Ecostore Review and $25 Gift Card Giveaway CLOSED WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO....

arobimom at gmail dot com

Thanks to all those who entered!  Don't forget to enter the other giveaways to include a Sears $50 Gift Card, Misikko $220 Hana Hot Iron and others!  More giveaways coming soon to include a Jenny McCarthy Wii game and other baby products!

Random.org is used to select among the eligible entries.  Please utilize bonus entries opportunities~

If you are a regular to my blog, you know that I tend to write about organic or natural derived products.  I guess as I grew older and became more aware, I realized the dangers that lurk in our common every day products and food.  With that said, when Ecostore USA offered me a chance to receive two complimentary products of my choice, I was interested.  If you are like me, you might have been or still might be reluctant to try something that is not a name brand or contains all the tried and true chemicals you've grown accustomed to.

If you aren't familar with Ecostore USA, they are an extension of Ecostore NZ that was founded more than 20 years ago so they have the experience and credibility behind them.  In this eco farm based village, two people, Melanie and Malcolm Rands, started their business.  Within time, business grew as families wanted safer alternatives for their children and themselves.  Ecostore NZ offers more than 100 products that meets the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards.

Ecostore USA's motto is No Nasty* Chemicals and you can read more about their company via their blog here.  You can also find a wealth of information ranging from videos to podcasts to a glossary and more here.

For my review, I chose the Auto Dish Powder and the Manuka Honey &Kelp Soap.  The Auto Dish Powder is a blend of mineral salts, citrus and coconut oils.  It only takes one tablespoon in the dishwasher and it worked without leaving any films or dirt behind.  There were no odors of chemicals either.  I have used it for five days and have not found any issues with the Auto Dish Powder.  I prefer having an all natural dish washing detergent over one that is full of chemicals that I don't know what they are let alone pronounce.  The bottle is plain and not very eye catching but that is not a concern of mine.

I would recommend the Auto Dish Powder as it does the job, requires only one tablespoon and is reasonably priced at $12.00 a bottle. 

The Manuka Honey & Kelp Soap is made of all natural ingredients and comes in a pretty green bar with Ecostore imprinted on it.

Ingredients:

• Sodium Palmate (palm oil)
• Sodium Cocoate (coconut oil)
• Sodium chloride (salt)
• Vegetable Glycerine
• Tetra Sodium Etidronate and Tetra Sodium EDTA (antioxidants used to preserve the stability of vegetable oils in soap base. Derived from vinegar. Safe for skin)
• Kelp
• Wheatgerm oil
• Manuka Honey
• Bran
• Natural pigments
• Fragrance

The soap quickly works with a deep, rich lather but rinses easily.  I found I did not have to use a lot of soap to get the lather I feel shows its cleaning.  The fragrance is pleasant and my skin truly felt softer and moisturized.  I felt more assurred with this soap given the ingredients are listed on the site, are all natural and I really liked the combination of products such as the Manuka honey, bran and kelp even though I think of Sponge Bob due to my children.

I am sold on this soap and would recommend it especially if you are concerned with the chemicals and additives that are in every day normal soap you buy.

If you are in the US, there are 21 products to choose from ranging from Baby Care, Bath & Body, Hair, Household, Pets and gift certificates.

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will receive a $25 gift certificate to chooes the product(s) of their choice!

To Enter:

Follow my blog and go to Ecostore USA and tell me what you would like to try.

Bonus Entries (five entries each):

Sign up for Ecostore USA's No Nasty Chemicals newslettters.
Subscribe to my blog.
Become a fan of Ecostore on Facebook.
Follow Ecostore on Twitter.
Follow me on Twitter.
Blog about this giveaway.
Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily) and include.

Giveaway ends 2/14 at midnight and winner will be chosen by random.org.

Open to all, good luck and thanks for entering!

Old Navy Weekly Giveaway - 10 Winners of $50 off $100 Purchase 2/14 CLOSED WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

luvdamall@aol.com

colleen_mouse@yahoo.com;

arobimom@gmail.com

tboardley20@gmail.com

dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

babyplusme@yahoo.com

Jenprincess88@aol.com

Lyricandariasmom@gmail.com

mi3ragamuffins at aol dot com

cbeargie@yahoo.com

Each winner, selected by random.org, had their e-mail addresses sent to M80 who will distribute the coupons.  Please check spam boxes if you don't receive them within a day.  There is an expiration date so please watch for that so you don't lose out!

