*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post.
Showing posts with label Sponsored Posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sponsored Posts. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Family Moved - Guest post written by Arnoldo Acevedo
My family and I recently moved into a new home and I made sure we had direct tv Austin all hooked up before the first box was even unpacked. It's hilarious because we have become obsessed with singing talent shows as a family… Everything from American Idol all the way through the X factor wrap our attention any like to watch them together as a family and vote on who we think will win. I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to watch competition shows with your family in my kids could be doing much worse things with their time than hanging out with their parents. I love having a TV show or two that we can all agree on and sometimes we even watch after dinner. The kids aren’t usually allowed to have TV although I think it’s great for us to have a show they can watch sort of as a treat. I think giving them the trust to watch what they want is important because it shows them we believe in them.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Prepare for First Communion with Communion Cards!
My daughter is going to be making her First Communion in May. I participated in RCIA last year and had my First Communion last Easter. It was emotional for me, but I won’t get into that here. I am so happy for my daughter and I cannot wait for the big day. I have been thinking about ways in which I can make the day more special for her. We will certainly invite family and friends over for supper and a cake from our local bakery that will be personalized for her. She will receive gifts, of course, as well. But, I wasn’t sure if there is anything else I should do.
Maybe it was “divine intervention”, but I received an invitation to check out the Communion Cards. This invitation came at the perfect time! Communion Cards is a business that provides Invitations, Response Cards, Thank You Notes, Bookmark Keepsakes, and Candy Wrappers for First Communions. The designs are simply beautiful! They have Classic, Elegant, and Modern design themes. I found the perfect invitation for my daughter that is dark pink with a rosary necklace on it. I decided that even though we have a small family, it would be nice to send them a formal invitation. In addition, I can purchase Thank You Notes in the matching design! I was able to use the website easily in personalizing an invitation and a bookmark. I liked that I was able to preview the designs immediately and change the wording as I saw fit.
In visiting the website, I learned that Communion Cards has been in business since 1982. I think it’s wonderful that once you place your order, your order is printed on-site. Your order does not need to be sent to another facility, printed there, and then shipped. No middle man!
Communion Cards has affordable products that can add that extra touch of personalization to what I consider a very special day. Please consider checking them out if you are also preparing for your child’s First Communion.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by compensation.
Maybe it was “divine intervention”, but I received an invitation to check out the Communion Cards. This invitation came at the perfect time! Communion Cards is a business that provides Invitations, Response Cards, Thank You Notes, Bookmark Keepsakes, and Candy Wrappers for First Communions. The designs are simply beautiful! They have Classic, Elegant, and Modern design themes. I found the perfect invitation for my daughter that is dark pink with a rosary necklace on it. I decided that even though we have a small family, it would be nice to send them a formal invitation. In addition, I can purchase Thank You Notes in the matching design! I was able to use the website easily in personalizing an invitation and a bookmark. I liked that I was able to preview the designs immediately and change the wording as I saw fit.
In visiting the website, I learned that Communion Cards has been in business since 1982. I think it’s wonderful that once you place your order, your order is printed on-site. Your order does not need to be sent to another facility, printed there, and then shipped. No middle man!
Communion Cards has affordable products that can add that extra touch of personalization to what I consider a very special day. Please consider checking them out if you are also preparing for your child’s First Communion.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by compensation.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Protect Your Identity with IdentityHawk
I have heard such sad stories about people who have had their identities stolen and lost money (sometimes a significant amount) and had to endure immense stress and emotional upheaval in order to clear their name. My husband and I are extremely conscious of sharing personal information; therefore, we invested in a quality shredder a couple of years ago in order to shred every piece of paper that leaves this house that has our names on it.
We realize that this is only one strategy and I was interested in hearing about IdentityHawk. IdentityHawk is a website that provides identity theft protection. IdentityHawk’s website is comprehensive and provides a great deal of information that I found both interesting and educational. They discuss Identity Theft Basics, Prevention, Protection, and Recovery.
IdentityHawk has a cool feature called the Identity Health Score, which provides you with a number on a scale of 1 to 100 of how vulnerable your information is. Based upon the information that you provide to Identity Hawk, they will monitor the Internet to see if your information is being used. If it is, you are alerted immediately. They are an identity theft “watchdog”!
In the unfortunate event that someone uses your information or steals your identity, IdentityHawk has identity theft experts available to assist you immediately in repairing the situation. The aftermath of a situation is extremely stressful and I would certainly want to have a trained expert helping me through this kind of crisis.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not swayed by compensation.
We realize that this is only one strategy and I was interested in hearing about IdentityHawk. IdentityHawk is a website that provides identity theft protection. IdentityHawk’s website is comprehensive and provides a great deal of information that I found both interesting and educational. They discuss Identity Theft Basics, Prevention, Protection, and Recovery.
