Every Topic in the Universe(s?)

And the winner is..

2012-01-27T02:08:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Purex Complete Crystals Softener and Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra is... Denise V!! Stay tuned for more contests!! :-)

Purex Complete Crystals Softener and Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra

2012-01-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Purex sent me the folowing info:

"Purex® Complete Crystals Softener
WHAT IT IS > UNIQUE CRYSTAL FORM, 92% NATURAL FABRIC SOFTENER
Introducing Purex® Complete Crystals SoftenerTM*; a purer way to get laundry that
smells clean and fresh for weeks. 92% natural, this product’s unique crystal form works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue, because it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance. In addition, since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.
HOW IT’S USED > ADDED WITH LAUNDRY AT THE START OF THE WASH CYCLE
Why struggle with plastic fabric softener balls, risk staining your clothes or waste time waiting for the rinse cycle? Simply add Purex Complete Crystals Softener directly with your laundry at the beginning of every wash cycle to infuse fabrics with long lasting freshness.
HOW IT WORKS > CRYSTALS DISSOLVE INFUSING FABRICS WITH FRESHNESS
Laundry scent lovers will perk up as freshness is infused into clothes with this new fabric softener. Over time, traditional oil-based softeners coat fibers causing harmful oily residue to accumulate. Purex Complete Crystals Softeners penetrate fabrics to reduce fiber entanglement and smooth frayed fibers providing a naturally soft feel.
WHY IT’S DIFFERENT > SAFE FOR ALL LAUNDRY AND BETTER FOR FABRICS
Do ALL of your laundry—worry free! Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for
all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners.
Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. Unlike other softeners, Crystals WILL:
• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes
• Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
• Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
• Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying vs. using traditional softeners
The product won’t harm your clothes and is safe and convenient for the entire family!
VARIETIES > ON-TREND SCENTS
Purex Complete Crystals Softener is available in three on-trend fragrances: Fresh
Spring Waters TM, Lavender Blossom TM, and Tropical Splash. TM
Suggested Retail Price
Purex Complete Crystals Softener is priced from $3.99 to $5.99 depending on retailer
and will be available in food, drug and mass retailers nationwide

* Safe for use in both Standard and High Efficiency (HE) washers"

They also sent me a FREE full-sized bottle to try for myself. AND, they sent me a Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra, because the Purex Complete Crystals Softener does not interfere with the moisture-wicking properties of high-tech clothing like some softeners do. Here's some info on the bra:

"Jockey®Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra
Style # 673400
moisture-wicking sports bra helps keep you cool & dry.
convenient key pocket, take your workouts anywhere!
reflective logo at the back
breathable mesh panels
soft bottom band for comfortable support
Fabric Content: 93% Polyester/ 7% Spandex. Lining: 94% Polyester/ 6% Spandex. Machine wash & dry. Imported."

You can see the bra here

http://www.jockey.com/products/active-sports-bra-performance

The bra is a really nice one; you can tell just by looking at it that it's one of the modern type, with its layers of different fabrics doing different stuff. It's a good-looking bra, and offers good support and comfort; just be aware that they run small and you may need a bigger size than you usually take.

The Purex Complete Crystals Softener is a wonderful innovation; even if the sloppiest member of your household uses it (in my home that'd be my husband, lol) you don't have to worry about them pouring it all over everything because it is, as the name suggests, CRYSTALS. It smells terrific, softens really well, and because you don't use much the package is significantly smaller than it'd be for the same # of loads of a liquid softener and thus it's a greener choice.

You can go here to see more about this new fabric softener:

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

And there's MORE: Purex is letting me give one lucky reader their own Purex Complete Crystals Softener and Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra!! Send me your New Year's resolutions about exercising, and the best one wins it!! :-)

New Purex UltraPacks

2012-01-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Purex gave me the following info:

"What are Purex® UltraPacks™?
• New Purex UltraPacks are convenient pre-dosed liquid
detergent packs that make doing laundry easier than ever.
• Purex UltraPacks manage to squeeze all the performance
of our new Triple Action liquid formula into just one
powerful pack.
• Finally…No more mess. No more spills. No more heavy
jugs. It’s Laundry Simplified.®
• Each Purex UltraPack contains powerful 2x concentrated
liquid detergent, giving each UltraPack double
the cleaning power in every drop*.
• Purex UltraPacks dissolve quickly once the washer is
started—even in cold water.
• Purex UltraPacks are formulated and safe for all
machines, including high-efficiency (HE)."

They also sent me a free package of UltraPacks to try out myself. I found them to be a clever innovation; it saves time because you just toss it in, and there's nothing you can spill (the latter is especially important for when my husband does laundry). As always with Purex, you get clean clothes even though you don't pay a high price. If your life is as hectic as mine, give them a shot; you can learn more about this new laundry detergent here

New Purex UltraPacks

Chore Chart at Goalforit.com

2012-01-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

(NB: I am receiving compensation for my review of this service... but they haven't put any words in my mouth.)

The fine folks at BSM Media on behalf of Goalforit.com asked me to review the FREE Chore Chart service offered here

Chore Chart

The concept is a familiar one; make a chart to keep track of your child's chores. You create the chart online, and you can use it there (which is the greener option) or you can print the chart out if having it visible on the wall would help your child stay focused, which you'd probably need for a younger child... and for yourself as well, since YOU have to have the discipline to keep using the chart or you won't accomplish anything but causing battles over whether the child made her bed 3 days ago or not, and having it hitting you in the eye makes it harder to forget to do it.