Thanks to all those who entered!

I'm so excited as I've seen these giveaways on other blogs and jumped at the chance to work with M80 on behalf of Old Navy for this amazing giveaway where TEN winners will receive a coupon for $50 towards a $100 purchase or more.  This is a fantastic deal!  Where else is it so easy to get $50 in free clothes and accessories for anyone on your family?

Every week, Old Navy Weely features one of their specials and the item of the week for 2/12 - 2/18 is the Women’s Women’s ruffle V-Neck tops.  A great bargain at $8 (Reg. $16.50) but you have to hurry as they will only be at this price from 2/12 - 2/18!

Need to give your wardrobe a flirty flair that’s easy to wear?  You won't go wrong with this women’s ruffle V-Neck top.  The latest Old Navy Item of the Week will leave you sizzling hot for Valentine's Day or any other day.  With easy, essential colors that go with anything, you will be a hit wherever you go.

Have fun with the Women’s ruffle V-Neck top and while your at it, choose a great pair of slacks!

To enter:

Follow my blog and let me know where you plan to wear your ruffle V-neck.

Bonus Entries (five entries each):

Subscribe to my blog.
Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily).
Blog about this giveaway.
Enter any of my other ongoing giveaways.


Giveaway ends: 2/14 so hurry!

10 winners will be chosen by random.org

Thanks to all those who enter!
 
Notes on the Coupons:

• The winners will be receiving their coupon via e-mail in a PDF format.  The winners will need to print off their specific code they receive via e-mail and have a certain timeframe to redeem it.  All the specifics will be disclosed in the e-mail sent by M80 on behalf of Old Navy.
• Coupons are valid for a limited time only. Old Navy and M80 cannot replace a coupon that was not redeemed in the correct timeframe. 
• If winner fails to respond within the timeframe the coupon is to be redeemed, an alternate winner. 
• These are only one-time use coupons. Once redeemed, code is no longer valid and cannot be used again.
• The individual code should not be shared with nor used by multiple users.
• If a Sales Associate advises that code is not working, customer should ask them to key in the alpha-numeric code under the barcode (if the code is valid, and it’s just a question of the barcode reader having issue with the print quality of the code, then keying in should work – unless it’s already been redeemed then it will come up as invalid).

RoleMommy and Bravado! Designs: Calling All Nursing Moms! Giveaway! 2/14 CLOSED WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO......

BABYPLUSME

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTERED!

Don't forget to enter the $50 Sears Gift Card and Mikisso $220 Hana Flat Iron along with the other giveaways!

More are coming:  Jenny McCarthy Wii Fitness Game & baby products!

random.org is used to select from eligible entries!

RoleMommy and Bravado! Designs are calling Mommy Bloggers to raise awareness on the Bravado! Designs nursing line as well as a brand new sweepstakes by Bravado! Designs. 

If you haven't heard of Bravado! Designs, they are known for bras fit for breastfeeding.  The Bravado Design’s 18 year old signature line is truly the gold standard in nursing wear and beginning January 14, the brand will be introducing an affordable new line of nursing wear in Target stores across the country.

Bravado! Designs is hosting the Basics by Bravado “Spot a Mom” sweepstakes in which participating moms will be entered to win $500 worth of must-have items for their baby.

Here’s how you can enter:

• Find the nearest Target store in your area offering Basics by Bravado nursing wear (click HERE for a a complete store listing).
• Visit the store and snap some pics of yourself finding the Basics by Bravado store display.
• Email your photo, along with your name and contact details to basics@bravadodesigns.com.

If you get a chance to try out the Bravado! Designs website, there is an area that helps you to determine what to buy:

• Just pregnant
• Due date is coming up
• New baby arrived
• Little one is a few months old
• I'm a curvalalicious mom <-- love that as that's me!
• I've got a hot date coming up <-- great concept as why can't a nursing mommy be sexy too?
• Comfort
• I'm a green mama <-- very nice feature!
• I like to wear it like a celebrity
• I'm going back to work soon
• I need the perfect baby shower gift

Find out what others have found in Fit Pregnancy, American Baby, InShape, Parenting and more!  There is a wealth of information on Bravado's website to even help you learn all about breastfeeding.  I strongly believe in breastfeeding and started all three of my girls out with it. 

