Ficklets For Kids and Fashionable Women

I have posted before about Ficklets and I keep posting because I think it's such a great product!  Growing up with glasses, I remember the stigma behind them and how uncooll they were.  The choices back in the day of the dinosaurs, well maybe not that long ago, were not fun and in fact, they were downright ugly.  Kids have so many choices but never had they had the choice to customize their glasses with cute, adorable, fashionable and sporty charms like they do now.

Many of the Ficklets are catered towards girls which is where I'd expect the desire to come from as let's face it, us girls are stylish and fashionable.  There are choices for boys such as if he is an avid basketball, baseball, football or soccer fan.  The skulls under holidays would appeal to most boys too!

For the girls, there are so many choices ranging from flowers, hearts, ballet shoes, animals, stars, food to shapes.  I love the exotic animals and can imagine a little boy or girl sporting panda bears or giraffes on their frames.

Ficklets were created to fit on the template area of the frames.  They are easily attached and can be exchanged for a new set at anytime.  The cost allows a parent to buy more than one set thus increasing the likelihood your child will be excited to wear their glasses.

The selection under "classic" are very appealing to the tween, teen or older woman.  They are stylish, elegant and add such a nice sublte bling factor that you can't pass up.  I had to have some and they make my glasses look amazing!

If you have a child who wears glasses or wear glasses yourself, check out http://www.ficklets.com/ and you won't be disappointed.  The brilliant owner, Ros, is amazing and wonderful and great to work with!


*Disclaimer:  I was not paid nor compensated for this post.  I just love Ficklets!

Misikko, Sears $50 GC & More Giveaways Ending Soon & New Giveaways

Don't forget to enter the Misikko Hana Flat Iron giveaway ending tomorrow night at midnight (EST).  It's a great flat iron and anyone who buys flat irons knows how hard it is to find a good one let alone a high quality one that is FREE! 

What's better than free other than chocolate or Gerard Butler?

Other great giveaways are on-going as well and remember, the more you enter, the more businesses will be inclined to provide giveaways which I really enjoy giving away!

Today is a good day, my normal severe asthmatic/allergy prone two year old caught a bad cold on top of the stomach bug she had last weekend/early week and so far, is holding her own.  Normally we would be rushing to the ER but with everyday medication maintenance, we haven't had to resort to the rescue med or the hospital.  Any prayers appreciated as she has a bad croupy cough and isn't out of the woods yet!


YouthfulTips Misikko Hana Flat Iron Giveaway (200+ Value) 2/21
YouthfulTips $50 Sears GC Giveaway 2/25
YouthfulTips Holey Donuts 4 Pack and $250 Store Credit Giveaway 2/28
Youthfultips Hero Nutritionals Gummy Bear Vitamins 2 Bottles Each/2 Winners 3/2
YouthfulTips LuShae $50 Paypal Giveaway 3/8
YouthfulTips Your Shape Jenny McCarthy Wii Game Giveaway 3/10
YouthfulTips EA Active More Workouts Giveaway 3/10
YouthfulTips Simply FaBOWlous Headband for Kids Giveaway 3/10

Oxidants, Sugar and Processed Foods Effect on Wrinkles

Did you know free radicals are everywhere?  Do you know what a radical is?  I'm not talking about some renegade person rather something occurring naturally ...everywhere.  Sun exposure, exercising, chemicals, smoke are just examples of how you can be exposed to radicals.  Free radicals are molecules or atoms that lost one of its electrons and is unstable since losing it's other pair.  Sounds like my oldest if she doesn't have chocolate nearby.  Due to the instability nature of these atoms and molecules, they seek out a partner by attacking you thus increasing the instability in your body. 

Anti-oxidants, nutrients that protect your body from these free radicals or oxidation, are easily obtained and have been proven to slow the aging process along with many other disease states.  Studies have found that by eating eight to 10 servings a day of a fiber rich diet with fruits and vegetables is the best defense.  Foods such as brocolli, spinach, colorful berries, beans, tea, garlic, nuts, salmon are just examples of healthy foods that do your body good.

Another good tip is to avoid processed and refined sugars and foods.  The chemicals contained in these foods prematurely age skin.  Sugar, when consumed, reaches your bloodstream in a process called glycation and attaches to the proteins forming new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).  The more sugar you consume, the more AGEs are developed.  AGEs accumulate and promote further breakdown of collagen and elastin thus advanced wrinkles and sagginess.