There are many options for what your chart could look like... so many that it can be confusing to sort through, and someone who isn't tech-savvy might have a hard time. I'm a pretty serious geek and even *I* had some trouble; there are just too many settings and choices for a newbie user to have to sort through and no way that I could find to just generate a basic chart without all the extras or to use some sort of logical standard settings for your first attempt at a chart. I spent far too much time floundering around, not knowing where I was in the process or what that screen was that just popped up because there are too many things crowded close together and while trying to click away from one thing I accidentally clicked something else (at least that's what I assume happened-I'm honestly not even sure); had I been on the site to just try it out rather than to review it I would've given up in frustration before I got a usable chart created.

Be that as it may, if you can figure it out you certainly have a wide variety of chart options; you pick theme, color, what to name it, the chores, when they need to be done, point values and so on. On the down side, the setup includes requiring you to put in unnecessary info like the child's age and gender EVERY SINGLE TIME, even though these things have no possible impact on the design of the chart; hopefully they'll fix that. (And btw, I didn't appreciate having to enter my equally unnecessary birth date while registering for the site; I dislike having to enter more personal info than I need to on general principles, and REALLY dislike having a task take longer because they went overboard with the # of fields they require to be filled in to do anything.)

Once you have a chart created, you can click on its title to view it... except the entire month doesn't come up, just the line(s) for the week you're on, and presumably previous weeks, which is confusing because the chart has the name of the month on it and you expect to see a chart showing an entire month... or maybe that's just me, but I had another struggle while thinking that my entire chart wasn't loading before figuring out that that's what (again, presumably) was going on.

The system allows you to assign points for chore completion (aka "Moolah") that can then be redeemed for rewards of your choosing; this is a good idea in general, but there doesn't appear to be a way to subtract points for failure to comply, and I think kids need to see a penalty for disobedience rather than just not getting rewarded. I don't know about you, but when *I* was a kid if there weren't penalties for not doing what I was supposed to do I'd never have done a single task, and not getting a mark on a chart wouldn't have motivated me in the slightest, lol. Now, you could of course still penalize a child for not doing their chores, but that'd mean you're still battling over chores with them directly and then what has the chart accomplished?

Overall, I'd say that for those that want or need more structure in how they deal with their kids' chores, and have the time and patience to master the system, this site would be a valuable resource; once you have it set up correctly you could save a great deal of time compared to making physical charts by hand, and you can also edit the charts at will which would be clumsy to do with a handmade chart. Since the folks running the site have asked for this feedback, I'm guessing that they'll be streamlining and otherwise improving the creation process so that eventually there won't be such a sharp learning curve involved; they have a good basic premise and will very likely end up being a go-to site for plenty of stressed parents.

New & Improved Formula Purex Triple Action

2011-12-20T02:22:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Purex provided me with the following info:

"New & Improved
Pureclean. Purevalue. Purex.
Purex is rolling out a new Triple Action formula across the entire
liquid detergent line. This new and improved Triple Action
formula delivers even better on Purex’s promise to leave your
clothes bright, white, and clean, and as always, for half the price
of the leading brand!
Over the past year our R&D scientists have been working hard to
create an even better Purex formula. And not just a better
formula, but one that will continue to deliver the value that Purex
stands for. We’re mindful of our consumers’ pocketbooks, and
we’re committed to bringing them a great product at a great
value. The new Purex Triple Action formula is just that. It’s an
even better clean, for half the price of the leading brand.
New Purex Triple Action leverages the best parts of our current
formula, combined with new additions, to deliver great cleaning
plus improved brightening power. This new formula will be rolled
out across our liquid detergent line this fall, so you’ll soon find it
in your favorite variety!

Just like all of our current detergents, new
Purex Triple Action has been specifically
formulated to work in both traditional and
High Efficiency (HE) washers. This ensures
that Purex is always available to our consumers,
no matter what kind of washer you have."

They also provided me with my very own FREE jug of Purex Triple Action. I've been using it, and I think it's pretty good stuff. As a lifelong penny-pincher, I greatly appreciate being able to get my clothes thoroughly clean at a lower price; if you're the same way, you might want to give it a shot.

To read more about this new laundry detergent, go here:

New & Improved Formula Purex Triple Action

Pam Cooking Spray

2011-11-16T00:13:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Pam and Smiley360 gave me the following info:

"PAM

The new and improved PAM® formula has been shown to be 70% better at attacking baked on food vs. bargain cooking sprays. Not only will every meal be picture-perfect, but you’ll have more time to enjoy your food and spend less time soaking, scrubbing and cleaning in the kitchen. Put your toughest recipes to the test and watch as PAM® comes to the rescue! No matter what meal you’re cooking, PAM® helps you pull it off. Even better.

"Like" PAM® on Facebook http://on.fb.me/od4C5b
Visit the PAM® website http://bit.ly/ruwNvQ"

The also gave me the following goodies:

PAM® Cooking Spray – Full Value Voucher (1 full-size can of spray)
Hunt’s Tomatoes – Full Value Voucher (1 can of tomatoes)
Pyrex Glass Dish
Spatula
Recipes

The Pam really does what it's supposed to; it made it way easier to clean up even after greasy, cheesy foods. I'll be buying more when this can runs out. The Hunt’s Tomatoes made a tasty casserole, too; they're always good to have in the cupboard.

If you want to learn more, or sign up to get your own goodies, go here:

http://smiley360.com/220466.cfm

And the winner is...