About Basics by Bravado:

Basics by Bravado is an accessible, comfortable and functional nursing wear collection which includes a sleep bra, t-shirt bra and an inner wear camisole. The Basics by Bravado collection offers women who crave Bravado’s products and the knowledge of breastfeeding that come with them, an option that you can grab-and-go at an affordable price. Bravado is offering this collection as part of the company’s commitment that all mothers deserve a great nursing experience.

I love that Bravado will now being offered at Target as that was one of my favorite places for maternity wear shopping!

The Giveaway:

A Bravado Nursing Tank from the Bravado Designs Collections.

To Enter:

Follow my blog and tell me what other type of bra from Bravado you would choose.

Extra Entries (five each)

Follow Bravado! Designs on Twitter.
Follow me on Twitter.
Join the Bravado Mama Club (it's free)
Subscribe to my blog.
Blog about this giveaway
Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily).

Giveaway ends 2/14 at midnight and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

US only please.



*Disclaimer:  I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Purposeful Planning Bundle Review & Giveaway - 3 Winners CLOSED WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

amandakbarnes90@gmail.com

helencutie06@aol.com

E-mails have been sent to each winner!

Thanks to all those who entered and don't forget to enter current giveaways and subscribe to be one of the first to know about new giveaways coming soon!

 

Phyllis Sather, a mother, a wife and a person with a deep Christian belief, has this thought provoking bundle titled Purposeful Planning.  This great resource starts with an eBook titled Purposeful Planning which encompasses how she became interested in this idea to share her wealth of knowledge. 

During a very heightened moment in Phyllis' life, her husband, Daniel, swept her away reluctantly for the weekend to discuss their goals and plans as a family.  This concept was completely foreign to me as most people take a vacation and never really dive into such discussions as goals and plans. 

When Phyllis contacted me to sponsor this review and giveaway, it really interested me mostly because I am on a spiritual path to learn more about the Lord and of course, my family wouldn't suffer from learning how to incorporate the Lord's teachings into our lives.

Purposeful Planning is divided into sections that provides the reader with the "how to" figure out a plan for your family along with the tools that might help achieving that goal.  The beauty of the book allows a couple to experience this path together or with children when applicable.  Phyllis does a great idea explaining their difficulties with incorporating this idea into their lives and reading how they overcame their obstacles really did add to the value of the book.

Throughout the book are quotes to help keep the reader inspired such as this one:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  Mark Twain

Every detail is outlined to help the reader move forward such as the initial planning of starting your first goal session weekend.

• 
  
  Where will you go?
• 
  
  Will you take the children?

There are many other questions that helps to put forward a plan that will work.  Phyllis presses upon the importance of praying and uses passages from the Bible to reinforce the importance of incorporating the Lord into our lives.

I also enjoyed the section written by Dan to fathers and grandfathers.  He understands the role of the father and the viewpoint they may struggle with and encourages him to step up and be an active part in this process.

This bundle series includes the Purposeful Planning Handbook which is also broken into many titles.  The handbook allows the reader to plan accordingly which will provide greater results.  Whether you want to tackle all of the subjects or not, there are recommendations and help provided from a variety of topics from the children, each other, the marriage, finances and more.  There are helpful resource links in both the eBook and handbook to assist the reader on their endeavor.

A big impact on me also was the section titled Discretionary Time.  So many times, people spend their times watching television or surfing the net without devoting time to the family.   They are not advocating a complete surrendering of your time but encourages finding time for family activities.  This is key to a happy family.  One of the things my family does is to have "Family Night" once a month.  This is where all of us gather, cook dinner and play games or watch a family oriented movie.  This has become a favorite of my six year old and hope we continue it to where it becomes a family tradition when they have children.

The bundle wraps up with an MP3 opportunity to listen as well as read.  This is for those that have a commute to work or some other opportunity to listen instead of reading.  I love this option as often times, I listen to something prior to going to sleep as a calming activity as well as something for me.

