge in 22" of slimming chic premium denim, crafted from our unique blend of cotton spandex control fibers to gently lift your rear while smoothing and shaping your thighs for a slenderizing effect from waist to calf. Discrete canvas control panel comfortably holds your tummy for an instant flattening effect without a painful tummy tuck, so you can breathe easy all day and all night while maintaining your amazingly slimmer figure. Lightweight denim that's lighter than the average jean but slightly heavier than the typical legging, our premium fabric is specifically designed to conceal unsightly imperfections and give you an all-over smoothing effect. With superior shaping and style, these cropped denim leggings are the ultimate must-have for your summer wardrobe!

Many women all over the U.S. and Canada are saying wonderful things about MiracleBody!

These jeans are amazing. The tag line "look 10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds," is actually true. The first time I wore these, family members asked if I had lost weight! The best thing about them? They don't squeeze the waist and give you "muffin top!" And unlike other stretch jeans, these don't sag in the seat after you've worn them a while. Also, there is no embarrassing stretchy-looking waist band to give them away. They look and feel like "regular" jeans. They seemed a little pricey to me at first, but after purchasing them, I would rather have just one pair of these than a dozen pairs of any other brand.
Jobie Dickerson, Savannah, GA

Fun Fact: MiracleBody Jeans is a direct branch of MiracleSuit, the #1 brand designer of women's control swimwear since 1937! That's a lot of experience with shaping women over the years!

Some cool little extra are that you get a free tote with any order that you place with MiracleBody and there is free standard shipping with no minimum order!

To get extra/early entries for a pair of MiracleJeans classic jeggings, sponsor of Blog Bash 2011, all you need to do is do one or all of the following entries (Also make sure you go to my main Blog Bash post to do the mandatory entry):

1 entry each:

Like MiracleBody on Facebook (Come back and let me know your FB handle!)

Follow @MiracleBodyJean and @Xocaisgood on Twitter! (1 entry each)

Tweet this giveaway and include @Xocaisgood and @MiracleBodyJean in the tweet. Leave the tweet status. (Can be done daily) Example:

"Lose 10 lbs. in 10 Seconds! #Win @MiracleBodyJean Jeggings at A GAL NEEDS... @Xocaisgood http://bit.ly/m2P8te at #blogbash11 6/25"

Post my A GAL NEEDS...button on your blog and let me know where you did it!

Follow me on Networked Blogs! Leave your networked blog name!

That's it! Don't forget to stop by my Blog Bash 2011 main post to enter there for the mandatory entry! That will be up this Tuesday, June 21st! In the meantime, these are extra and early entries! Winner of this giveaway will be chosen with Random.org and will be notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours of initial notice. Giveaway is for U.S. entrants only. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Special thanks to MiracleBody for this great prize package! Giveaway ends at 11:59 MST on June 26th! U.S. only.

Blog Bash 2011- Grateful Body ! Sponsor Spotlight and Extra/Early Giveaway Entries!

2011-06-17T21:24:00.010-06:00

I am so excited to be able to have Grateful Body as one of my sponsors for Blog Bash 2011! Let me tell you, I have heard so many stories about women who have sensitive skin. Blotchiness, redness, or irritations so often crop up and because of it, some women don't even use cleansers or moisturizers, for fear of what it does to their skin! And even those who do use conventional skin care products find themselves not quite enamored with what is out there on the market. If they were to try Grateful Body, they would be so happy with it because of the
100% natural and synthetic-free ingredients that are wholly organic as well!
I have tried the cleanser and moisturizer already and absolutely love, love, love them. What I hadn't tried before was the Midnight Oil. Ladies, this stuff is the bomb! It contains not one, not two, not three...but 7 pure oils, as well as 9 essential oils of different herbs and fruits. Oh, and don't forget the rosemary extract to top it off. When I put it on, my skin immediately drank it up and then it felt so smooth! Like velvet! The smell is pungent and aromatic, like you stepped outside in the morning and inhaled your herb garden! Pure luxury! But enjoy it while you can because in a few short minutes there is no trace of the scent. All that is left is your own smooth,luxuriously smooth skin. Am I pouring it on? No, I don't think so, it's all so true!

Our exquisite blend of the most pure, transcendent plant oils and essential oils! This incomparably nourishing body oil contributes to silky, healthy skin while providing a comforting antidote to the effects of stress and hurry. The soothing, subtle scent is popular with both men and women, and has a relaxing, grounding effect on the mind and emotions. A truly wonderful body oil.

The products even come packaged responsibly!

Another amazing product is their Essential Eye Cream!
The menu of ingredients in this amazing potion is unreal. If you want to check, look here! I was blown away!
Now for the giveaway entries--Grateful Body has graciously consented to award one follower a Midnight Oil of their own ($22) AND an Essential Eye Cream ($40)! This is a total value of $62.

The entries here are for extra/early entries and are in conjunction with Blog Bash 2011, June 22 - 26. Make sure to enter your mandatory entry at my main Blog Bash post starting on Wednesday, June 22!