IdentityHawk has a cool feature called the Identity Health Score, which provides you with a number on a scale of 1 to 100 of how vulnerable your information is. Based upon the information that you provide to Identity Hawk, they will monitor the Internet to see if your information is being used. If it is, you are alerted immediately. They are an identity theft “watchdog”!
In the unfortunate event that someone uses your information or steals your identity, IdentityHawk has identity theft experts available to assist you immediately in repairing the situation. The aftermath of a situation is extremely stressful and I would certainly want to have a trained expert helping me through this kind of crisis.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not swayed by compensation.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Get Fit at Work with the Race to the Moon Wellness Program!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cafe Well for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I am a member of the Wellness Committee at work. During the school year, we brainstorm various ideas for exercise programs, incentive programs, and educational programming to implement. Many staff members participate and they find it motivating to work together.
I recently learned about Cafe Well, which is a social network that offers corporate wellness programs. Café Well offers members the opportunity to learn about various health issues and connect with members who are interested in the same topic(s). You can become involved in daily challenges that motivate, inspire, and teach! You also have the ability to create your own discussion groups.
Race to the Moon is a corporate wellness program that is hosted by Café Well and sponsored by HealthAmerica. By providing free wireless pedometers, Race to the Moon encourages and motivates members to get fit by walking and/or running. Believe it or not, the program has members that have walked over 50 million steps and average 2.5 million steps per day. That’s simply amazing! Race to the Moon participants have the opportunity to win great prizes!
Race to the Moon sounds like a fabulous well program for our staff members. It is difficult for so many of us with young children to either get to a gym or complete a full workout. If I am not at work, I typically have a toddler strapped to my leg! It makes it nearly impossible to complete a workout regimen unless it is 9:00pm! I think that creating challenges with staff members could be really fun and motivating. I can envision us doing a challenge for total steps taken in a week or month, eating more fruits and vegetables, and total weight loss in a month. I will certainly be mentioning this to my colleagues on Monday!
I am a member of the Wellness Committee at work. During the school year, we brainstorm various ideas for exercise programs, incentive programs, and educational programming to implement. Many staff members participate and they find it motivating to work together.
I recently learned about Cafe Well, which is a social network that offers corporate wellness programs. Café Well offers members the opportunity to learn about various health issues and connect with members who are interested in the same topic(s). You can become involved in daily challenges that motivate, inspire, and teach! You also have the ability to create your own discussion groups.
Race to the Moon is a corporate wellness program that is hosted by Café Well and sponsored by HealthAmerica. By providing free wireless pedometers, Race to the Moon encourages and motivates members to get fit by walking and/or running. Believe it or not, the program has members that have walked over 50 million steps and average 2.5 million steps per day. That’s simply amazing! Race to the Moon participants have the opportunity to win great prizes!
Race to the Moon sounds like a fabulous well program for our staff members. It is difficult for so many of us with young children to either get to a gym or complete a full workout. If I am not at work, I typically have a toddler strapped to my leg! It makes it nearly impossible to complete a workout regimen unless it is 9:00pm! I think that creating challenges with staff members could be really fun and motivating. I can envision us doing a challenge for total steps taken in a week or month, eating more fruits and vegetables, and total weight loss in a month. I will certainly be mentioning this to my colleagues on Monday!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Lose weight with new Slim Fast shakes and the 3 2 1 Plan!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My major battles with weight loss and dieting took place after my two pregnancies. Despite my two very different pregnancies and the fact that I tried to eat much healthier the second time around, I gained exactly fifty pounds with both babies. I remember losing the weight pretty quickly the first time and struggling a bit more last year after my son was born. I did eventually lose the weight using a variety of strategies. One of the strategies I considered and the products I was eyeing were the Slim-Fast products.
I have known many people over the years who have used Slim Fast when trying to lose those last few stubborn pounds. Slim Fast is proud to announce their new line of shakes, which are reported to be the best-tasting shakes ever. The benefits of the Slim Fast shakes include that they are reported to give people up to four hours of hunger control, contain 10 grams of protein, and five grams of fiber. Protein and fiber are essential in your diet when you want to lose weight. I love the idea that they can help in controlling my hunger because I feel hungry all the time, which causes me to snack.
The Slim Fast shakes are part of the Slim Fast has the 3•2•1 Plan, which allows you variety in the foods you eat and flexibility in your schedule. The plan is based upon the following: 3 snacks per day (which can include 100-calorie snack bars, fruits, nuts, or veggies), 2 Slim Fast shakes or meal bars, and 1 500 calorie meal per day. The flavors of the shakes include: Creamy Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, Rich Chocolate Royale, Cappuccino Delight, and Strawberries N’ Cream. They are found in the pharmacy section or grocery stores and retailers nationwide.