Overall, this is a great collection or even by itself to help families find the path for the future.  It lays the groundwork in helping families put forth the time necessary to plan and put the Lord into our lives.  Having goals is essential for any type of growth and anyone can have goals but you can't have goals until you figure them out!

Phyllis also has a ton of resources on her website so please check it out!

The Giveaway:

Three readers will receive the bundle set of Phyllis' Purposeful Planning.

To Win:

Follow my blog and go to Purposeful Planning and telling me something about Phyllis you didn't know.

Extra Entries:

Sign up for Phyllis' updates here.

Subscribe to my blog.

Blog about this giveaway.

Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily).

Follow me on Twitter.

Giveaway ends 2/14 at midnight.  Winners will be chosen by random.org.

Thank you for entering!

Natural Fever Reducing Remedies

Unfortunately, I'm sitting along side my now two year old who has a fever, a headache and is vomiting.  My six year old gave it to her and thankfully she's better.  I worry more about the two year given her immune and allergy issues.  She won't take tylenol or motrin and immediately vomits so I remember watching the remake of Little Women when Marmie is sent back home to take care of Beth.  Can you tell that I've watched it a time or two or three or more?  I watch it a lot to help with the historical novel I'm writing.  Anyway, Marmie has Jo get water, vinegar and some cloths to draw the fever to her feet. 

Since Dani does not tolerate fever reducing medications and never has, I decided to Google natural remedies for reducing fevers and there it was, vinegar, water and cloth.  Much to my surprise, I found another one that had many tried and true comments from others stating soaking egg whites in cloth and wrapping them on feet with covered socks is an immediate treatment to lower a fever.

I've always known fevers are good to a point because it's the body's natural defense against these nasty invaders but any mom knows how frightening fevers can be.  I tried the vinegar and it doesn't smell too terribly great but she let me use it on her.  Her fever, so far, has reduced a tad.  It can be repeated every two hours.  Another remedy is chopping onions and mixing it with vinegar and placing it on the soles of feet with socks covering them.  I don't have egg whites so I'm going to give the onions a shot if the fever doesn't break or elevates.

If anyone has any other old remedies or wives tales, feel free to share! 

Britax Advocate CS Car Seat Review & Giveaway at "Deal"ectible Mommies

Having a daughter has increased my desire to enter giveaways involving baby products. "Deal"ectible Mommies has a fantastic giveaway ending March 10th:

Our family has been long time fans of Britax Car Seats and when Big Pea grew out of her infant seat at only six months, we did our homework before purchasing a bigger car seat. As with any parent, our main focus was safety and we wanted to ensure that we were giving her the safest car seat available! I combed through websites, read reviews and asked everyone I knew for recommendations and the same name continued to come up more than any other... Britax! You can guess from here what car seat we decided to go with.


Britax has a long line of consumers to stand behind their name, but I wanted to know more and when the opportunity for a review came my way, I jumped at the chance to learn more about this company and specifically their new seat, the Britax Advocate CS. The Britax Advocate CS is the newest convertible child safety seat in the Britax line and comes equipped with Side Impact Cushion Technology, (I'll talk about this more in a minute) making this the safest seat in the Britax line!

Just click here to enter.

Giveaways Ending at Midnight (Sunday)

Please don't forget to enter the several giveaways ending tonight at midnight (EST):

• Flirty Aprons
• Bravado Nursing Bra
• 10 Winners for $50 off $100 Purchase at Old Navy
• Christian Planning Bundle Set

http://youthfultips.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Military Medical Care, My Children's Chronic Medical Conditions & An Etsy Seller Medical Alert Buttons

At long last, the girls were able to experience snow!  The two year old never has seen it in person and the last time my six year old had, it was four year's ago when we lived in Indiana.  We moved from Indiana and spent one year in Hawaii post my husband's deployment to Iraq and then to Georgia.  This summer, will mark our third and hopeful, last year.  While hubby deploys to Kuwait in May, I get the task of selling the house and moving to our next location.  Anyway, we received 6-7 inches of snow and it was glorious except for our six year coming down with a severe ear ache and congestion.  The only thing that provided her any delight was the snow so we had to let her go out both yesterday and today, completely bundled up and not for long.  She's not speaking due to the pain and since she already has epilepsy and migraines, I didn't want to prolong it in case it did end up being H1N1 for both gir's sake.