Like Grateful Body on Facebook! Leave your FB first name and last initial so I can check!

Read my other review about Grateful Body and comment on it there. Come back here and let me know you did!

Follow @GratefulBodySC on Twitter! Leave your Twitter name!

Tweet this daily for an extra entry daily! Include #blogbash11 and @Melahelen. Please leave the tweet status link! You can copy and paste:

Win a $62 skin-pampering duo from @GratefulBodySC and A GAL NEEDS...@Melahelen at #blogbash11! Enter here - http://bit.ly/iMeO5C

Blog about this event, with a link to this post and to Grateful Body! Leave the post link with me!

Grab my button, A GAL NEEDS...and put it on your blog and leave me the link where you did!

Thank you so much, Grateful Body, for these wonderful products and your excellent customer service and for being my sponsor at Blog Bash 2011. I was provided products to review and the opinions expressed are mine! Giveaway ends 11:59 MST on Saturday June 26, 2011. Winner will be notified by e-mail and should respond back no later than 48 hours after initial notice! Note: US Only!

How Heart Healthy Will You Be In Old Age?

2011-06-15T16:24:00.013-06:00

And why would you even want to know how heart healthy you'll be 20 or 30 years from now? Just let it be a surprise, right? But think about it--if you know how healthy (or unhealthy) your heart will be when you hit old age based on some good science, you can make more concrete life plans and decisions now based on your future health! I would consider where I want to be living, how much savings to have, how much insurance do I need, should I rent and let someone else take care of my yard, or will I be healthy enough to manage that on my own? Will I need to have enough insurance to cover major heart surgery? And what can I do now to insure that I do have better health when I am older?
   It turns out that there is a simple test that you can take if you are middle aged (45 or older) to see where you will end up in terms of risk of death from CVS complications if you continue your present course of lifestyle. Just run and see how fast you make a mile! "Recently, researchers at the Cooper Institue in Dallas and another set from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School looked at more than 66,000 people and concluded that looking at fitness level in midlife said as much about future long-term health as cholesterol, high blood pressure and other standard measures." (See article)
     Basically a woman who can run a mile in 9 minutes or less is considered highly fit and in 10.5 minutes is only moderately so.   And if a woman runs a mile in 12 minutes or more, well...that's very poor and your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is higher! At 45 years of age it is a 13.7% risk vs a 3.4% risk if you are fit; at 55 years of age the risk of CVS death is a 34.2% risk vs. a 15.3% risk and at age 65 the risk goes to 35.6% risk as compared to only 17.1%.   This is not including other risk factors that might raise this percentage higher i.e. smoking,etc.
   Of course, you don't just decide at age 45 to go out and run a 9 minute mile after years of inactivity in your 30's. So the message I get from this is that we need to start doing regular cardio exercise to boost our fitness in our 30's and continue that in the years beyond.
   I've decided to take my cardio fitness test this Friday to see how I fare. I'm not sure I can do a 9-minute mile. My son is practicing with the Varsity Football Team right now, preparing for try-outs. He's a Freshman and he told me that to be considered for a linebacker position on Varsity, you need to do a mile in under 8 minutes. (7:59 is the slowest time you can get) What? And I'm supposed to come in a minute behind conditioned HS players at 9 minutes? I'm not so sure about this.... I'll update this post when I do run the mile and let you know how I did!

Update: Well, I ran the mile this morning on the HS Track when I picked up the boy from football practice. Not such good news. I really tried, I did. But when all was said and done, I ran the mile in 12:18. This means that I've got a 13.7% chance of dying of cardiovascular disease and probably have some cellulite, which matters (sadly) as much if not more than the former stat. I'd like to improve my time, of course. So I think for this summer, my goal will be to improve that time by at least 2 minutes and be able to run the mile in 10.5 minutes. I will then be moderately fit, according to the statistics. I'll keep you updated! How fast do you run a mile?

Update: I took another timed run on 10/13/11 and this time I ran it in 11:05! Getting better! Read about that run here!

image

Pure Organics For The Hair

2011-06-14T12:40:00.022-06:00

If there's one thing I've learned over the past 15 years, it's that we get enough toxic junk from our everyday environment, enough to make many of us very sick. So anything I can do to control what is absorbed through my skin and hair, I will do it! It will be that much less for my body to have to assimilate and fight off in order to protect me from getting cancer, allergies, auto-immune diseases and much more. Does that make sense? I'm not an alarmist by any means, but I do care.
    With that said, I will gladly promote any company that helps with my goal of finding the safest and most natural but effective products that I can find!
   Let me introduce you to Purity by Hairclinics, a company that gives us organic products for sensitive skin and for everyday life! They have organic shampoos for sensitive scalp/skin, chemically treated hair, normal hair, oily scalp and course hair! None of their formulations have sodium lauryl sulfate or other synthetic foaming agents, thus very mild! It made me laugh a little when I saw their description of what I think must be coarse hair...on their website they call it fat hair, or do they mean thick hair? Or am I just an uneducated consumer? At any rate, they originate in the Netherlands and are expanding into the U.S. so maybe some of the expressions may be a little bit different. I think it is cute, though! I think I have the problem of fat hair, as a matter of fact!
      Aside from the organic hair and body care products, the company produces a specialized line designed to prevent excessive and hormonal hair loss called Keratene.
Right now, they are currently having a fantastic promotion and giveaway to familiarize folks with their products! If you buy 3 of their organic hair products, you can get a 4th one for free!