I believe that if I were to purchase these shakes, I would be particularly interested in trying the Creamy Milk Chocolate or the Cappuccino Delight. I have eyed the snack and meal bars before and I have often thought, “What a convenient way to diet!”
My major battles with weight loss and dieting took place after my two pregnancies. Despite my two very different pregnancies and the fact that I tried to eat much healthier the second time around, I gained exactly fifty pounds with both babies. I remember losing the weight pretty quickly the first time and struggling a bit more last year after my son was born. I did eventually lose the weight using a variety of strategies. One of the strategies I considered and the products I was eyeing were the Slim-Fast products.
I have known many people over the years who have used Slim Fast when trying to lose those last few stubborn pounds. Slim Fast is proud to announce their new line of shakes, which are reported to be the best-tasting shakes ever. The benefits of the Slim Fast shakes include that they are reported to give people up to four hours of hunger control, contain 10 grams of protein, and five grams of fiber. Protein and fiber are essential in your diet when you want to lose weight. I love the idea that they can help in controlling my hunger because I feel hungry all the time, which causes me to snack.
The Slim Fast shakes are part of the Slim Fast has the 3•2•1 Plan, which allows you variety in the foods you eat and flexibility in your schedule. The plan is based upon the following: 3 snacks per day (which can include 100-calorie snack bars, fruits, nuts, or veggies), 2 Slim Fast shakes or meal bars, and 1 500 calorie meal per day. The flavors of the shakes include: Creamy Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, Rich Chocolate Royale, Cappuccino Delight, and Strawberries N’ Cream. They are found in the pharmacy section or grocery stores and retailers nationwide.
I believe that if I were to purchase these shakes, I would be particularly interested in trying the Creamy Milk Chocolate or the Cappuccino Delight. I have eyed the snack and meal bars before and I have often thought, “What a convenient way to diet!”
Follow Slim-Fast on Facebook!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The Steam Team: Comprehensive Carpet Cleaning Services and More!
The carpets in my home are long overdue for a cleaning. No matter how careful my family is about removing their shoes when they come in the house, the dirt builds up. We have a big black Labrador retriever that I believe is doing the most damage. I have a rug cleaner that I can use to clean myself; however, this never seems to provide the deep cleaning that is necessary.
I would love to be able to afford a rug cleaning service, such as The Steam Team, to come into my home and clean every carpet. The Steam Team provides a variety of cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties. These services include carpet, oriental rug, upholstery, leather, drapery, air-duct, hardwood, and pet odor cleaning services. Additional services include smoke and fire restoration, construction services, marble polishing, and ceramic tile and natural stone cleaning. I am amazed by the sheer variety of services. They are a “do it all” company!
The Steam Team has been Carpet Cleaning Brushy Creek, just one of the numerous areas in TX, for years. If you live in or around this area and are in need of one of their services, it may be well worth looking into them.
If you are interested in hearing more about The Steam Team’s cleaning services and you live in the Austin, TX area, visit http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-carpet-cleaning/
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and have not been swayed by sponsorship.
I would love to be able to afford a rug cleaning service, such as The Steam Team, to come into my home and clean every carpet. The Steam Team provides a variety of cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties. These services include carpet, oriental rug, upholstery, leather, drapery, air-duct, hardwood, and pet odor cleaning services. Additional services include smoke and fire restoration, construction services, marble polishing, and ceramic tile and natural stone cleaning. I am amazed by the sheer variety of services. They are a “do it all” company!
The Steam Team has been Carpet Cleaning Brushy Creek, just one of the numerous areas in TX, for years. If you live in or around this area and are in need of one of their services, it may be well worth looking into them.
If you are interested in hearing more about The Steam Team’s cleaning services and you live in the Austin, TX area, visit http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-carpet-cleaning/
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and have not been swayed by sponsorship.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Trimback.com: A Site Full of Coupons & Deals!
I have numerous different email subscriptions to coupons sites, which email me weekly or even daily with deals for food, clothing, and events in my area. It is quite time consuming to search through emails to see if they are relevant to me and my family. I don't have that kind of time. I was introduced to Trimback.com recently. Trimback.com is a site which provides coupons for over 8,000 online stores as well as Red Plum coupons. What is different about Trimback.com is that anyone can add a coupon code. I know many of us like to share the deals we hear about and Trimback.com is another venue where we can do this.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Trimback.com. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by compensation.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Trimback.com. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by compensation.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
JustAddressPlaques.com - Affordable Address Plaques For Your Home
We have a very plain mailbox by our driveway. It’s your typical black metal mailbox with stickers placed on it to identify our house number and street. Our mailbox is attached to a very nice granite post, which makes me feel like there should be a nicer mailbox attached to it. I have seen that other people have residential address plaques outside and I think they look very classy.