2011-11-14T00:49:00.001-08:00

The winner of a free Xia-Xia is... Noelle M!! Stay tuned for more giveaways!! :-)

Xia-Xia

2011-11-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

NB: All products discussed in this review were provided to me free of charge via MomSelect... but they did NOT put any words in my mouth.

Xia-Xia (pronounced Shah-Shah) are a new line of hermit crab toys that run around under battery power (they're NOT windups like you'd expect for a small toy of this type). Here's their official website that will be open in a few days:

http://www.xia-xiapets.com/

Here's what Toys 'r' Us has, which at least shows most of the stuff they've got:

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=12167538

There are 4 different crabs: Bimini, Trinidad, Turks and Tobago. I think they're all pretty cute, but my daughter immediately divided them up into girls (the pink and purple) and boys (the orange and blue) and played them like Barbies... the boys mainly get sent off to Home Depot, lol, unless a boy is playing them with her and then he gets those.

You do something with their claws to make then run around; we can't quite get the hang of it (we're not too coordinated), but eventually they get going and are fun for the little ones to mess with. Their shells are interchangeable, and there are extra shells you can get too; my daughter switched from shell to shell to shell, but ended up with the original ones back in place and lost interest. Each shell comes with a "Little Friend" that's a little plastic something or other; my daughter calls them bugs and keeps trying to throw them out, so I've confiscated them until she's older and can appreciate them.

We were generously sent all 3 playsets: Confetti Cottage, Copacabana, and Rio de Trio Village. We can't quite figure out what to do with them; with the first 2 it seems like all you can do is set the crabs in a couple of bare spots and then take them back out, so my daughter just uses them for storage and display. For the 3rd set, because it's bigger you can actually get them moving and they can move through it if you aim them right... but it's a little too challenging and frustrating for my girl (heck, it's hard for ME), so I'll pack that one up with the "Little Friends" for now.

They sent a list of questions to ask my daughter... questions clearly written by someone with no experience with kids, lol. I didn't get anything useful in reply, but I want to give 'em all they asked for, so here's what I got:

"What do you like best about the Xia-Xia? What? The crabs!! Oh, they're funny. Which one's your favorite? The pink one. Why? 'Cause it's pink!! What's your favorite playset? That one. (points to Copacabana) Why? It's funny. Where do you like playing with the crabs? The hallway. Would your friends like them? I don't know. If you could change one thing about them, what would it be? Make them all pink. Which shell is your favorite? The glitter one. Why? Because it's glitter. Do you like the Little Friends? NO!! Do you like the story about the crabs? No."

Out of all the grandeur we were sent, my daughter basically just wants to play with the pink one; because of the way they run around, it's a little chaotic to try to use more than one at a time, and the playsets don't really do anything or allow the Xia-Xia to do anything different.

I think that these are cute toys, but I think they aren't for kids down to age 4 like they suggest; I'd say 6 at the youngest, and really 8 or more to be able to really use all the parts the way they've supposed to be used. That's just my opinion... but that's what they wanted.

If you want your child to try a Xia-Xia, send me an email telling me why your little angel deserves a free toy and the best one will get it!! I'll post a winner at the end of the weekend.

As I've been saying all along...

2011-10-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

I ran across a quote from the Bible that says what I've been trying to tell people my entire life:

James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

It's not enough to refrain from taking harmful action. It's not enough to follow Asimov's Laws of Robotics and not cause harm by failing to take action. To be a good person, you MUST take virtuous actions. To be a good person, you MUST take ALL virtuous actions that you know perfectly well that you SHOULD be doing.

By that definition, 99% of people are NOT good. What about YOU, are you in the 99% or the 1%? And if the former... what are you going to do about it?

Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts

2011-09-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

The nice folks at Smiley and Dr. Scholl's sent me a free pair of these to try out. Here's the info they provided:

"Dr. Scholl’s® Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts

Dr. Scholl’s® Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts are designed to put your feet into a more supported position and disperse foot pressure levels more evenly. They provide all-day relief of tired, achy feet and eliminate foot discomfort immediately! Customized via FootMapping® Technology, the orthotics are a perfect blend of support and cushioning that you can't find anywhere else.

For more information use the links below:

To learn more about Dr. Scholl's® Custom Fit Orthotics go here http://bit.ly/dr_scholls
To find a Dr. Scholl's® Custom Fit Orthotic Center near you go here http://bit.ly/dr_scholls_footmapping
To print your $7.50 rebate go here http://bit.ly/FootmappingRebate"

They are big, bulky inserts; they made my shoes feel tight and are sort of uncomfortable, with no more benefit in any way than a regular insert, that would feel much better and cost much less. Maybe if I had a foot problem that needed correcting they'd do something for me, but as it is I'll give them a pass. To find out more or to get your own goodies to review, go here:

http://smiley360.com/130256.cfm

Sensitive skin

2011-09-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have sensitive skin; it's a bummer, as many of you know. How to clean it? How to moisturize it? So many products cause irritation. Burt's Bees, always a source of great beauty products, now has a line for sensitive skin; sounds promising, right? I'm hoping to get a chance to try them out and report back to you... got that, BzzAgent, HOPING FOR A CHANCE!! {lol} Yes, BzzAgent might send me these products... or, they might not. Jono, you big tease, come on now, show me some LOVE!!

And the winner is...

2011-08-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Carmex gift pack is... Denise K!! Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

New Carmex flavors and giveaway

2011-08-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Carmex sent me their 2 new lip balm flavors to try:

Vanilla

http://mycarmex.com/our-products/carmex-vanilla-stick/default.aspx

and Lime Twist

http://mycarmex.com/our-products/carmex-lime-stick/default.aspx

They are quite yummy, and my husband says that the lime one is his fave lip balm EVER. They're very moisturizing, and they have SPF 15, so they cover the spectrum of what I want in a balm; we're having some hot, dry days here, and as always Carmex is doing a great job of making my lips feel soft and moist.