In June 2008, within two week's of one another, both girls were diagnosed with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and some unknown pulmonary possible immune system issue.  Both girls were healthy and had no issues until post vaccinations. Coincidental? Perhaps but I have no idea so I move forward focusing on care and treatment.  Both instances landed my girls in ambulances from the local military hospital to the local children's hospital because they quite frankly, are unable to treat chronic conditions in children.  There is a long story on the trials and tribulations I've suffered at the military hospital but I'm not focusing on the past.  Today, I'm focusing on what happened today.

We arrived, no one else was there so that was a nice surprise as the wait can be long as anyone who visits an ER knows.  We are sent back for vitals and the intake person, possibly a nurse, doesn't know what Benign Rolandic Epilepsy is so I explained and provided the medication along with her newly diagnosed medication for pediatric migraines.  I was alright with that as it wasn't the doctor so it would be fine.  Upon being shown to our exam room, the doctor came in.  He was a very nice, polite and professional doctor who I liked.  He asked what the medications were and I said "Benign Rolandic Epilepsy."  He said he never heard of it.  I suppose it might be an uncommon condition but from all that I read, quite a few children are diganosed with BRE and with luck, they outgrow it when they reach puberity.

My summation to today was since the medical facility had no idea what BRE was, found no problem with my daughter's pain and congestion other than "perhaps a virus," I'm not comforted and am still sitting by her side with worry.  It's hard trying to keep the two separated as they spend so much time together.  I'm assuming it's not H1N1 since they weren't worried over the ear pain, fever and congestion.

This is a picture of her during her last EEG to monitor the electrical waves in her brain to help determine type of seizures she is having.  In spite of a scary situation, we had a great two nights together playing, coloring and just having some "mommy and daughter" time.

The other purpose of the post is to draw attention to a fantastic Etsy and Ebay seller who creates and sells buttons highlighting certain medical conditions.  Based on my interactions with her, she created epilepsy awareness buttons and buttons to warn others that the person has epilepsy.

Her shop is Creative Clam and I'm overlooking her New Orleans Saints' Who Dat button (I''m a Colts Believe diehard fan).  Here are two of the new epilepsy buttons:

She has all my children's medical conditions covered: Epilepsy, Asthma and Allergies.  There are so many and they are inexpensive which is why I included the post.   I like the idea of the buttons if my six year old is on a school field trip or participating in an event away from me as it draws immediate attention to her condition.

There are many other non-medical products too and being a military wife, I'm excited to see some future military buttons coming out!

Thought I'd Never See the Day: It Snowed in Augusta!

We're ending our third year in Georgia and we finally got some "real" snow!  I grew up near Chicago so nothing beats lake effect snow but I was happy!

The Criteria for Organic Food

I received my All You magazine and read it last night.  I was interested in one particular article that discusses how to fit organic food into your budget and what allows a seller to state their food is organic. 

Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the seller must adhere to "strict" rules to call their food organic and what they are allowed to place on their food label:

• Food must be produced without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Food cannot be genetically modified, include animal parts or come into contact with sewage sludge (i.e. our wastes retrieved from wastewater treatments plants<-- yes, they do that as I used to be a state inspector for a state agency) or ionizing radiation.

I've long wondered the ramifications of growth hormones not only to speed up the growth factor of animals but also the milk hormones given to dairy cattle to get them to produce milk quicker and in higher quantities.  It seemed odd to me that after the 90's, there seems to be an abundance of teens that weigh 100 pounds and have a size D chest.  Coincidence?  Maybe but if you ever watch television shows from the 80's and early, there aren't many big chested girls.  Granted the late teen and older women are getting surgically enhanced but I doubt the early teen girls are.  I digressed ...

What do the labels mean?

• USDA Organic - single ingredient foods  (fruit and vegetables, milk, meat, eggs or cheese) certified under USDA rules and multi-ingredients products made with at least 95% organic ingredients.
• 100% Organic - all the ingredients in multi-ingredient foods with this label are organic.
• Organic - products bearing this label contain at least 95% organic ingredients.  The remaining ingredients are not available organically but have been approved by the USDA's National Organic Program.
• Made with Organic Ingredients - these products must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.