JustAddressPlaques.com sells personalized address plaques for residential and commercial properties. There is a vast variety of styles of plaques from which to choose, including wall, lawn, and hanging plaques. The plaques are made from rust-free recycled aluminum, so your address plaque is sure to withstand the weather and “test of time”.
JustAddressPlaques.com has a wide variety of prices that will accommodate everyone’s budget for custom address plaques. Why travel from store to store searching for the right address plaque when you have one site that has a wide selection laid out for you?
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by sponsorship.
JustAddressPlaques.com sells personalized address plaques for residential and commercial properties. There is a vast variety of styles of plaques from which to choose, including wall, lawn, and hanging plaques. The plaques are made from rust-free recycled aluminum, so your address plaque is sure to withstand the weather and “test of time”.
JustAddressPlaques.com has a wide variety of prices that will accommodate everyone’s budget for custom address plaques. Why travel from store to store searching for the right address plaque when you have one site that has a wide selection laid out for you?
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by sponsorship.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Enter the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest!
Enter the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest today for your chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash and a $500 Tiny Prints gift certificate! This is a great prize for the holiday season!
Tiny Prints is looking for the cutest photos in the following categories:
• Cutest Baby (From ages of 0-24 months)
• Cutest Kid (From ages of 25 months - 10 years old)
• Cutest Family
• Cutest Couple
• Cutest Pet & Owner
You can enter the Tiny Print Talent Search Contest via Facebook or on their website. For Official Rules, click here.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Puppies vs.Babies Online Contest - Vote for who is cuter!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have to be honest – I had not heard of the show Puppies vs. Babies; however, since I have checked out the Animal Planet website and seen some of the clips, I have DVR’d it! I think my daughter and I will enjoy watching it together. We are both pet lovers for sure, but we also watch videos on YouTube that my daughter finds of cute babies doing cute or funny things. For those of you that have not heard of the show, Puppies vs. Babies is s program that shows cute baby and puppy videos!
Puppies vs. Babies online contest is an opportunity for you to vote for whether you think puppies or babies are cuter. You can also vote for the first round of puppies and the first round of babies that you find cutest.
This was a hard decision for me! I am a dog lover, but I do think most babies are cute. I think my baby is the cutest baby on the planet – obviously! His beautiful big blue eyes and his smile make my whole day. Here is a picture of my son that I would have entered into the contest:
Who would you vote for and why? Vote for your choice today! Also, come back here and let me know who you voted for. I would love to hear from you!
I have to be honest – I had not heard of the show Puppies vs. Babies; however, since I have checked out the Animal Planet website and seen some of the clips, I have DVR’d it! I think my daughter and I will enjoy watching it together. We are both pet lovers for sure, but we also watch videos on YouTube that my daughter finds of cute babies doing cute or funny things. For those of you that have not heard of the show, Puppies vs. Babies is s program that shows cute baby and puppy videos!
Puppies vs. Babies online contest is an opportunity for you to vote for whether you think puppies or babies are cuter. You can also vote for the first round of puppies and the first round of babies that you find cutest.
This was a hard decision for me! I am a dog lover, but I do think most babies are cute. I think my baby is the cutest baby on the planet – obviously! His beautiful big blue eyes and his smile make my whole day. Here is a picture of my son that I would have entered into the contest:
Who would you vote for and why? Vote for your choice today! Also, come back here and let me know who you voted for. I would love to hear from you!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
2011 Holiday Cards from Tiny Prints
I love preparing for the holidays. It is absolutely my favorite time of year. I think I am just as excited as the kids. I particularly love the preparation, the decorating, and of course, the baking. I also love dressing the kids up and taking their picture for the annual Christmas card. I admit it – I love showing off my kids! We hang our cards up on the main office door at work for everyone to see our families and “ooh” and “ahh” about how much they have grown in the past year.
Since I am “on the ball” this year, I have already taken a photo for this year’s Christmas card. My son is constantly on the go right now and doesn’t like to sit for photos, so I took the photo at home. I was able to get my son to sit with my daughter in an oversized beanbag chair by holding a dinosaur. I took a great close-up shot of their smiling faces and was able to crop the dinosaur out of the picture.
I have a great photo, now I need the perfect holiday design. Where am I going to head? To Tiny Prints, of course! Tiny Prints has such a wide variety of holiday photo cards from which to choose. It’s a good thing, I took the picture early because it is going to take me a while to choose which one I want! I particularly like the following designs:
I LOVE this one because people can hang them on their trees! What a great idea! My Christmas cards typically end up in a basket on the kitchen counter.
I like this one because it's different than the usual red and green!