They also sent me their Moisture Plus™ lip balm

http://mycarmex.com/our-products/carmex-moisture-plus/default.aspx

which is in a sleek, skinny case that looks like it's for an upscale lipstick but is in fact a great lip balm with SPF 15 and a nice sheen. (This one was my mother's fave, and also comes in lovely tinted versions as well.)

As if this weren't enough, they ALSO sent me a fab picnic blanket in their signature colors. What more can they do? They're letting me give an identical kit to one of YOU!! Whoever sends me the best picnic story by the end of the weekend will win it!! :-)

And the winner is...

2011-08-19T01:53:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Fiber One 80 Calories cereal giveaway is... Nicholas G!! Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

Fiber One 80 Calories cereal giveaway

2011-08-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

Disclosure: Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. They sent me the following info:

"The wait is over - brand new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal is on store shelves now! Each crunchy wheat and corn puff square in every bowl of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal has a light honey flavor - a delicious way to start your day. Fiber helps satisfy your hunger and helps you feel full, making it a great tool to help manage your weight."

"With 40 percent of the Daily Value of fiber in one 80 calorie serving, Fiber One 80 Calories cereal can help curb your hunger, which can help you stick to your weight loss plan.
With great-tasting Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, there is a new breakfast option that helps you feel satisfied without sacrificing flavor! Are you hungry yet? If so, look for new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal on grocer´s shelves now! Visit

http://bit.ly/FiberOne

for great information on healthy living and coupons for new products. Also, be sure to check out the Fiber One Facebook page

http://on.fb.me/F180Cal

and get involved in the conversation. We´d love to hear how you feel satisfied with new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal!

Fiber One´s Website http://bit.ly/FiberOne

Fiber One´s Facebook page http://on.fb.me/F180Cal"

They also sent me a prize pack containg:

1 box of Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal
1 sensor pedometer with USB connector to chart walking progress
1 neoprene iPod/smartphone holder with armstrap

The cereal was pretty tasty, and stayed crispy in milk; if you're trying to eat more fiber, as you probably are if you're my age, lol, it's well worth a try. The pedometer is a pretty cool geek toy, and the iPod/smartphone holder... is ORANGE, so I gave it to my husband and he's happy with it. One of YOU can win a prize pack just like mine; whoever sends me the best story about how they're trying to get in better shape by exercising and eating better will win it!! :-)

Nietzsche gives good quote

2011-07-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

"People are always angry at anyone who chooses very individual standards for his life; because of the extraordinary treatment which that man grants to himself, they feel degraded, like ordinary beings." - Nietzsche

If this doesn't make sense to you, you haven't been paying attention; there's nothing that we as a species hate, fear and resent more than someone who doesn't live their life by the same rules that we either cling to or chafe against.

A lip gloss plug

2011-06-28T02:32:00.000-07:00

I got a FREE Jordana Cosmetics Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss from some giveaway or other; I enter so many that I can't remember. It's not a product test, and I didn't agree to review it. I'm posting because it surprised me. The color they sent is called "XLNT," and it looks like a DARK grape purple, like something only a goth kid would dare use. On their site

http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-112-lip-out-loud-super-shiny-gloss.aspx

they call it "deep burgundy plum." Something made me try it. The sponge applicator put a scary-looking glob on my lip, but once it was actually spread out over my entire mouth it was very sheer and amazingly flattering, not purple-y at all. I would never in a billion years have bought this color, but I'll try wearing it, and if it wears decently it'd certainly be worth $2 to actually buy it; their lipsticks outlast every other brand (cheap lipsticks always do, as the more expensive ones are soft and creamy which means they fade fast) so I'm hopeful.

It just goes to show you; lip glosses can be tricky... you really do have to just take the plunge and try new ones.

"Here, Home, Hope"

2011-06-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

The kind people at One2One Network sent me a copy of "Here, Home, Hope" by Kaira Rouda to read and review. The story is about the midlife crisis of Kelly Mills Johnson, a ditzy, spoiled housewife with no clue as to how to fill her days, or have a life, outside of caring for her family. The book reads like a freshman English project, with too much explanation, too many adjectives, and nothing to make either the characters or the story feel real or compelling. It's still vaguely entertaining, but, speaking as a middle-aged woman who has already undergone my midlife crisis, I could not relate to Kelly, her friends, her life, her feelings, or anything else in the book, and the juvenile tone just isn't appropriate for the issues of a more mature woman.

It's not a terrible book, and if you've got time to kill and are in the mood for lightweight reading this story might fit the bill, but other than that I'd say give it a pass.