To see more specifics on label claim rules, the USDA has a page here.  If you are interested in purchasing organic food and don't know if you have a local farmer's market, you can check here.

Friday Follow: Join Us For Week 5

Friday Follow: A Celebration of Followers - Week #5

I love Friday Follow! Here is our 5th week of Friday Follow. Come join the party. We have had a great turnout so far and are finding some wonderful blogs to share.

Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one - but you can follow each blog. Follow a few or follow them all.

The list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Please be patient with following or getting followers. With the tremendous response there are a lot to visit. The Mcklinky will stay here all week so you can visit blogs at your own pace.





Thank you for joining us. Have fun!

Tom Binns Alice in Wonderland Jewerly Collection

Ever heard of Boutique to You?  They carry designer clothes that you see the stars wear (if that matters to you).  I was drawn to check them out as Tom Binns has a new collection coming out with the release of the new Johnny Depp movie, Alice in Wonderland which I cannot wait to see!

I don't know if it's my internet connection or not but the pages take awhile to load.  They actually do have some really good buys pending your tastes.  Back to Alice in Wonderland, all the jewelry is on pre-order basis but they really have some cute pieces.

The Rabbit Clock Pendant Necklace is cute and priced at $66.  Hop to it! The Tom Binns Rabbit Clock Pendant Necklace features a silver-plated rabbit clock face with movable fork and spoon clock hands. 28" Rollo chain with 3" extender.

I like the Queen of Hearts Necklace but it's priced at $176!  The Tom Binns Multi-Layered Queen of Hearts Necklace is a hematite-plated multi-layered necklace fit for a queen. Features multi-sized black resin heart charms.

Multi-Entrants

Since I moderate all the comments to keep the bots out with their spams, I have to same that some of you should win just for effort!

I always marvel at how much work is put in to winning and I really, truly wished I could give out the wins to everyone who enters.  It's the highlight as the winner is selected when I get to send the e-mail stating they won but it's also sad to all the others that didn't win.

I'm enjoying blogging as I'm getting to correspond with some very wonderful, loving, caring and busy people!

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to enter and leave comments!

Guest Blogger: Fashion As You Age

Sandy at Diviine Modestee has provided a guest post blog on dressing appropriately as you age.  I liked this topic as the media (aka Hollywood) keeps bombarding us with these images of women in the 40s and older dressing as if they are still in their late teens or early 20's.  I feel that every person should dress age appropriately regardless of how great your body may look.  There is just something classy and timeless about a 50 year old woman who dresses modest yet elegant versus letting it all hang out. 

Thanks Sandy for the article and advice!



No woman wants to look old and frumpy, no matter what her age. So what’s a woman to do who has counted quite a few years behind her? Sometimes it seems like there are only two choices in fashion styles for this older set: Frumpish and Outdated or Trendy Whippersnapper. Shopping for the 50+ set can be daunting when it seems all the choices are one extreme or the other. But with a few simple tips and suggestions the mature woman can cultivate a style all her own, appropriate for her, yet contemporary, current and yes…even youthful.

• First of all, be confident. A woman with confidence radiates whether she is wearing knee-hi nylons with a housedress or not.
• Know your body type and dress to compliment and camouflage. Show off shoulders and legs…they are the last to show age. Turn collars up or select stand-up collars to hide the neck and bring focus to the face.
• Adapt fashion trends to suit you. One suggestion is to purchase highly trendy fashion items in black, which adds sophistication. 
•  Don’t wear the most extreme versions of a fashion trend. For example, the Gladiator Sandal...

The Gladiator on the left is a perfect example of extreme fashion and should be left to teenagers and Hollywood Elite. The Gladiators on the right however are the perfect version of this trend and can be worn by the young and older alike.