*Disclaimer: I wrote this post in conjunction with the Tiny Prints Social Media Campaign. I will be compensated for this post with free product. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Shop with Become.com!
Become.com is a website that allows you to compare prices of products amongst sellers, connect to sites, and make your purchases. They feature every shopping category imaginable, such as clothing, health and beauty, and baby to name only a few. Become.com also has a deal and coupon section. You will find coupons for numerous major stores, including Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and Kohl’s.
You can find products for the entire family on Become.com. My daughter’s favorite colors are pink and black. In typing in “Pink Black Backpack”, a whole page of pink and black backpacks appear. There is no longer a need to search from site to site to try and find one she likes!
You will be impressed by the sheer number of results you receive in your search. For example, you can be specific and search for Euro Pillow Covers or Yellow Queen Bed Sheets, and pages upon pages of products appear. Even though there are numerous pages of websites for you to look at, they are all in one place for you to comparison shop. You can then browse from one central location.
Become.com is an easy to navigate site. You can specify your search by brands and material in order to target the product you need. I would recommend Become.com for people who want to minimize the amount of time they are spending shopping online.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.
You can find products for the entire family on Become.com. My daughter’s favorite colors are pink and black. In typing in “Pink Black Backpack”, a whole page of pink and black backpacks appear. There is no longer a need to search from site to site to try and find one she likes!
You will be impressed by the sheer number of results you receive in your search. For example, you can be specific and search for Euro Pillow Covers or Yellow Queen Bed Sheets, and pages upon pages of products appear. Even though there are numerous pages of websites for you to look at, they are all in one place for you to comparison shop. You can then browse from one central location.
Become.com is an easy to navigate site. You can specify your search by brands and material in order to target the product you need. I would recommend Become.com for people who want to minimize the amount of time they are spending shopping online.
*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Photo sharing with FotoBounce: Have control over what is seen and who sees it!
I love taking pictures of my children and sharing them with family and friends. I typically do this on Facebook. However, there is a little voice in the back of my mind that says I shouldn’t be placing the pictures on Facebook because I have so many people that are my “friends”. I would love to be able to pick and choose who I show pictures to without a great deal of hassle.
FotoBounce is a downloadable software that enables private sharing. It allows you the ability to create a private network for family members and friends to view your photos. FotoBounce is unlike the public websites out there. It is a software program, which means all of your information and photos stay local to your comptuer. You have all the control over what is shared and with whom. FotoBounce users, also known as Bouncers, can import contacts from Gmail and Yahoo into their Private Network.
I believe one of the best aspects of FotoBounce is the built-in face detection feature. Once you upload the photos, you tag them, which ultimately trains the software. The software will then automatically recognize people! You no longer have to spend time tagging each person in a photo. So cool!
On most photo websites, you save photos to a folder by date or title. I often end up with a massive folder that I need to sift through when searching for a particular picture. FotoBounce has multiple organization options. You can organize photos by Event, Place, Collection and Keyword as well as Date and People.
The software also allows you to log in to Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr straight from your desktop. You can upload your photos with tags and descriptions included. This is another huge timesaver!
If you would like to read more about the features of FotoBounce, visit HERE!
Download Fotobounce here today!
*Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
My Husband's Medical Miracle
My husband’s health began to fall apart in the Fall of 2005. I remember it so clearly. It was my 30th birthday. He felt so sick and had to tell me that he had planned a surprise birthday party for me in order to have my help. My husband began years of tests and medications in order to try and understand what was happening to his body. He quickly lost fifty pounds and we did everything in our power to keep what little weight was on him.
After years of pain and trying different meds that were meant to simply mask the symptoms, we requested for a referral to a specialist in Boston. Our primary care physician denied the first request. She actually said that she didn’t feel this would help! We demanded the referral and she finally relented.
My husband’s new doctor happened to specialize in the pancreas. Although this was one of the only organs that had never been considered, we were not concerned. The doctor gave my husband a CT scan and everything was found to be normal. Several months later, my husband began to notice that our black lab would continuously rest her head on his abdomen. She would rest it on the same spot every night and when told to “go lay down”, she would refuse and rest her head back down in the same spot.
At my husband’s six-month follow-up appointment, he mentioned casually to the doctor that our dog was behaving this way. His doctor immediately arranged for a repeat CT scan that very day. This time, it was a deeper scan. They found a spot in his pancreas and had his biopsy that afternoon.
He received his diagnosis almost immediately. It was pancreatic cancer. As most people know, when someone receives a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, it is typically too late because there are no symptoms initially. My husband’s physical problems were completely unrelated to this cancer. However, they saved his life because he was pushed to search out a specialist rather than deal with local doctors who simply wanted to overmedicate him. Also, he never would have received the second CT scan if he had not mentioned our dog’s behavior to his doctor. Ultimately, our little black lab saved his life. My husband received six months of chemotherapy and is doing well.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for a gamma camera company. I participated in a campaign sponsored by Bucks2Blog. The views expressed here are my own.
