This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of FriendGiftr. All opinions are 100% mine.
How many of you have woken up one morning and realized..."OH crap! So and So has a birthday today!!!" You don't have time to run to the store for a present or maybe they live across the country and you forgot to send something. I'm not saying this has happened to us or anything ... *cough* ... um ... yeah.
Now you don't have to fret. I don't know about you, but I LOVE getting gift cards. And FriendGiftr has made it super easy, convenient, and friendly to send the perfect gift...even at the last minute. You can send real physical cards or even virtual ones!
There are over 120 vendors you can choose from, including one of our favorites, Cabela's. =) Of course, not everyone is going to love Cabela's...so if we picked a Cabela's card to send and our friend didn't love it - FriendGiftr actually lets them SWAP for a card they do want! How cool is that? No one wants a gift card to go to waste, but if you don't like a certain store what do you do? Swap it! The giver doesn't even have to know so no hurt feelings.
As if it wasn't already a great site, FriendGiftr also works with your iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and even Facebook. So if you're out at the grocery store and realize you need to send a gift fast - you're covered!
Oh...and if you want to send me a gift card I won't complain. :)
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.
Oh how I need a moment...in the worst and most desperate way. And somehow my favorite Ice Cream brand - Dove - has made it even more tempting to take some time to myself with their brand new Dove Ice Cream Miniatures. Oh Em Gee! As if I need another reason to eat ice cream.
DOVE® Ice Cream is asking women to share their favorite mini moment of escape and since everyone's idea of luxury is different one lucky winner could win one of THREE different sensational mini-grand prizes:
I'm a big Oreo Cookie fan, which is why I rarely buy them. If I start eating them I have a hard time stopping (although this is a common theme in my life).
So when I got a couple of coupons for the NEW and "improved" cookie from Oreo I was jazzed to try them. Oreo Fudge Cremes aren't exactly what I expected. I think I was expecting an Oreo Cookie covered in fudge - because, um, YUM.
These are more like crisps, with a little filling, covered in fudge. They're good. But they aren't oreo cookie good. At least for me.
There are only 21 cookies in a container, and they are not very big cookies. Smaller than regular oreos.
Not to mention the BEST part of an Oreo is seriously lacking - the filling.
See barely any of the delicious filling that defines Oreo. *sigh* I feel so jipped.
I also tried the mint variety, but they were even worse (as far as any cookie with chocolate and oreo filling can be "worse") than these regular ones. If I had to pick I'd pick the regular, non mint kind any day. They at least remind me of "real" Oreos. And the mint ones are a far cry from Girl Scout Thin Mints.
All in all, I give these a 3 out of 5 stars. They aren't my favorites but if there's nothing else in the house, with a nice cold glass of milk they will work. :)
Why not do both? Since joining the local BNI group I've met some great business people, including Stacy Brazington with Fine Wines at Home. She is super nice and is a personal wine consultant. I don't drink, but I may actually have a Wine party and if she can find me one that is nice and sweet I may start incorporating wine into my diet.
Why?
Well, wine is actually fairly good for you in moderation. Stacy shared some information about how wine can benefit your health, and even your waist line!
1. Feed your head - apparently wine can help with preserving your memory. And I need that! I have such a horrible memory, it's scary. "When researchers gave memory quizes to women in their 70s, those who drank one or more every day scored much better than those who drank less or not at all."
2. Keep the scale in your corner - apparently those who drink wine daily have lower body masses than those who only have an occasional drink. Moderate wine drinkers have "narrower waists and less abdominal fat than people who drink liquor." I should tell my hubby that - he likes his liquor.
3. Boost your body's defenses...Live Longer! - According to a British study, those who drank around a glass of wine a day reduced their risk of infection of the ulcer causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori by 11%. Even half a glass may reduce your risk of food poisoning!
4. Guard against ovarian woes - some Australian researchers compared wo men with ovarian cancer to cancer-free women and found that one glass of wine a day seemed to reduce the risk of the disease by "as much as 50 percent." Another study at the University of Hawaii came up with similar results.
5. Build better bones - women who drink moderately appear to have higher bone mass than abstainers and alcohol appears to boost estrogen levels.
6. Prevent blood sugar trouble - maybe this would have helped me with my gestational diabetes. It's generally okay to have a small glass of wine when you're pregnant. :) A Harvard study found that premenopausal women who drink one or two glasses of wine are 40% less likely to develope type 2 Diabetes than women who didn't.