PS: *** THIS IS MY ONE THOUSANDTH POST!! ***

An amazing goodbye

2011-06-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

My mother passed away earlier this year. She had been, for lack of a better term, haunting the house; my friends and I had all felt her, and I heard her, SAW her, and experienced a major cold spot by her bed. After I buried her ashes in the back yard, though, she appeared to have gone, although I couldn't be sure. Then, when I was clearing out her secretary in the back bedroom, a tiny piece of paper appeared in the middle of the lid, face-up and oriented for me to read it; it said "goodbye."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Playtex Sport Body Wipes

2011-05-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Crowdtap and Playtex sent me FREE samples of Playtex Sport Body Wipes to try and to share with my friends. The idea is that these wipes allow you to clean yourself up when you don't have access to water or time to use it. It's a reasonable idea, and the wipes themselves are decent quality, but the garish pink package makes them look like feminine hygiene wipes, so both I and my friends, who are all conservative middle-aged types, felt uncomfortable with the idea of anyone seeing them. Worse, the scent is too strong and icky-sweet, which might be ok for a 12 year old but not for grown women who use nice perfume and bath products. None of us are ever in circumstances where we don't have other ways to clean up, so for us this isn't a useful product. However, for someone who IS in that sort of situation, if you can stand the smell this would be a good product to have. If they come out with an unscented version, I'll be able to recommend them to those who can use them without hesitation; we Americans do love our wipes.

Better than trust?

2011-05-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

A friend is doing a bunch of work on my house, has been over the past couple of months as time permits. When he wants me to sign off on some new facet of the work, he gives me a vaguely excessive explanation, which I've been gently rounding up by saying something like "It's fine, I trust you." Everyone wants to be trusted, right, so telling him I trust him and don't need all this justification is the way to go... right? Wrong, apparently. He tends to be polite and reserved to the point of not saying what he feels, but when he's stressed, or, like today, has a headache, stuff will slip out, and he astounded me by blurting out that he doesn't want me to say I trust him, but to say instead that whatever he has described to me is logical or makes sense. Er, excuse me, WHAT?!! The best I can figure is that he prefers direct approval of whatever he's come up with to being trusted. Approval vs trust? Trust would seem the clear winner to ME, but then I don't care about anyone's approval, so... And yes, trust is more an emotional thing and so maybe not as appealing to men, but then again all the so-called experts say that men want to hear that women trust them to do the right thing... sigh... in any case, now that I know that approval is better than trust for him, I'll play it that way. It's an interesting lesson in human behavior, that's for sure.

New goodies from Smile.ly

2011-04-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Smile.ly have sent me some new products to try for FREE!! The first one is:

"Shedd’s Spread Country Crock® enjoys the privilege of being America’s favorite spread, and repays that loyalty by maintaining a consistently high standard of taste and value. For well over two decades, Country Crock® has answered cravings for simple, basic foods with an incredibly creamy, country-fresh taste that’s known for its easy spreadability, as well as being a delicious topper and recipe ingredient. Country Crock® provides a deliciously creamy alternative to butter, with 70% less saturated fat, 30% fewer calories, and no cholesterol*. And all of the Country Crock® spreads are a good source of Omega-3 ALA and Vitamins A&D**."

I was a little bit skeptical, but once I tried it I was hooked; it's very tasty, and it doesn't seem like it would be so much lower in fat and calories. If you love baked potatoes as much as I do, give it a try with low-fat sour cream and see if it isn't still totally delicious.

If you want to learn more about Country Crock, get a coupon or recipes, or find out or how to get your own goodies from Smile.ly, click here:

http://smiley360.com/54422.cfm

And the other new product is:

"GUM® Soft-Picks®

Food in your teeth?

We’ve all been in situations when food needs to be quickly and discreetly removed from between teeth. GUM Soft-Picks are the easiest way to remove food and keep your gums healthy. They are clinically proven to remove plaque from between teeth*.

GUM Soft-Picks feature 76 soft, rubber bristles that easily slide between teeth to remove food. They clean deep and are more gentle on gums than wooden or plastic picks. They come with a portable carrying case so throw them in your purse, car, or desk to use whenever you need a quick way to clean your teeth!

*data on file"

The picks looked a little scary it the package, but they were very comfortable to use and even got into the tighter gaps and helped me really clean my teeth. If you're middle-aged like me, you know you want healthier teeth and gums, and just brushing isn't enough, so try a package and see if you don't toss out your old plastic picks like I did.

If you want to learn more about GUM Soft-Picks, get a coupon, or find out or how to get your own goodies from Smile.ly, click here:

http://smiley360.com/59223.cfm

Purex Complete with Zout

2011-04-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

As a member of the Purex Insiders, I was sent a free bottle of Purex Complete with Zout

http://www.purex.com/products/detergents/purex-complete-with-zout

to try out, and I've been using it for the past month. Here's what it is:

"Purex Complete with Zout
A Powerful Detergent and Stain-Fighting Pretreater in One.
Purex® Complete with Zout® combines the proven performance of Purex detergent with the triple-enzyme stain-fighting power of Zout® pretreater. This powerful combination works to get stains out the first time, even tough stains like grass, chocolate, and tomato sauce. Try it on your tough stains.

What scents are available?

Fresh Morning Burst | Free & Clear "

My analysis is: it does a great job!! While MY clothes never get that dirty, my husband always ends up crusted in filth and covered in food stains of every color in the rainbow, so his stuff is a great test of a detergent, and the Purex came through like a champ without my having to spend an hour applying pre-treaters. It smells nice, too, without being too perfumey, which he appreciates since he doesn't think it's manly to smell like a flower garden. All told, a very good product. But don't take MY word for it, you can get a free sample here:

http://www.freesamplepurex.com/freesample/

Johnsonville Italian Sausage

2011-03-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

The fine folks of SheSpeaks and Johnsonville sent me coupons for FREE Johnsonville Italian Sausage, and man, do we LOVE sausage in this house!! This stuff is so tasty that giving it to me free is the only way to make it better, as far as I'm concerned. My personal fave is the HOT kind, as I love spicy food, but all the varieties are delish. The choices are:

Mild Italian Sausage Links
Hot Italian Sausage Links
Sweet Italian Sausage Links
Four Cheese Italian Sausage Links
Mild Ground Italian Sausage
Hot Ground Italian Sausage
Sweet Ground Italian Sausage

If you're making pizza at home to save $, this is what you need on it, and it's great in lasagna, omelets, and don't forget on the GRILL, for those of us lucky enough to live where the weather allows us to eat outside already. You can find some cool recipes here

http://www.johnsonville.com/recipeSearch/line.f851eb21-bc1b-403b-a48b-a8e1166680bf.html

And the winner is...