After years of pain and trying different meds that were meant to simply mask the symptoms, we requested for a referral to a specialist in Boston. Our primary care physician denied the first request. She actually said that she didn’t feel this would help! We demanded the referral and she finally relented.
My husband’s new doctor happened to specialize in the pancreas. Although this was one of the only organs that had never been considered, we were not concerned. The doctor gave my husband a CT scan and everything was found to be normal. Several months later, my husband began to notice that our black lab would continuously rest her head on his abdomen. She would rest it on the same spot every night and when told to “go lay down”, she would refuse and rest her head back down in the same spot.
At my husband’s six-month follow-up appointment, he mentioned casually to the doctor that our dog was behaving this way. His doctor immediately arranged for a repeat CT scan that very day. This time, it was a deeper scan. They found a spot in his pancreas and had his biopsy that afternoon.
He received his diagnosis almost immediately. It was pancreatic cancer. As most people know, when someone receives a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, it is typically too late because there are no symptoms initially. My husband’s physical problems were completely unrelated to this cancer. However, they saved his life because he was pushed to search out a specialist rather than deal with local doctors who simply wanted to overmedicate him. Also, he never would have received the second CT scan if he had not mentioned our dog’s behavior to his doctor. Ultimately, our little black lab saved his life. My husband received six months of chemotherapy and is doing well.
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for a gamma camera company. I participated in a campaign sponsored by Bucks2Blog. The views expressed here are my own.
Create a Photo Book with Shutterfly!
I think I have become somewhat of a hoarder of photos I love taking pictures, printing them, and creating photo albums. There is no denying that it’s wonderful to be able to save photos on the computer and showcase them on sites such as Shutterfly, but I love to see them in print even more. My kids and I like to snuggle up and look at pictures together. We laugh about special moments and I tear up when I see family members that are gone.
Each year, I have created personalized photo calendars as Christmas gifts for our family members. I love that they are personalized and unique gifts. Even though my family members love the calendars, I believe I would like to mix it up this year and create photo books instead. Shutterfly’s photo books have so many different layouts and designs that allow you to create a wonderful keepsake for you, family members, or friends. You can use the “Simple Path”, which creates the book for you or you can use the new “Custom Path”, which allows you to custom design your book. Not only are there multiple sizes of books from which to choose, but there are so many themes! It is so easy – upload your photos and start designing!
Shutterfly has a large variety of products available for all occasions, including invitations, birth announcements, and Christmas cards! Shutterfly has such a variety of designs and themes. No matter what you choose, they will be eye-catching and memorable!
*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. As compensation, I will receive a free product. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Advertise and market your business with That! Advertising Agency
It takes a creative mind to develop an advertising campaign and market a product. It is not an easy task and requires quite a bit of work. This is why businesses hire advertising and marketing people for their products! If businesses do not hire people within their own company, they can hire an advertising agency.
That! Advertising Agency is an agency staffed by skilled professionals that creates and manages advertising and marketing campaigns for your business. Advertising and marketing campaigns can include a number of different strategies, including social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, search engine optimization, and pay per click advertising to name a few. They will use software to track the success of the campaigns in order to make sure that you are receiving the most for your advertising budget. If the information indicates that the campaign strategy isn’t working, a new strategy will be developed.
Times are tough right now in our society and businesses are struggling economically. Budgets are tight. Some people might say that they do not have the budget for advertising and marketing; however, That! Advertising Agency will work to provide services around the budget and plan you establish. One business’s plan might involve social media marketing through Facebook and Twitter, while another business’s plan might involve search engine optimization.
Making a name for your business and making yourself stand out within an enormous crowd is difficult. As a small business owner, I have struggled with this as well. Being proactive and establishing a relationship with That! Advertising Agency may be just the right strategy to push your business forward and to the next level.
*Disclaimer: I received compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.
That! Advertising Agency is an agency staffed by skilled professionals that creates and manages advertising and marketing campaigns for your business. Advertising and marketing campaigns can include a number of different strategies, including social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, search engine optimization, and pay per click advertising to name a few. They will use software to track the success of the campaigns in order to make sure that you are receiving the most for your advertising budget. If the information indicates that the campaign strategy isn’t working, a new strategy will be developed.
Times are tough right now in our society and businesses are struggling economically. Budgets are tight. Some people might say that they do not have the budget for advertising and marketing; however, That! Advertising Agency will work to provide services around the budget and plan you establish. One business’s plan might involve social media marketing through Facebook and Twitter, while another business’s plan might involve search engine optimization.