As always, the cure is to eat healthier, avoid refined and processed foods, exercise, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and laugh!  Get rid of the stress and laugh and find out what Jacyln Smith does as she never ages or has lots of air brush artist following her around.

I Bought Them! Earth Footwear's ExerWalk

After seeing all the write ups and tweets from BookieBoo (Twitter and Mamavation) and ResourcefulMom (Twitter and ResourcefulMom) as well as others with the 30 day Earth Footwear challenge, the exposure worked and curiousity set off.  With the motto of "turbo-charge your walk," Earth Footwear has four colors to choose from to fit any style:

• Dary Gray (mens/womens)
• Pink (womens)
• Desert (men/womens)
• Sky Blue (womens)

If you are wondering what makes the ExerWalk so special, it's in the technology.

Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology®

The most defining feature of Earth footwear is Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology® – a unique inclined sole that positions the toes 3.7º higher than the heels. The slight angle shifts weight subtly back over the heels, and can help strengthen and tone the body while also burning calories.

Anatomic Arch Support


To complement Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology®, all Earth footwear features reinforced support through the arch. The arch support maximizes the effectiveness of the heel design in promoting a natural walking motion.

BioFoam™ Cushioning


Inside all Earth footwear, a form-fitting footbed provides exceptional comfort with BioFoam™ cushioning. The proprietary material molds to the shape of the foot, displacing and absorbing shock with each step, and is environmentally-considerate, using 70% recycled content.

I purchased a pair of shoes from Curves via Avon when they first came out but after being called Frankenstein by my husband and laughed at by my oldest, I couldn't wear them outside.  The ExerWalk look like normal athletic shoes and look great.  For my own 30 day challenge, I picked the pink ExerWalks and hope to receive them early next week to start. 
 
Stay tuned to see if I stick to the plan and if it helps!
 

 

Join Moms Meet: Learning to Live Greener

Moms Meet is sponsored by Kiwi Magazine and Earth's Best to educate and share knowledge on living greener. If you are one of many who don't necessarily recycle or choose products that are best for the environment, it's okay as living green also encompasses living healthier.  Living healthier also encompasses choosing products that are organic in nature.  I picked up on choosing products that are organic due to health concerns of products containing artificial flavorings, sugar substitutes, processed flours and sugars along with a host of other chemicals and additives that really aren't fully understood in the long term relative to safety.

Moms Meet encourages moms to meet up and form groups in their communities to broaden the knowledge available to live greener, to live healthier.  It's full of great articles ranging from your family to you which is something us busy moms neglect to take care of.

You can join Earth's Best for valuable coupons, offers and more information articles.

Throwing a Party Cheaper with The Coupon Mom

This couldn't have been at a better time, the Coupon Mom has released a new video on throwing a party for less.  I have a birthday bash and a going away for my hubby who will be leaving in May for Kuwait.  The Coupon Mom lends her advice to a mom getting ready to celebrate a party for her parents for 100 guests.  To cater the event, she would have been looking at around $5,000!  With the Coupon Mom, she will find out how to save a lot!  What would have costs $50 per person (catering) ends up costing $2 per person.

Making your own food for a party is definitely the cheaper way to go if you have the time and the space to store the food.  The Coupon Mom showed how to price the food per person to ensure you are getting a good deal and showed how much convenience costs.  It's amazing when you hear it broken down like that.

Another episide, which any woman can use, shows how a mom was able to cut down $200~ of beauty product spending for her two teen daughters down to under $50.  Most coupon bloggers know how great CVS and other drug store specials are.  Coupon Mom said drug store beauty products can be up to 80% off.

I like watching the Coupon Mom on YouTube just to catch some good tips and hints.

Friday Follow: Week 6

Pravana: Great Shampoo for Blonde/Gray Hair

Years ago, I used to use this great shampoo that would bring the highlights out in my hair while brightening the blonde color.  It was a purple shampoo and I cannot recall the name but I looked over and over for it and never could find it.  I've tried other brands of shampoo that claims to do the same thing but none of them did.  When Joni Rae & Associates offered two bottles of Pravana Natureuticals products to try, I definitely wanted to after I looked up what their products were.  I don't just review any product and when I pick one to review, I have to have a reason versus having something to post about.