2011-03-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Progresso "Souper You Debut" gift pack giveaway is... Doreen T!! Keep your eyes peeled for more giveaways!! :-)

Nutella party!! :-)

2011-03-21T01:21:00.000-07:00

The fine folks from MomSelect & Maria Bailey kindly invited me to be a host of one of their MommyParties sponsored by Nutella hazelnut spread. On Saturday I hosted a Nutella Breakfast Bar and invited ten girlfriends to join me for a breakfast party... and boy, did we pig out, LOL!! Here's a little info about the star of the party:

"Nutella has been a favorite of Europeans for decades, and when used in moderation with complementary foods, Nutella® is a quick and easy tool to encourage kids to eat whole grains, such as whole wheat toast, English muffins, toaster waffles and bagels.

Nutella® hazelnut spread is a terrific option for individuals with peanut allergies. The spread does not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing. Nutella is comparable to other popular breakfast spreads and is the perfect alternative for all those finicky eaters in your household."

It seems like half the women I know have at least one kid with a peanut allergy, so having an option like this is fantastic for them; besides the breakfast options, they can use Nutella for many recipes that call for peanut butter, with the bonus of that sweet hit of chocolate goodness, and it's safe for all their kids to eat.

Nutella was very generous in sending us:

26.5oz Jar of Nutella® hazelnut spread for use during your party
(10) Nutella® spread sample packs and coupons for guests bags
(10) Nutella® spread guest bags
(10) Nutella® spread tumbler mugs
(10) Nutella® spread spreader
(10) Nutella® spread tip cards for guests
Recipe ideas for your Nutella® Breakfast Bar
Party activities:
Everyday Breakfast Tips and Trivia

Everyone was impressed with all these goodies, and of course everyone is thrilled to get free stuff in this economy, but they were hungry and the main attraction was the FOOD. We had several waffle irons going to make fresh waffles to have with Nutella and fruit for everyone, and believe me they were TASTY!! We also had bags of fresh bagels and several kinds of muffins; the Nutella was delicious on everything. We made fruit smoothies with frozen fruit (to get frostiness without ice cream) too, to put in the new biodegradable travel mugs, and all together it was a pretty luxurious meal.

Based on the rave reviews, I'm betting that every one of those women will be buying Nutella for their families; I'll certainly be continuing to buy it. If your kids are fussy at breakfast, give it a try as an easy way to get some protein and nutrition into them... and fewer breakfast battles is a bonus that every mom can appreciate.

Progresso "Souper You Debut" gift pack giveaway

2011-03-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Progresso and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"Available in 40 delicious flavors with 100 calories or less, Progresso® Soup can help curb your hunger, making it easier for you to stick to your weight management plan all year long. With hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, corn and rice, and flavor-packed vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and peppers, Progresso Soup varieties with 100 calories or less offer a good source of fiber and a full serving of vegetables.

Three grand prize winners will be awarded a trip for two to New York City from May 20th-22nd. The prize includes roundtrip airfare, a two-night stay in an NYC hotel, a full makeover at the Louis Licari salon, and a guided wardrobe shopping spree with a personal consultant at Lord & Taylor and $1,000 in spending money.

To enter, you´ll need to do the following:
Go to Progresso on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/Progresso?v=app_

to learn more and enter the contest
Submit your essay (200 characters or less) telling Progresso why you love their soups that contain 100 calories or less, and why you deserve a chance to win a trip to NYC for a full fashion overhaul
In addition, please submit a photo of yourself that visually reinforces the theme of your essay
Once the 10 finalists are announced, you can visit Progresso on Facebook from March 30th through April 13th to vote for your favorite.

Visit the Facebook page to download a coupon for $1.00 off four (4) cans of Progresso Soup and to check out makeover videos provided by MyStyle.com and the Style Network. Be sure to also "Follow" Progresso on Twitter

http://twitter.com/progresso

to keep up with the latest news from Progresso."

They also sent me a Progresso "Souper You Debut" gift pack that included 5 cans of Progresso Soup (YUM, especially the Light Clam Chowder, which I highly recommend), as well as a yoga mat (in a very nice carrying case), water bottle, set of aerobic bands, and a sport headband and wristband. And, they're also providing an additional gift pack that contains a VIP coupon for a free can of Progresso soup, as well as a yoga mat, water bottle, set of aerobic bands, sport headband and two sport wristbands, to give away to one of YOU. Whoever sends me the best description of how yoga will improve your life will win it; I'll post the winner in a few days.

Fabric softener just got COOL

2011-03-03T01:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.purex.com/

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

You saw right; CRYSTALS. How cool is that? The fine folks at Purex sent me some to try, and they look like that crafty stuff you layer in glass containers to make a wavy design; that sure beats the liquid stuff any day. They got all my unmentionables very soft, they smell terrific, and if my husband spills them it's not a disaster.

Here's the official scoop:

"Purex Complete Crystals Softener
Introducing an entirely new softener.
Purex Complete Crystals™ Softener is 92% natural crystals that go in at the start of the wash so they spend more time with your laundry infusing them with long-lasting freshness.