Making a name for your business and making yourself stand out within an enormous crowd is difficult. As a small business owner, I have struggled with this as well. Being proactive and establishing a relationship with That! Advertising Agency may be just the right strategy to push your business forward and to the next level.
*Disclaimer: I received compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Go Back-to-School Shopping at Tiny Prints!
Back to school shopping is an exciting time. I love all the new clean clothes, shoes, and school supplies. Last year, my daughter entered first grade and it was complete chaos about a week prior to school starting. My daughter was supposed to attend school in the district in which I work because our own district does not have a before/afterschool program. However, the week prior to school starting, the before/after school program pulled out of the school. This made it impossible for her to attend there. I was going to have to leave my job in order to be available to pick her up from school. Thankfully, at the least minute, our neighbors came forward and offered to watch her. They saved us and we are forever thankful. I felt so sorry for daughter – she was so confused about it all. First grade is such a big year and she was so nervous. This year, she is going into second grade and is as cool as a cucumber. Our neighbors are going to once again watch her for us. I have all her medical forms filled out. We have shopped until we dropped. We are officially…dare I say...organized!
In addition to the excitement of our new found organization, I am heading back to work for the school year. This is a momentous year because my school building has undergone a massive renovation. The building was practically being torn apart as we worked last year and it was unbelievably stressful. My office has been moved and I now have a window. The building will be beautiful. After what seems like years, I am upbeat about returning to work.
Families have to purchase so much to be prepared for the start of school. Tiny Prints can help you to be prepared! They have so many adorable designs for lunchbox notes, labels, playdate cards, allergy cards, notebooks, and dorm decorations. They also have items for teachers and parents! As I've written about so often in the past, I love to personalize notebooks, labels, and cards. Tiny Prints has adorable products. Visit Tiny Prints today to see all the back-to-school products available today!
*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I was compensated with a gift code as part of the Tiny Prints Blogging Program. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Looking for a new exercise bike? MoreExerciseBikes.com has them all!
Some people love to exercise and others detest it with a passion and would rather have a root canal. Personally, I enjoy it. Once I get into the habit, I feel gross if I don’t exercise. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout, but I need to at least go for a long walk. My husband and I have a couple pieces of exercise equipment and I like to use exercise DVD’s as well.
I am so jealous of the people who are able to ride their bikes on the backroads of our town. My daughter is the only one in our family who has a bike. Riding a bike is such great exercise! We do have an exercise bike and I certainly love to use this during my workout. MoreExerciseBikes.com, a division of Cymax, has exercise bikes gallore, including recumbent and upright bikes. The recumbent exercise bike leans backwards, which is easier on your back sometimes. Upright exercise bikes are just that – they allow you to sit upright.
Aristo CB1 Commercial Upright Exercise Bike is an upright bike that certainly caught my eye if we were to purchase a new bike. This bike is similar to one that I used when I had a gym membership.
The Phoenix Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike intrigued me because it does not have the big screen in front of you. Sometimes, I like to watch television while I ride to distract myself. The screen is annoying because I have to peer around it. This bike simply has the seat and pedals, which seems like it would be a nice fit for me.
I am so jealous of the people who are able to ride their bikes on the backroads of our town. My daughter is the only one in our family who has a bike. Riding a bike is such great exercise! We do have an exercise bike and I certainly love to use this during my workout. MoreExerciseBikes.com, a division of Cymax, has exercise bikes gallore, including recumbent and upright bikes. The recumbent exercise bike leans backwards, which is easier on your back sometimes. Upright exercise bikes are just that – they allow you to sit upright.
Aristo CB1 Commercial Upright Exercise Bike is an upright bike that certainly caught my eye if we were to purchase a new bike. This bike is similar to one that I used when I had a gym membership.
The Phoenix Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike intrigued me because it does not have the big screen in front of you. Sometimes, I like to watch television while I ride to distract myself. The screen is annoying because I have to peer around it. This bike simply has the seat and pedals, which seems like it would be a nice fit for me.
In addition to the sheer variety, I was also impressed by the price. The above bike would only cost me $179! You don't have to join a gym, to ride a great exercise bike!
EdenFantasys
This post is for mature audiences and contains links for adults only.
It’s difficult for many couples to keep the spark alive when they are trying to manage a household, take care of children, work full-time jobs, etc. At the end of the day, everyone is exhausted. However, it is important to take time for each other. EdenFantasys is an online shop that sells products that can help couples with creating and/or maintaining the spark. EdenFantasys is an adult shop that sells adult toys, lingerie, candles, massage oils and bath and body products, to name a few.