7. Increase your "good cholesterol" level - A 1998 Finish study found that moderate drinking can reduce concentrations of lipoprotein in the blood, leading to fewer fat deposits in blood vessels.
So there you have it! Wine is good for you - in moderation of course. Now if I can find one that tastes like grape juice I'll be thrilled. And I'm curious to know if red grape juice gives some similar benefits. I know it's the red wines that have the great antibodies that are supposed to be so good for you.
If you're in Washington, head on over to Stacy's website and see about hosting a Wine Party at home. :)
Excerpts above from Debra Gordon, Health Magazine.
I was NOT paid or compensated in any way for this post. :) Just me and my opinions for the heck of it.
Hubby and I had a day to ourselves last Saturday. Marshal went to the nanny's to hang out with her grand daughter (he apparently has several girlfriends...she has several granddaughters). We took a nap late morning (and yes, we both actually SLEPT...we're exhausted...we almost wanted to keep sleeping and skip the movie but we'd already bought the tickets onl ine) and then headed to the movie theater. I was so excited to see this movie - one of the reasons I wrote the review the other day with the preview trailer.
I LOVED the movie. Hubby, not so much. He didn't hate it, but it definitely wasn't his favorite...although he did giggle a few times (I love it when he giggles). I laughed so hard in parts of it that I had tears in my eyes. I could relate SO much to the story of a married couple stuck in a rut.
Some of the scenes were not family friendly although compared to some movies pretty tame. One scene has Tina Fey dressing up as a Stripper, although she's a "mom" stripper so it's a modest outfit (you know, for strippers). It was a really funny scene though.
The plot isn't all that deep, but that's what makes it fun. There's no real deep thought required...just sit back and enjoy.
If you love Steve Carrel (I do!) and Tina Fey (she was great) I recommend seeing this movie. If I hadn't had gift cards, and a buy one get one free coupon, we probably would have waited for it to come out on video. See it at the matinee time or wait for the DVD. It's a great movie - and would be a great Saturday night with a big bowl of popcorn stay in the house movie. :)
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.
If we could afford it, and I wasn't in the middle of changing jobs, I would seriously consider getting Lasiks eye surgery. I never would have thought about it before Marshal came. But the little stinker thinks my glasses are fascinating and likes to put his hand right smack dab in the middle of them. *sigh*
Imagine never having to fumble for my "eyes" in the morning. Being able to see where I'm walking in the middle of the night.
Don't get me wrong, I really love my glasses - how could I not? They're pink Coach with sparkly crystals on the sides. They're pure bling. But it sure would be nice to not HAVE to wear them.
I really hope that Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO), a global leader in laser vision correction, holds another "You Gotta See This" iLASIK Video Contest in the future. People made videos to show how improved vision could improve their lives for the chance to win some slammin' prizes, including a $5,000 Grand Prize. I missed out on this one, but here are the winners from this year's contest.
Category 1: My Contacts Are Getting In The Way Of My Good Time
First Prize: “You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A True Story” by Robbo (HDTV package — a $2,500 value)
Second Prize: “Contacts Stink” by windysail (Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value)
Category 2: My Favorite Sport Or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler With Better Vision
First Prize: “iLASIK Would Make Surfing More Enjoyable” by jhbmw007 (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Foggy Riding” by Snowman (Flip UltraHD camcorder)
Category 3: You Should See Life After The iLASIK® Procedure
First Prize: “Orbs Of Perfection” by Danny V (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Army LASIK” by ahowalton (Flip UltraHD camcorder)
Hubby had Lasik before he became a Trooper, but I doubt he'd have entered a iLASIK Video Contest. He's just too shy. I'd totally do one, but I'm not super creative when it comes to things like that. Although I think I'd have to have the "I Can See Clearly Now" song in it...it's now stuck in my head!
This is NOT a paid review. However there is an Amazon affiliate link if you're so inclined. :)
I love getting mail...especially when I get free samples! Most of these samples I sign up for online and are available to anyone who signs up.
Today I got a free sample from Smead...and I *think* I signed up for it but I honestly don't remember. Getting this sample in the mail only reminded me that I need to get organized. My new job is going to demand organization and better record keeping than I currently do with my jewelry business. Not that I'm horrible at it, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Smead sent this really cool TUFF Hanging Folder with an Easy Slide Tab. You know how hanging file folders have those really obnoxious tabs that you have to bend and they don't always go into the little slots so you have to rip the file. Yeah, those. I hate those.