Pravana has a host of hair care products but for this post, I'm focusing on the Pure Light line.  Pure Light is a brightening shampoo and conditioner in a deep, pretty purple color and an amazing fragrance.  If you are a blonde or have gray hair, you know the importance of using a purple based shampoo and conditioner on your hair.  You achieve the maximum results with this.  What's even better is the Pravana line is the first sulfate-free cleansing and conditioning system formulated to instantly brighten and whiten blonde, highlighted or natural silver/white hair.  Removing yellow tones is such a huge bonus to any shampoo and conditioner.

If you have blonde, highlighted, silver or white hair, I highly recommend the Pravana line.  It really works but for me, I found I can't use it daily due to the powerful effect it has in working.  The fragrance alone is worth purchasing it.   I've never had a hair care product smell so good.

To find a salon that carries Pravana, click here.

ResourcefulMom and Kotex First Period Twitter Party 2/22

Remembering when that wonderful journey into womanhood hit me, I received so much advice, support and information ...NOT!  Maybe it was the times or just my mom was too busy to talk to me about it but I got my information from my friends which wasn't too scientific as 15 year olds didn't know a lot back then as the internet wasn't really popular (yes, I'm showing my age).  When my now 21 year old hit that moment, I don't think I discussed it too much with her other than telling her about the options after having that sinking feeling of "oh no, I can now be a grandma at any point!"  I think ten gray hairs grew in at that point!

So I have one down and two more to go but luckily I have some time but then again, these girls are crossing over to the land of bliss earlier and earlier so who knows when my now almost seven year old will be there.  Luckily for me, I can pick up great tips and more understanding as this Monday, ResourcefulMom and Kotex are hosting a Mom Are You Ready Twitter Party from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm EST on 2/22.

Kotex has this first period kit that includes product samples, a cute bag, brochures with helpful information and more.  You can get it for free by clicking here or by registering at ResourcefulMom.

Join the Twitter party and you might win some of the great prizes too which includes a $250 card!  That could buy a lot of pads or at least some hair color dye to get rid of the gray hairs they are about to give you!

Simply FaBOWlous Review and Giveaway 3/10 CLOSED WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO....

couponmommy8706@yahoo.com

An e-mail has been sent!  If no response, another winner will be selected in 48 hours.

Thanks to all those who entered this great giveaway and don't forget to check out all the good causes FaBOWlous supports especially Layla Grace!

Trying to find cute, fashionable and trendy hair bows and headbands can be a chore at times.  My six year old won't wear them but my two year old doesn't mind.  She's a girly-girl and looks so cute with them.  Given that she has no bangs, I struggle with keeping her hair out of her eyes.  This is where hairbands come in handy.  Simply FaBOWlous has accessories for mini-divas which is what I have!

Whether you are looking for a hat, a headband, hair bows and clips, tutus or other accessories, they have it all!  Items for girls and yes, even for little boys in the Tattoo Art Baby category.  One criteria I look for especially when purchasing off the internet is to see the reviews and they even have reviews by celebrities.

Co-founder Cheri White started Simply FaBOWlous in 2006 and has an interesting story that is inspiring for mompreneurs.  Simply FaBOWlous even contributes to Bailey Baio's Angel Foundation with the full story here.

Products from Simply FaBOWlous are CPSIA compliant:

We care about the safety of all children, and that is why, even though Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) does not currently require testing of certain products, that by nature, will never exceed certain lead content limits, we have done the testing anyway. We want you to rest assured that our products are safe for your child

To read more about CPSIA and Simply FaBOWlous, click here.

The Review:

I received two beautiful headbands:  The Bailey Headband in Brown/Pink Peony is featured in the first picture below.  It is a wider strip across the head with a bigger peony to add sass and fashion.  I liked it because it was a little snug which helped keep it in place for an active tot and it was so cute on her!  Even though the colors didn't match the dress, you get the idea at how cute it would look with accentuating colors.  I love the larger size peony and how it adds so much flare keeping with her personality.

This one is the Skinny Mesh Hawaiian Flower Headband in pink.  Since Dani was born in Hawaii, how could I not choose this one?  The skinnier band still holds the hair back while providing a beautiful accessory to the dress.  Again, this one is fun and sassy which brings out her personality even more.  It stayed in place which is important to me as other headbands tend to slip.  I like the stretchy material and how soft it felt.  Neither headband were too tight and didn't cause duress with her wearing them as some do.