At the end of a long day, exhausted or not, I think that couples need to set the right mood. Clean sheets, candles, and massage oils are easy and cost-effective. The clean sheets I can easily take care of. However, the candles and massage oils are a different story. I love candles and often use them in my home while entertaining or to freshen up the air if needed. These are mostly the smell of apples or pine trees – not really mood enhancing scents! I have to admit that I haven’t used candles to enhance the mood. Illume Candles seem like the perfect choice. Illume Candles come in a variety of scents, but the one that caught my eye was the Angel Food Cake! My husband gives great back massages, but we don't own any oils. The Massage Therapy Kit contains five different oils, including Serenity, Pleasure Garden, Sweet Almond, Healing Blend and Soaring Spirit. These oils are infused with Vitamin E and skin-smoothing ingredients!
I saw the Candy Bra for the first time on the EdenFantasys site. I thought this looked different and intriguing! If you have never seen one, you should sheck it out!
Whatever you are searching for, whether PG-13 products or Rated R, EdenFantasys has the product and can take care of your needs!
*Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post as part of the EdenFantasys Blogger Ambssador Program. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Straight Talk cell phone service can cut your bill in half!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I feel like I’m “Ari Gold” from the show Entourage sometimes. Let’s just say that my cell phone receives a lot of use. I need a plan that can manage this use and keep me within my budget. Also, I would love to upgrade my phone, but I have to wait for my contract to expire.
Straight Talk is phone service plan provided by Walmart that does not require a contract. Straight Talk states it can cut most individuals’ cell phone plans in half. Half! Saving 50% certainly gains my attention! What could I spend with the money gained each month? I can think of numerous things I need for when I go back to work next month…
Straight Talk is a straight forward plan – no contract, no bills or extra charges that pop up, and they do not check your credit for previous issues. They provide nationwide coverage with excellent reception, which is an important factor that basically everyone considers in deciding upon a plan.
The “All You Need Plan” is a plan that supports people who are “heavy users”. This plan provides 1,000 minutes of use, 1,000 texts (which is quite a lot!), and 30MB of storage (which comes in handy for people who download files and pictures often). The monthly cost is $45 for unlimited use of calls, texts, web, and more! This amounts to $499 for the entire year! There is no extra cost for 411 charges, which definitely peaks my interest because I tend to use 411 often. In terms of long distance service, Straight Talk offers a long distance plan in the form of a prepaid plan that enables you to call from your cell phone, home, or office phone at low cost - so, call a friend today!
It seems that most companies’ service plans, cell phone or otherwise, require extra fees. Extra fees are tapped on everywhere. However, Straight Talk does not require activation, reactivation, or termination fees. Not every plan can state this!
There are a variety of cell phones available. Touch screen smart phones that can download apps for you and reconditioned phones (for as low as $10) with built-in mp3, camera, Bluetooth, instant messaging, web access, and more are available. For example, the Nokia e71 galaxy time is everything you need in a phone!
I feel like I’m “Ari Gold” from the show Entourage sometimes. Let’s just say that my cell phone receives a lot of use. I need a plan that can manage this use and keep me within my budget. Also, I would love to upgrade my phone, but I have to wait for my contract to expire.
Straight Talk is phone service plan provided by Walmart that does not require a contract. Straight Talk states it can cut most individuals’ cell phone plans in half. Half! Saving 50% certainly gains my attention! What could I spend with the money gained each month? I can think of numerous things I need for when I go back to work next month…
Straight Talk is a straight forward plan – no contract, no bills or extra charges that pop up, and they do not check your credit for previous issues. They provide nationwide coverage with excellent reception, which is an important factor that basically everyone considers in deciding upon a plan.
The “All You Need Plan” is a plan that supports people who are “heavy users”. This plan provides 1,000 minutes of use, 1,000 texts (which is quite a lot!), and 30MB of storage (which comes in handy for people who download files and pictures often). The monthly cost is $45 for unlimited use of calls, texts, web, and more! This amounts to $499 for the entire year! There is no extra cost for 411 charges, which definitely peaks my interest because I tend to use 411 often. In terms of long distance service, Straight Talk offers a long distance plan in the form of a prepaid plan that enables you to call from your cell phone, home, or office phone at low cost - so, call a friend today!
It seems that most companies’ service plans, cell phone or otherwise, require extra fees. Extra fees are tapped on everywhere. However, Straight Talk does not require activation, reactivation, or termination fees. Not every plan can state this!
There are a variety of cell phones available. Touch screen smart phones that can download apps for you and reconditioned phones (for as low as $10) with built-in mp3, camera, Bluetooth, instant messaging, web access, and more are available. For example, the Nokia e71 galaxy time is everything you need in a phone!
To hear more about Straight Talk, watch this YouTube video - http://tinyurl.com/3z7bnrc
Listen to how this customer was caught hook, line and sinker!
For more customer testimonial, listen to this happy customer - http://tinyurl.com/3c6rgx5
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