These are pretty spiffy. The tabs literally slide onto the folder. And the tabs themselves are really thick and sturdy. And getting that little piece of paper into the tab is a breeze because the back of the tab is actually open...so no more trying to stick a pencil or paperclip in to 'grab' the paper after it's been stuck for five years (yes, I've done that).
Oh, and you aren't limited to the little tabs...this sliding tab can b
The info that came with the sample says that these are 7 times stronger than ordinary hanging folders but I love the claim that the "specially designed, reinforced channel rods resist bending and paper tearing" because when I got this sample in the mail the rods were bent. lol So much for that claim. I was able to bend them back but if they can't survive a simple mailing how are they going to survive a rough and tough office environment (okay, okay I know...how tough can an office be really?).
All in all I really like the folder - I found them on Amazon for $14. Is that a good price? I'm not sure. How much are regular folders? I'm sure the store brand would be cheaper but they're also kind of ugly (at least the ones at my store) and flimsy.
I think I'd buy them if they were on sale or if I had coupons. And I'll definitely be using the one they sent me. :)
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have you seen the commercials for Date Night Movie with Steve Carell and Tina Fey? Hubby and I saw a preview when we saw Avatar and laughed so hard. We both love Steve Carell (The Office is one of our favorite shows). He is such a funny actor. And Tina Fey can hold her own as well.
It starts in theaters this Friday, April 9, 2010! If you haven't yet seen the trailer, you can watch it here:
The basics of the movie ... a bored suburban couple played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey go on their weekly dinner date and find themselves thrown into a night of intrigue: there’s breaking and entering, a car chase, a shootout and a showdown with an underworld boss at a strip club. Husband and wife come out of the adventure with some scratches and also with their ardor renewed.
Hubby and I cracked up at the scene in the preview where Tina Fey takes out her bite guard after Steve wants a little cuddling time. We said "THAT'S US!!!" hahahaha (Yes, I have a bite guard...I grind my teeth like nobody's business.)
Plus the "Kill Shot" scene (oh and the one where she talks about being "whacked off" *snort*) had us busting up. I'm hoping that the commercials are just a preview of the hilarity in this movie!
If hubby didn't work this weekend we would be seeing it opening night. And if you and your special one are anything like us, you'll find a lot to relate to in this movie. If you go see it please let me know how it is!
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.
I remember the first Alvin and the Chipmunks...not because I saw it in theaters but because the commercials cracked me up every single time they were on! The part where one of the little guys (was it Theodore?) is in the dishwasher and Alvin opens and the chipmunk screams. It made me L.O.L every single time.
Now the second movie is out on DVD! You can buy it now on DVD, BluRay, and even digital download (I've never even heard of that before)! I think if Marshal was older he'd enjoy this movie (and the first one).
There's also a Double DVD Pack that includes "The Squeak Along" Bonus Disc, with more music, mayhem and all-new singalongs! It's twice the fun for the price of one (always better in my budget views)!
If you go to Munk Yourself - More Munk Mayhem - you can actually Munk yourself. I think it's kind of sad that I really enjoyed doing this!
I'm GORGEOUS! hee hee
Honestly, I wasn't into the Chipmunks as a kid, other than their Christmas songs. But every time I hear the Squequal songs I want to boogie...and even Marshal's ears perked up (and more importantly he stopped crying for a few seconds) when the theme song came on! "All the Single Ladies!" =)
Have you seen the Squeakqual? Or, more importantly, have your kiddies? Did they like it?
I don't think of this as a review so much as a complaint. Some moms favor one brand of diapers over another and I never quite understood that until Marshal came along. I bought a lot of diapers ahead of time using coupons because I'm cheap like that. I got Huggies and Pamper, but for the smaller sizes I seemed to have bought a lot of Pampers.
One thing that I notice now that we're getting into bigger sizes (and therefore using more Huggies) is that there IS a difference!
The Pampers leave 'stuff' on him...like fibers and stuff. My son can wet down a diaper like nobody's business. It doesn't matter if I've changed him 30 minutes before...he can manage to weigh down a diaper with pee pee in seconds. And while both brands seem to work well at containing the liquid, Huggies actually seem to keep his skin dry and free of 'stuff'.