I would definitely recommend Simply FaBOWlous due to the quality of each headband and the look is so adorable. 

The Giveaway:

The same two headbands I reviewed!

To Enter:

Follow my blog and go to http://www.fabowlous.com/ and tell me something else you like.

Bonus Entries (worth two entries each unless otherwise noted):

• Become a fan of FaBOWlous on Facebook.
• Sign up for Simply FaBOWlous' newsletter.
• Follow FaBOWlous on Twitter.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Blog about this giveaway (worth five entries)
• Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily)
• Enter any of my other giveaways (worth five entries)

Giveaway ends 3/10 at midnight.  Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Open to all.

*Disclosure:  I received two headbands in exchange for my honest review.  No other financial compensation was received from sponsor company.

Win a Flirty Apron with the Flirty Apron Contest!

CONTENT CONTEST!!!! Go to the Flirty Aprons website and take a look at the resource section located at the bottom of the page. Then submit a paragraph or two that could be used in our new resource section titled Bridal Shower Gifts. The best/longest submission will receive a FREE FLIRTY APRON and the runners up 50% and 25% off ...respectively. All submissions can be sent to mail@flirtyaprons.com.

Ends February 28th!

Get those creative writing skills going and enter for a chance to win!

Please note that this contest is going across all the blogs that have worked with giveaways and Flirty Apron.  Winners may be selected from another blog.  Good luck!

Five Ghirardelli $1.50 Coupons for Peanut Butter Bags

I have five coupons for $1.50 from SheSpeaks that need to be used by 4/30.  Anyone want them?  If so, please leave a comment!

Thanks!

Jenny McCarthy Your Shape for Wii Giveaway 3/10

Every year, most of us decide the new year is going to be a better year.  Whether the reasons are for health, wellness or other reasons, it's good to have goals to reach for. 

My top five resolutions are:

1. Eat healthier - I want to choose better foods, more organic type products and less processed foods.  Reading books such as Prime Time Health by Dr. Sears has been inspirational in getting healthier and eating right.
2. Quality time - I want to realize what is important and what isn't.  Not sweating the small stuff is definitely a path I want to focus on.  Spending more time with my kids and my husband is going to be a priority and will compliment a healthy mind. 
3. Lose weight - yeah, right ... who doesn't, right?  Seriously, I started this endeavor last year but have slowly moved a mind set to realize this want.  I have finally learned that I can't do this cold turkey so I have devised a plan to lose it healthier and slower.  Losing weight is right up there with getting healthier for 2010.
4. Exercise - you can't be healthy without exercising.  Exercising is instrumental in every facet of our lives and when you don't exercise, you put your body and health in jeopardy.  My goal is to utilize my bike and my Wii system.  I love working out with my Wii and it's a great way to get your kids to get involved as well.  Read more below.
5. Volunteer - giving back is a key to happiness in my opinion.  Giving a smile, a chance of hope or time to someone in need is priceless.  I want to continue the giving and volunteer time to instill a sense of duty to my children.  Our goal this year is not only to support deployed troops (my husband is deploying for Kuwait in May for a year) but also to give to pediatric patients in our local children's hospital.  Having two children with fairly new chronic medical conditions and being placed in hospitals numerous times, I sympathize with the patient and the family.  My goal is take unused happy meal toys and supplement it with other toys and treats to give to those tiny little brave ones.

Our Wii system was one of the better investments I could have made.  Not only is it allowing myself and my oldest to work out together but it also encourages my little one's to play.

This new game, Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy is a must have mostly due to Jenny as she is really a funny person. Your Shape builds in a workout program based on YOUR fitness level, goals and schedule.  You can watch a video HERE with Jenny about the game. 

Here are some of the features:

• Personalized to You - Your unique plan is based on the results of your fitness test, combined with your personal fitness goals. This plan will mix the right level of intensity with exercises focused on achieving your goal.
• You’ll Always Do the Exercises Correctly - The camera projects your image onto the TV screen so you can see yourself exercising next to Jenny.
• Exercise Controller-Free - The camera sees you, so it works without requiring any additional hardware (such as Wiimotes, nunchucks, and balance boards), leaving your hands free to focus on the exercises.
• Exercise That’s Fun and Motivational - not only is Jenny your in-game workout buddy, but you can choose from 6 background colors, 100 motivating animations, and more than 75 music tracks.
• More Exercises Than Any Other Game - Your Shape includes close to 500 exercises – which means that your routine is always focused on meeting your goals.