Convenient
Add at the start of the wash
Clean
Free of oil-based softening ingredients found in liquid softeners
Fresh
Scent that lasts for weeks, not days

Where can I buy Purex Complete Crystals Softener?

Purex Complete Crystals Softener will be available exclusively at Walmart stores until January 11, 2011. After that, you'll find it with other Purex products at retailers throughout North America. Find a retail store near you.

How does Purex Complete Crystals Softener work?

Add Purex Complete Crystals Softener at the start of the wash cycle with the detergent—no need to wait for the rinse cycle or use messy "softener balls." This way it spends more time with your laundry, infusing it with a fresh scent that can last for weeks, not days.

What makes Purex Complete Crystals Softener special?

Traditional fabric softeners are oil-based, which can coat fabrics, making them feel slick instead of soft (and can discolor some fabrics). But Purex Complete Crystals Softener is 92% natural and doesn't use oils, making it safe for all loads, including:
Children's sleepwear-there is no impact on the flame-retardant benefit.
Performance sportswear-it doesn't destroy sweat-wicking properties.
Towels-it doesn't reduce water absorbency.

Scents:

Fresh Spring Waters
A sensation of clean blue skies and spring breezes with line-dried fresh notes and clean florals.

Lavender Blossom
A comforting scent that features fresh lavender wrapped in cozy, soothing vanilla.

Tropical Splash
A scent that captures the beauty of exotic flowers intertwined with sumptuous fruits."

http://www.purex.com/

And the winner is...

2011-02-25T04:39:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Green Giant prize pack giveaway is... Tonya G!! Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

A new experience of the unknown

2011-02-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

I was gathering some things in my mother's bedroom when I felt the air in front of me take a sudden drop in temperature. The windows were closed, and no air was being run through the vents, none of which were nearby in any case. I called to my friend, who came in and held his hands out where mine were; he felt it too. My hands were icy, with the nail beds taking on a blue tint. The cold area had clear boundaries, and somehow the 2 temperature zones were remaining separate. He asked me about what my mother had done in that area, which basically was the primary spot of her room as far as time spent there. We speculated as to why my mother, which we assume this was, would be there; my best guess was that she didn't like the clothes laid out on the bed, or maybe she was just there because I was. After a few minutes, I felt the effect rapidly fading, and in a few seconds it was gone; the air felt the same temperature everywhere again. We took the clothes off the bed and put them away, just in case.

Was it my mother's ghost, a thin spot in the veil between the worlds (which was my friend's idea), or a joint hallucination?

Green Giant prize pack giveaway

2011-02-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Green Giant and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"With a new year comes a new you, and Green Giant® is here to cheer you on! Whether you´re already following a weight management plan or looking to start a new one, sometimes it´s the small changes that can make a huge difference.

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables can help you stay on track to achieve your weight management goals in 2011. Twenty-nine delicious varieties are now endorsed by Weight Watchers®, and most have only a 1 or 2 PointsPlus® value per serving! Packed with flavor and ready in minutes, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables are available in a wide variety of flavors, many featuring mouthwatering sauces and seasonings. They´re a terrific addition to any meal and a delicious way to achieve better health in 2011.

Don´t forget to visit Green Giant on Facebook and Green Giant on Twitter and "Like" or "Follow" the brand to keep up with their latest and greatest products! For more information and great recipe ideas visit http://greengiant.com/."

They also sent me a Green Giant prize pack that included one frozen sample of Green Giant Boxed Vegetables (which was very tasty, and a painless way to get your required veggie servings), an insulated tote, a serving bowl and a big silicone spoon. They've also provided an additional prize pack (which will include a VIP coupon in place of the frozen sample) to give to one of YOU!! Whoever sends me the best weight-loss story will win it; I'll post the winner in a few days.

A lesson from tragedy

2011-02-03T02:57:00.000-08:00

There's a shy man that I've been trying to be real friends with for ages. We'd made significant progress, and things seemed pretty good. Then, tragedy struck, and I tearfully called him for help, and suddenly, we had a radical increase in closeness. When I was talking to him today, teasing him about how he used to be scared of me and thus hard for me to get to know, he blurted out, "It's just that you're usually such a tower of strength, and..." and then caught himself and shifted the subject. This immediately reminded me of something that had puzzled me all my life, from the movie "D.A.R.Y.L."; the android boy can't get close to his foster mother, and someone tells him that it's because he's too perfect, and that he has to screw up to get her to care for him. He does, and then she does.

I think I get it now. It's about vulnerability. People want to feel like you're human, like there's emotional give and take between you, like you might need them rather than being INvulnerable and always able to handle everything... well, some male friendships might lack that, and some women go for men of stone, but I think in general that this is true, because in movies anyone shown as "too perfect" is also shown as obnoxious, rather than admirable like they should be.

The point here, and I do have one, is that this man, this intelligent, modern and evolved man, had an immediate and major emotional escalation with me the moment I showed major vulnerability. I'm warm, friendly and affectionate with people, so it's not like I went from cold to warm... and I just remembered a story about a woman who'd been in some sort of accident or... earthquake?... and walked home in a daze. When she knocked on the door (she didn't have her purse), and her boyfriend saw her, filthy, hair and clothes a wreck, his reaction was to instantly initiate sex with her. When questioned later, he said that she always looked so perfect that he was afraid to mess her up, so somehow her looking like she got dragged behind a truck was a turn-on. Notice the sarcasm? This is still crazy to me, but it's part of the same concept; a perfect appearance is a sort of shield, a mask of invulnerability, and people want to be able to see imperfection in you to enable them to feel comfortable, secure, affectionate, or attracted.