I noticed when he was littler, that the Pampers would leave fibers (string/cloth?) around his little private part. We'd have to pick and pull it off of him and he hated it. And now when I use the Pampers diapers I notice the same thing - as well as what look like little round pellets ??? on his skin when his diaper gets really wet. I'm pretty sure that those are from the diaper itself since he soaks it so much.
But the Huggies don't seem to do the same thing.
Plus, Huggies have had a kick butt coupon for $3 off any pack and using that with Diapers.com made for a slammin' deal on diapers. (Did you know that you can use manufacturer coupons with diapers.com!?! So flippin' awesome!)
So anyway...in my not so official review...Pampers don't work for us. I'm going to finish off the ones we have in stock but from there on out we're going to stick with Huggies brand.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.
Yes, another sponsored post. :) Since I don't have much jewelry stuff to chat about. I am being picky though in the opportunities I select for these types of posts. This one actually strikes home to me, because I actually earned my Bachelors degree online.
My experience with online school was wonderful. I was able to work full time while "going" to school and earning money to help me pay for my tuition (as well as my company providing tuition reimbursement...major bonus!). If I had to go back to school now I think the only way I'd be able to manage is by going online. I think it requires a certain personality to self motivate and work online, but schools are making it easier and more user friendly than ever before.
USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC is offering Masters of Arts in Teaching program that you can study and earn online! Head to their site for more program information.
You can earn your Masters of Arts in Teaching from an internationally known school with a 100 year history of educating the educators - from faculty recognized for their contributions to modern education. Their School of Education has been ranged #22 in the U.S., and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report. Rossier and the MAT@USC were also awarded by AACTE for innovative use of technology in education - an important thing for an online program.
As a student online you will have access to a combination of highly interactive online learning with field-based experiences in your local area. USC has a groundbreaking tuition reimbursement program designed exclusively for MAT@USC graduates.
Not only that, you get full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Associate memberships. All from the comfort of your home (or library...I sometimes went to the library to work when it was too distracting at work LOL).
If you have time right now, they even offer an accelerated 12 month program - you could have your Masters in less than a year!
Oh...and you can officially call yourself a TROJAN! =) How cool is that?
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cryo-Cell International. All opinions are 100% mine.
I know...two sponsored posts in as many days. Crazy right? But I had to write about this one because it actually hits very close to home for me.
Hubby and I talked and prayed about whether or not to have Marshal's cord blood stored. It's very expensive and the science is far from settled.
However, we did decide to have his cord blood taken right after birth and sent off to a company (not the sponsor company) to store in case (God forbid!) he ever needed it someday. Why? Because my father died from cancer at the age of 36. And hubby's mom is dying from Leukemia right now. We also have a variety of diseases in our family like hypertension and diabetes. But it was the cancer issues (since it's on both sides of our family) that made us decide to do it.
While the science might not be settled, I have faith that science continues to make huge strides in the area of stem cells. The cells inside the cord blood are extremely special - they are a perfect match for Marshal. Stem cells can (potentially) benefit him in the event that he has to be treated for a disease like cancer. There is even talk of stem cells helping with Type 1 Diabetes and to regenerate heart cells:
"Stem cells from umbilical cord blood may provide the raw material to repair the hearts of thousands of babies born each year with defective heart valves, according to data presented at last week's American Heart Association annual meeting."
Obviously these things are not settled science, but with our history it just made sense to save Marshal's cord blood. You only have one chance to save this precious substance and it's something you need to plan ahead. If you are having a baby soon, or plan on having one someday, I recommend discussing this option with your partner (and your doctor) and doing research on the best option for you.
Cryo-Cell International is working with Save the Children...for every person who enrolls with them, Cryo-Cell Int'l will donate $25 to Save the Children and the relief efforts ongoing in Haiti. This is only through the end of February, but even if you don't enroll this month it's something to be considered and researched.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dermajuv Skin Care Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
Do you use skin care products? I am horrible when it comes to taking care of my skin. Maybe it's because I had to do SO much with my skin as a teenager (I had TERRIBLE acne) and so I just got sick of it. I've tried all sorts of creams and lotions though.
For me, it's a matter of convenience and I think that the trend has been to provide this for consumers. I hate even having to wash my face, but if I don't my skin breaks out like I'm 16 years old again. And since I do have to wash my face, it dries out regularly and I *should* use some sort of cream or lotion. What I'd love to see is a combined face wash / lotion. =) That's the trend I want to see in the future.