The Giveaway:

Jenny McCarthy's Your Shape for the Wii System.

To Win:

Follow my blog and that's it!

Bonus Entries:

• Subscribe to my blog and leave a comment (2 entries each)
• Follow me on Twitter (2 entries each)
• Enter any of my other giveaways (5 entries each)
• Blog about this giveaway (2 entries)
• Tweet about this giveaway (2 entries) - can be done daily

Giveaway ends March 10 at midnight (EST) - winner will be chosen by random.org

 

Grab Your Chocolate!

Great news as of February 17, 2010 if you are reading it here ... according to the American Academy of Neurology, recommends eating a bar a chocolate each week to help reduce chances of strokes!  The study also suggests that eating chocolate may lower the risk of death after a stroke.  Now hurry and eat your chocolate before a new study counters that claim! 

*Here are the findings:

• One study they looked at found that 44,489 people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke than people who ate no chocolate.
• Another study found that 1,169 people who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week were 46% less likely to die following a stroke than people who didn’t eat chocolate.

Dark chocolate (usually described as containing at least 70 percent cocoa solids) contains plant pigments called flavonoids, which have been linked to health benefits. These include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart attacks and strokes) or cancer. Chocolate is not the only source of flavonoids. Most plants contain some flavonoids, and good sources are tea, citrus fruit, and red wine.

The research appears in this week’s Neurology and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd annual meeting in Toronto in April.

I've been using that excuse to eat a piece of dark chocolate every day.  Enjoy!

*Taken from the Health Freedom Alliance Organization.  To read the full article, go here:  http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2010/02/16/chocolate-reduces-risk-of-stroke/

Aspartame is Now AminoSweet but is it Safe?

Aspartame, it's in so many products and because of that, one would think it's safe...or is it?   I never really paid attention to aspartame until I started an Atkin's Diet.  Okay, until I restarted an Atkin's Diet and became serious about following it.  The rules are no aspartame so I started reading my package labels on various products to assume I didn't violate the rules and low and behold, it's in almost everything that is touted as low sugar or sugar free.

A big misconception that many have is if it's been approved by the FDA, it's deemed safe.  What some forget to understand that although drugs go through a long term process of clinical testing to ensure safety has been achieved, there are rarely any long term studies done to assess safety or to understand mixing of different drugs, conditions and so forth.  No one will know with certain if something is safe because there are too many factors involved whether it's genetic, environmental or a reaction with another drug.  We all have seen the recall notifications and class action lawsuits against approved drugs that were later found to cause deaths or other serious medical complications. 

The artificial sweetener debate has been going on for some time and there was even one that was taken off the market year's ago which makes me think if one was bad, why not the rest?  In my e-mail box this morning, there was a story on asparame's new name change which the story eluded that the company's name change was one of profit versus concerns for the health of its consumers. 

Aspartame was discovered 25 year's ago by mistake and was initially going to be marketed to be used as a drug for ulcers.  Due to its sweet taste, it was sent to the FDA as a food additive.  The story notes that even one of the origin company's scientist objected to its use but it passed the FDA anyway.   The articile claims that aspartame causes neurological brain damage, cancerous tumors, endocrine disruption among other things.  The new name is AminoSweet. 

For more information on the article, go here:

http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2010/02/15/aspartame-has-been-renamed-and-is-now-being-marketed-as-a-natural-sweetener/

Link Up Your Giveaways!

Don't forget to link up your giveaways:

http://youthfultips.blogspot.com/p/link-up-your-giveaways.html

Thank you and have a great day!

Giveaways Ending Next Week and New Giveaways Coming

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

I have a host of reviews/giveaways that will be added today and onward to include:

• Jenny McCarthy Your Shape Wii Game
• FaBOWlous Hair Bow
• Flower Arranging DVD
• Jump Start Kids Online Membership
• $50 Gift Card (reader's choice)
• FlirtyGirl Tee
• Bummas Baby Cloths
• Expressiva Nursingwear Gift Card
• CPR Cleaning Products
• Air-O-Swiss Humidifier

Do you have an idea for a giveaway that is reasonable?  Let me know and I'll see what I can do.  Do you like the multiple bonus entry options or do you prefer that each entry has a smaller set of chances to win?