• Don’t get stuck in the style that worked for you when you were 20. Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve said: “There are people whose watch stops at a certain hour and who remain permanently in that age.” Don’t let the same thing happen to your wardrobe! Even though those styles looked great on you back in the day, they will only date you now. Make sure to purchase and wear one “with it” item (or more) each season. Look at magazines and online to see what celebrities your age are wearing.
• Wear color over neutrals. Especially stay away from beige, gray and dark blue. Those colors will tend to make you look drab.
• Comfort IS important but when your wardrobe screams “Comfort!” over “Fab style!” you are doing something wrong. While your days of “Beauty hurts” may be over, select clothing items that are BOTH comfortable and fashionable. It is possible!
• Wear a classic look updated in stylish patterns and colors. A wrap dress is a classic that has been around for a long time, is still fashionable and compliments all figures. Instead of a neutral colored or plain wrap dress go for a fantastic pattern such as this dress from http://www.diviinemodestee.com:

While this model shown is fairly young, this classic Wrap-style dress compliments all figures. It creates a shaped waist, yet draws the eye upward and its fun color and pattern add youthfulness.

While age is something that occurs to all try to not let your wardrobe look old. I personally like Oliver Wendell Holmes’ take on aging: “Old age is fifteen years older than I am”. Strive to make your wardrobe reflect your youthful inner-age and keep from making you look fifteen years older than you are. Master this art and your age will be an enigma not a stigma.

Optimal Eating and Losing Weight

Like so many others, I struggle with weight loss and I suppose if I spent as much time blogging, I would be thin!  I've finally figured out a way that I can balance the laptop on the recumbant bike and workout at a not-so-bad pace.  Today, all in all, I biked over two hours.  I pulled that heavy thing into my office area and watched training presentations for work while I put away over an hour's worth of time and then I did another hour.  On top of that, I completed 20 minutes with my daughter and EA Sports Active.  That is such a fun workout and I'm glad Colleen introduced me to that one.

I'm on a weightloss group from another blog and I have to admit that I have not been posting like I should and I'm not losing weight like I should be.  I'm hoping today will be the turnaround point.

I was reading an article that in Europe, people eat their heavest meal between 10 am and 2 pm.  I think that's all good but moderation still plays in terms of picking the right food.  Starting tomorrow, I'm going back on what I learned from Quick Weight Loss and hopefully will achieve my results.

Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause: How You Can Help

Kelly Ripa and Electrolux has teamed up again with the help of MomSelect to spread the word on yet another great project that Kelly is heading up.  Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause and accomplished master baker and cake decorator Buddy Valastro, from TLC's "Cake Boss," recently joined forces at a fun event to bake lavishly decorated cakes in support of The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). To add to the excitement, five teams of baking enthusiasts were invited to take part in Kelly's Cake Off, where they used what they learned from Kelly and the Cake Boss, to decorate their own cakes.

I just love Buddy and his TLC show.  I became easily hooked when I watched his show for the first time and marveled at his creativity and humor.  Having Kelly and Buddy hook up had to be a riot.

Here is where you come in to help raise fund for ovarian cancer.  By visiting Kelly-Confidential.com, you can cast a vote for your favorite cake from Kelly's Cake Off.


For every vote cast, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF as part of its $500,000 commitment to help fight ovarian cancer!  What a perfect way to show your special valentine your love as you can even decorate and send a special virtual cake to a friend, family member or someone you love. For every cake sent, Electrolux will donate another $1 to OCRF.

Get a bonus entry for the induction range giveaway by tweeting your cake

This is the cake I voted for:  

Buddy's top cake decorating tips are available as a treat!

Get involved now here!

Thanks to MomSelect, Kelly Ripa, Electrolux and Buddy (The Cake Boss)!

Bello is Back! – the Big Apple Circus in Atlanta 2/12 - 2/28 Discount Tickets

Get the kids and the hubby and pack up to see Bello in the Big Apple Circus!  Time Magazine calls him, "America's Best Clown" and now, Bello is Back! under the Big Apple Big Top performing breathtaking feats of humor in the theatrical focus of one ring with no seat more than 50 feet away! Bello is joined by a world of stellar circus stars and the Big Apple Circus’ very own clown – Grandma!

Performances of Bello is Back! begin Friday, February 12th and run through Sunday, February 28th, 2010, under the Big Top at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, the third stop on the Big Apple Circus's 11–month, 7–city tour.



YouthfulTips readers get to enjoy a 30% off!   To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:

• Online: http://bigapplecircus.org/atlpop.aspx and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box.
• By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10.
• In Person: Big Top Box Office 10AM–6PM daily. No service fee. Bring a copy of this blog post

*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.