My mom didn't really use a lot of facial products that I can remember, but my grandmother always had a drug store worth of products in her cabinets. I LOVED going through all the bottles and potions when I was young.
Have products changed a lot since my mom or grandma's time? Advertisers want you to think they have but I'm not a scientist and I don't know. I do know that there are a LOT more options now (and there seemed to be quite a few options back "then"). Do they really work? No idea. They sure do have pretty packaging though.
You can purchase from big manufacturers like Avon, Dermajuv, or Clinique...or from small independent shops who make their products in their homes (like those folks on Etsy). I like that in the last few years we've seen more and more independent shops selling all natural products, which I see as a major trend going forward.
It seems like there are an overwhelming number of skin care options out there. So how do you determine what to use?
For me, I think looking at ingredients is important - but it's definitely hard to sort through all the claims. I admit that I'm tempted by Dermajuv's Acne skin treatment cream. I like the idea of avoiding the side effects of Benzoyl Peroxide, which makes my face turn bright red and itchy. If their "Resveratrol" ingredient does work better than benzoyl peroxide then it might be worth the $70 price tag. (Ouch!)
Do you think that creams can reduce wrinkles? I think it's probably a temporary effect, but if you use it every day it will give you some sort of benefit. "Matrixyl" is the ingredient that is supposed to help in Dermajuv's anti-wrinkle cream, but for $70 they need to show me a lot more evidence.
This is my first 'official' review, for fun, unpaid and un-reimbursed in any way. Please let me know what you think and if you think I should do more of these types of posts.
Have you seen that commercial for Trident Layers gum on TV? A guy comes home and wants to pay his kids' babysitter with gum instead of money. Oh but it's not just ANY gum...it's Trident Layers gum and so wonderfully amazing that the kids (and the gardener, and the phone guy) are happy to receive gum instead of cash.
They're clearly insane (not to mention horrible actors).
I was really looking forward to trying this new gum because I enjoy chewing gum on a daily basis. The gum looks great and there are several different flavors to pick from. It's also sugar free (a big pre-requisite for my gum choices).
I rarely buy candy or gum without a coupon (I'm something of a coupon lady) so when I saw it was on sale at Fred Meyer for $1, and I had coupons for $0.75/1 and $1.00/2 I decided to buy five packs. I bought three packs of the Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus and two packs of the Green Apple + Golden Pineapple for a total investment of $2.25. The regular price I've seen this gum sold at seems to vary from $1.49 to $1.74. When did gum get so expensive?
The packaging for this gum is great. It's the new style that many gum packs seem to be going with these days - the 'box' flips up to reveal two rows of gum in neat little lines. It reminds me of an old fashion cigarette case...only healthier. The paper of the box is thicker than other brands of gum that I've seen (i.e. Extra).
Each piece is individually wrapped in heavy silver foil and the size of each piece is substantial at 1 1/2 inches long, almost 1/2 an inch wide, and 6 mm high. Getting the first piece out is a little challenging as they are all packed in there rather tightly and after a tug I managed to get a piece out with the wrapping a little rumpled.
I started with the Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. The initial flavor is very pleasant and sweet. I don't detect any sort of 'sour' notes that I'd expect with Green Apple. After a few minutes (less than 5), however, the pleasant taste turns into a sickly sweet. I've never experienced gum that makes my mouth feel like I've just taken medicine, but Trident Layers managers this feat swiftly. The Tangy Strawberry flavored one is the same - pleasant for the first minute and then it starts tasting like medicine.
After chewing the gum for less than 15 minutes I am ready to spit it out and move on. The texture has gotten to the point that it feels like I'm chewing on a rubber band, although it does seem to work when I try to blow small bubbles. It certainly isn't Bubbalicious bubble blowing gum though.
Ingredient Notes - This gum contains Soy and Phenylalanine. Say that three times fast.
What will I do with the extra packs I bought? The joy of couponing is being able to share with others. I knew that if I didn't like it I could just share it with my coworkers. There are enough people in the office that someone will like it. And I'm only out a couple of dollars total.
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If you liked this review I'd really appreciate your feedback (well, I guess I'd appreciate your feedback if you didn't like the review too!). I haven't decided if I'll make these sort of posts a regular part of my blog or not. I do enjoy it so we'll see what the response is like. :)