Last, but most exciting for me is that they have agreed to be an official sponsor of Blog Bash 2011! I couldn't be more pleased! Someone will receive a set of Purity by Hairclinics products (ARV $80)! So with no further ado, here are the early/extra entries for this great offering to one of my readers!

Follow @Keratene on Twitter

Visit the Purity website and tell me which hair product(s) you'd like to have!

Follow my giveaway listings blog on GFC! Leave your Google Friend Name!

Tell me what you think 'fat hair' means! (See my post above)
Register for their free newsletter and get updates on deals! (Worth 5 entries)

Tweet this daily for an extra entry daily!

"Purity by Hairclinics-A sponsor of #blogbash11 #Win a set of beautiful organic hair products! @keratene http://t.co/ffTF2Kzto @melahelen"

That's it! Don't forget to stop by my Blog Bash 2011 main post to enter there for the mandatory entry! That will be up this Tuesday, June 21st! In the meantime, these are extra and early entries! Winner of this giveaway will be chosen with Random.org and will be notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours of initial notice. Giveaway is for U.S. entrants only. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Special thanks to Purity by Hairclinics for this great prize package! Giveaway ends at 11:59 MST on June 26th!

A Hook-up To A New Summer Trend--Crochet!

2011-06-09T20:35:00.002-06:00

When I used to think of crochet, I thought of granny squares on an afghan or hot pads or even table coverings. Not the case anymore! I have many crafty friends and acquaintances who have been making cute hair clips with crocheted designs, cute little baby shoes and great winter hats! They are very esthetically appealing to me! Now, in time for summer the fashion world has jumped on board the crochet train and look at all of the great items you can get!
This is a beige tunic that would be perfect with tights by Matthew Williamson, a designer from England who has really embraced the crocheted look and made it his own!
Here is an example of a crocheted shift dress, which you will hear much more of, especially around the office! I found this one at TopShop

What about this Vanessa Bruno dress? Unfortunately, it is out of stock at Style Shop at $690, but maybe you can get it somewhere else! Target maybe? (tongue in cheek) I love it, though, because the looping is so loose! It is so casual yet beautiful!

I thought these shoes had just the right amount of detail
and embellishment in the form of crochet! I found these
at Polyvore.com for $62!

Correcting Sun-Damage with NeoStrata {Review}

2011-06-09T20:27:00.013-06:00

I was introduced to NeoStrata, an amazing company based in Princeton, NJ, a few weeks back and I was very impressed with what I found out! This is a company with very impressive credentials. By now, most women have heard that products containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids are very good for the skin, specifically for controlling acne and getting rid of wrinkles! Well, we have Drs. Eugene Van Scott and Ruey Yu to thank for this technology. They actually wrote the chapter in the definitive textbook for cosmetic dermatology about "Alpha Hydroxy Acids, PolyHydroxy Acids, ...and Their Topical Applications". NeoStrata is the company that they have nurtured and helped develop into one of the most highly regarded among skin care experts around the world! "NeoStrata is clinically proven skincare that visibly resurfaces, restores, and refines skin for a noticeable dramatic change."
If you have a specific area of concern with your skin, NeoStrata has specially targeted treatments. Some of the most common concerns are age spots, acne and dark eye circles. NeoStrata has effective treatments for each of these areas of concern and more!

I tried the Bio-Hydrating Cream, a very gentle and effective cream designed to visibly reduce the signs of aging, while providing long-lasting hydration. The recent recipient of the Elle 2011 Genius Award, this cream is non-scented and very non-assuming. I hardly know that it is there when I put it on, but my skin feels great and non-greasy. This is a lotion for anyone who has had sun damage (hello...too many days in the sun to count!) because it helps preserve the skin's elasticity and suppleness with an ingredient called Gluconolactone. Like I said, I was very excited about the results. My skin IS more supple-looking and I like that! Hmmm....I wonder what else they have? I do know that if I order just one dollar over $75, I will get free shipping and 3 free samples! And if I order over $100, I'll get a FREE SPF15 Daytime Protection Cream!

Besides their amazing anti-aging line, NeoStrata, there is also Exuviance for dramatic transformation of all skin-types, Coverblend, a make-up that covers even major scars and NeoCeuticals an advanced treatment plan for acne. Check it out! You can keep up-to-date with their latest promotions and chat with Twitter and Facebook!