Tickets for performances at upcoming venues are currently on sale to Big Apple Circus members only. In addition to knowing your membership helps kids in need, benefits include discounted tickets, VIP seats, invitations to exclusive member-only events, and more! For full details, check out: http://bigapplecircus.org/support/membership.aspx.

Check out Big Apple on Facebook or Twitter.

Want to know more about the performers?  Here they are:

Bello is joined by a world of stellar circus stars:

• From Spain, Picaso Jr. returns with his sizzling style and extraordinary juggling act — puffing into the air up to five ping-pong balls simultaneously, and catching them — with his mouth!
• From Russia, the Aniskin Troupe amaze with their bravura, athletic trampoline act — then soar into the Big Top stratosphere with their spectacular flying trapeze act!
• The Big Apple Circus' own lovely and graceful Regina Dobrovitskaya performs a shimmering spectacle on aerial silk ribbons!
• Equestrians Christine Zerbini and Sultan Kumisbayev present an electrifying riding act — standing atop galloping chargers, Roman–style!
• Luciano Anastasini’s Pound Puppies (all rescued from animal shelters) return for a joyously jumping mélange of human and canine acrobatics!
• Of course there’s more and for an extra measure of love and laughter, there’s the Big Apple Circus' very own clown -- Grandma.

* Disclaimer:  American Pop Digital provided the information for this promotional opportunity for my readers. 

Top Ten Tips for Creating a Distraction Free Vacation

I love TwitterMom's contest and can't wait for the next one as they are thought provoking and fun.   Alamo is sponsoring this great contest and you can join in!

It's been year's since we had a family vacation after all, before moving to Georgia, we lived in Hawaii so we had a vacation every day!  We are planning a mini vacation sometime this month or next month before my husband deploys to Kuwait for a year.

Growing up, we didn't have the resources to enjoy a family vacation either so we made the most out of summers.  Here are some ideas and tips to make a memorable vacation:

1. Plan a family fun night where the kids choose the a couple of games to play, if you have a small theater type popcorn, buy the really good popcorn and plan a dinner menu that the kids can choose and help cook.  This is really a fun event for them and it keeps out all other distractions as you turn off the phones and shut down the computers.
2. Plan a fun filled day trip to some place local that takes one tank to get there.  For us, this would be Stone Mountain near Atlanta.  They have the circus coming to town as well as a great feature of making snow!  That would be ideal and again, leave the phones in the car!
3. Plan a family get together at a local park or somewhere that has shelterhouses you can rent.  Make it a pitch in and bring all the outdoor games with rules of no phones, no DS or portable devices. 
4. If you have a pool, pool parties are always fun and no one will want to risk getting the gadgets wet.  Create a theme whether it's tropical or the current movie du jour.  Themes add to the fun of any party.
5. Plan a road trip to a great feature nearby.  In Georgia, Savannah is just a hop, skip and a jump away!  Visit the haunted district, the old plantation homes or just relax and enjoy the many things to do.  Every area has a special place to visit that holds historical interests or other fascinating facts.  For those in the midwest, St. Louis is always nice too!
6. Book a night at a hotel that has a pool and interesting places to visit.  In Indianapolis, there is a hotel that has an inside.  The Caribbean Cover has over 50,000 square foot of tropical areas that the whole family can have fun with.  This would make a great vacation for those with kids who love the water.
7. Find things to do on the off hours such as bring along a scrapbook and start having everyone add what was special about the day's activities or the trip.
8. Make sure everyone has a camera or encourage sharing the camera to allow a unique perspective on every angle of the vacation.  What you see as interesting, the children may see something different.  It would make for an interesting vacation book later.
9. Just remember to make rules to be gadget free for the vacation.  You can make a rule exception as some that work will need to touch base with the office so allow some flexibility so you aren't requiring others to sneak and feel bad.
10. Finally, turn off the phones!  Only use as necessary!  No Tweeting, no e-mails, no nothing but family time.  As in number 9, make exceptions pending the urgency.

Just have fun, enjoy the children as you get such a short time to enjoy them!

Thanks for the contest Alamo and TwitterMoms!



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