Military? Check Your W4s for Residency Due to New Law

I wrote about this before but had forgotten it until I was reading the Army Times over the weekend.  Apparently in November, they passed a bill granting the spouse of a military person the right to claim the same state residency.  For those in the military, you know what a pain it is to have to fill out two state tax returns, one for you where you live and the other for your spouse for the state he/she lived in when first enlisted.  I've not been a good military wife as I never learned all the correct Army lingo but I know there is another word or statement for that.

The article furthered the fact that it's retroactive for 2009!  If you meet the requirements,  you get to fill out your appropriate state's form to get that money back and to halt any new deductions.  This is great news because my husband's home state is Texas which means no state tax!  I figure they will tax the tax refund so it's less than I'll have put in.  Whatever happened to no double taxation??

I was happy nonetheless so if you are in the military, check it out by visiting your state's tax page or check it here:  http://m.military.com/news/articlerss/army-news/tax-law-grants-gis-spouses-protection.xml/2

The Taylors' Civil War by Lowell F. Volk Book Review

I received a complimentary copy of The Taylors' Civil War as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc. (June 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434902439
• ISBN-13: 978-1434902436
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches

The Taylors' Civil War by Lowell F. Volk is set in Virginia and chronicles the trials and tribulations of a southern family, the Taylors, during the Civil War.  It is a classic revenge book with action packed events that captured my attention and captivated me to finish reading it quickly.  Although it was predictable at times and short, it had drama, love, action and suspense.

The Taylors were a family who only wanted to live their lives and be farmers.  While they were supportive of the military during the War, further events such as the murder of their son and events post the War tested their patriotism and their own will.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in story that is well written and articulated with accuracy to the period and characters in which it takes place.

About the Author:
 
Lowell F. Volk, a native of Minnesota, has already finished the sequel to this book and has begun writing his third of a series of five books planned for the Civil War period.  Mr. Volk is retired and resides in Colorado where is a member of the Montezuma County Sheriff's Posse.  Mr. Volk and his wife have five children.
 

Ruminations of a Twenty Something Momma Expressiva Review & Giveaway

Ruminations of a Twenty Something Momma is hosting a review and giveaway of Expressiva Nursingwear.

After months of nursing a child, the idea of breastfeeding becomes less of an action and more of a lifestyle. Daily events start to revolve around your baby’s mealtimes, and leaving the house means choosing an outfit that will allow easy, comfortable access for feeding.


Therein lies the problem – coordinating clothing for ease of nursing isn’t always easy. Some women prefer to keep their breasts mostly covered, while others are more worried about exposing their back or stomach in public.

Layering works with some outfits, but not others, and wearing your favorite shirt may no longer be an option depending on how high (or low) the neckline is. Nursing bras and tanks become wardrobe staples, but sometimes it’s simply not possible to coordinate an entire outfit around these pieces.

Click here to read and enter!

eShakti New Spring Jackets

If you haven't had the priviledge of checking out eShakti, you should!  I was lucky enough to be able to review a beautiful dress and I liked it so much, I ordered another dress for my daughter.  My previous review can be found here:  http://youthfultips.blogspot.com/2010/01/eshakti-review-special-offer.html

What makes eShakti so special are the custom made clothes.  How many times if you are short, tall, big chested, small chested, and so forth have you either had to adjust your clothing after you purchased it or have to settle for one part of the item not fitting to accommodate the other part?  What I liked the most about eShakti is you pick from a huge selection of all types of clothing and you custom fit for your size (i.e. height, length, bust, etc).

When I recevied my dress, it was perfect height and so was my daughter's.  We are both short so finding floor length dresses is hard without having to take it to get mended.  Both dresses fitted perfectly and were made of high quality fabrics.

The new spring jackets are amazing!  They can be worn with slacks or a skirt and can fit an office environment or a casual outing.  There are 16 different styles to choose from. 

The Asymmetric Cotton Twill Jacket is my favorite priced starting at $59.95 and shipped in three days. 

• Three-quarter-length sleeves.
• Princess seaming for light shape.
• Back vent.
• Light shoulder padding.
• Hip length.
• Cotton; machine wash.

Details with this jacket include custom sizes (small fee), bra cup size, height, sleeve type and tunic length.

Another bonus with eShakti is they offer sizes 0 through 26W.


* Disclaimer:  I received no compensation for this post. 

Progresso Souper You Spark! Review & GIveaway 2/14 CLOSED WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

wandapanda at live dot com

Thanks to all those who entered and don't forget to enter the Sears $50 Gift Card, Mikisso $220 Hana Flat Iron or any of the other giveaways.

Make sure you subscribe to know the latest giveaways with more coming soon!

random.org is used to select from eligible winners.

Did you know by adding Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soup into your weight management plan, it might help you achieve your weight loss goals?  As part of a MyBlogSpark campaign with Progresso Soups, I received a complimentary "Souper You Debut" gift pack that included 15 cans of soups, a digital jump rope and a really cool, big soup mug from Progresso through MyBlogSpark. 

As soon as they arrived, we decided who was going to try what to give a thorough review of the variety we received.  There are over 40 varieties 100 calories or less so there are no excuses!  I also like how Progresso offers choices such as High Fiber, Vegetable Classics, Light, Traditional, Low Sodium and microwave.

Progresso Light Italian Style Meatball:

My favorites included the Progresso Light Italian Style Meatball which is new.  If you are on Weight Watchers, it even has the point listed to comply easier.  The can has two servings at 80 calories each so at 160 calories for an entire can, that's wonderful for my diet plan.  Of course if I was going to be really good, I'd only eat one serving but it was too good and my two year old was competing to eat it.  I watch carbs as well and it only contained 13 grams so that is another plus for me.  The taste was light but delightful and fullfilling.

Progresso Light Beef Pot Roast:

The Progresso Light Beef Pot Roast is delicious at only 80 calories again.  The thing with the Light soups that I had to point out to my husband is they are lighter in calories and so you don't get that same rich flavor of a fat laden, calorie overloaded soup.  I prefer knowing that I'm putting something healthier into my body that will help me feel full, lower my caloric intake while givine me some great tasting.  I really enjoyed the taste of this soup but my favorite is strill the Progresso Light Italian Style Meatball.

My oldest daughter tried the Light Chicken Noodle soup and also enjoyed the flavor.  She's on a get in shape kick too so she appreciated a chance to eat "real food" while not overindulging in calories. 

Stay tuned for more updates to the varieties as there were 15 cans in total!

Here is how you can win a trip to NYC and a makeover:

Between January 4th (yes, I know it's past January 4th) and March 15th, you and I can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou and enter the Progresso “Souper You Debut” contest for the chance to win a full makeover in New York City.  I don't know if you have ever been to NYC but I have and lived there briefly and I can tell you that it is an experience that you can't miss out on!

THREE grand prize winners will be awarded a trip for two to New York City from May 21st-23rd. The prize includes roundtrip airfare, a two-night stay in a NYC hotel, a full makeover, a $1,000 wardrobe shopping spree and personal consultation at a New York department store.  I would LOVE to win this, how about you?

Entering is easy and all you need to do is:

• Go to www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to learn more and enter the contest
• Submit your essay (200 characters or less) telling Progresso why you love Progresso Light or 100 Calorie Soups and why you would like a makeover
• In addition, please submit a photo of yourself that visually reinforces the theme of your essay

Once you enter, you’ll have the chance for your photo and/or an excerpt from your essay to appear on www.Progresso.com/SouperYou, so be sure to check back frequently! Once the 10 finalists are announced, you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou from March 29 through April 12 to vote for your favorite.

In addition, throughout the duration of the contest you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to download a coupon for $1 off any three varieties of Progresso Soup!

With surprisingly hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, corn and rice, and flavor-packed vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and peppers, Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups offer varieties with a good source of fiber and a full serving of vegetables. Satisfying your taste buds, Progresso Light and 100 Calories Soups can help curb your hunger, making it easier for you to stick to your weight management plan.

There is still more!

One of my readers will receive their own Progresso Gift Pack that includes two cans of Progresso Soup, an electronic jump rope and a great mug to enjoy the soup with!

To Enter:

Follow my blog and tell me what soup you would like to try by clicking here.

Bonus Entries (five entries each)

Subscribe to my blog.
Blog about this giveaway.
Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily)
Sign up to become a member of MyBlogSpark
Tweet the sweepstakes here
Post the sweepstakes on Facebook here

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

Good luck and thanks for entering!