Lesson learned.

This has GOT to be a sign of the Apocalypse

2011-01-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

From a bunch of people with waaaaaaay too much time on their hands comes the following:

Internet Movie Firearms Database

http://www.imfdb.org/index.php/Main_Page

This site is exactly what it sounds like... !!!

And the winner is...

2011-01-10T02:25:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Big G cereal giveaway is... Jeff S!! Stay tuned for more goodies!!

Big G cereal giveaway

2011-01-06T05:52:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at General Mills and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"Did you know that 95 percent of Americans don't get enough whole grain in their diet?
According to the 2010 Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, only five percent of Americans get the three full recommended daily servings - a shocking statistic.
With many Americans making New Year's Resolutions to live healthier, it's never been easier to get the whole grain you want without sacrificing taste. Every Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, with more than 20 General Mills cereals delivering 16 grams or more. (At least 48 grams of whole grain are recommended daily.) Big G cereals are America's number one source of whole grain at breakfast, providing America with more whole grain at breakfast than any other breakfast food from any other manufacturer.
Only whole grain gives you the vital nutrients from the complete grain. The health benefits of whole grains can't be pinpointed to one particular component of the grain. It's the "whole grain package" that makes the difference. In addition to fiber, whole grain contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients that help ensure a healthy diet. A diet high in whole grain has been found to help with diabetes and weight management, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Get into the whole grain habit by just looking for the big white check on Big G cereals! Cereal is already one of the healthiest breakfast choices you can make, and the entire Big G cereal line is made with whole grain, making it a great choice. Big G cereals have the brands and flavor your family will love, including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios®, Fiber One® and Total®.
To be sure the other foods you are choosing have the healthy whole grain you need, just follow these two easy rules: Look for a whole grain symbol like the big white check on Big G cereals or the Whole Grain Stamp developed by the Whole Grains Council
Scan the ingredient list and choose foods that list a whole grain near the top of the list. Visit www.WholeGrainNation.com for more tips, additional information about the benefits of Whole Grain and how Big G cereals can be a convenient and tasty way to incorporate more whole grain into your day."

They also provided me with a prize pack, including a VIP coupon for one Big G cereal, a cereal on-the-go bowl, lunch bag, walking enthusiast kit and a digital jump rope. They also provided me with a second prize pack to offer as a giveaway to one of YOU!! Whoever sends me the best list of New Year's resolutions by the end of the weekend will win it!! :-)

And the winner is...

2010-12-19T23:48:00.000-08:00

The winner of the "Happy Holiday Treats" giveaway is... Anne E!! Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

"Happy Holiday Treats" giveaway

2010-12-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Safeway, Betty Crocker, Glad and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"It's that time of year again! Spread holiday cheer to your friends and family with the gift of freshly baked Betty Crocker® treats. From a Snowman Coconut Cake to Classic Gingerbread Man Cookies, sharing the warmth and sweetness has never been easier. This year, why not start a new tradition? With a little help from Betty Crocker, GladWare® and the Safeway Family of Stores, you can keep your loved ones' hearts and homes filled with holiday spirit and homemade goodness of Betty Crocker. Whip up a plate full of cookies using a recipe from BakeSweetMemories.com and host a cookie exchange. What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season than inviting your friends and family over for a night of swapping cookies, recipes, and memories? Once you've finished baking, share it in GladWare! Glad® food storage products are the perfect solution for preparing, storing and transporting holiday goods. They're also great for gift giving too, so count on Glad® products to help keep your holiday foods fresh and festive and ready to serve. From December 8th through December 14th, visit the Safeway family of Stores (which includes Dominick's, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi's) to purchase any two participating Gladware products and get a free Betty Crocker Cookie Pouch while supplies last."

They also sent me a "Happy Holiday Treats" prize pack that includes a package of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix (which is what you need to make the tastiest decorated holiday cookies, in my not particularly humble opinion), a GladWare sample pack (3 BIG containers, a size I didn't have and have been using like crazy now that I've got 'em) and a $25 Safeway gift card (also valid at Dominick's, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi's). AND they provided an additional prize pack to give away to one YOU!! Whoever sends me the coolest-looking holiday recipe will win it; I'll post the winner Sunday night.

"Jamie's Family Christmas"

2010-12-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

By an amazing coincidence, if I believed in coincidences which of course I don't, while doing a rapid-fire scan down my lengthy list of channels on Zap2it

http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/

to find something to watch, I somehow noticed a program that was neither pink (movie) or purple (favorite show) on a channel I don't think I've ever watched anything on (Cooking Channel): "Jamie's Family Christmas"

http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/jamies-family-christmas/EP01342250

My first thought was "It must be Jamie Oliver!!" followed by "That's silly, there are other Jamies in the world"... but it WAS his show, and I'm watching it now. (It'll be on several more times, so don't fret if you missed it.) He's lost much of the beauty and exuberance that made him a knockout in every sense of the word back in the day, but he's got enough left for it to still be a pleasure to watch him; if you like cooking shows at all, give him a looksee... and ladies, if you think he's kinda cute now, track down a DVD for his first series, "The Naked Chef," and BRACE yourself... he was to DIE for back when he was 24-25.

Jamie's website:

http://www.jamieoliver.com/news/jamie-s-family-christmas-1

gives this description of the series:

"Christmas is the time families come together to eat, drink and get merry - but it can be a daunting challenge in the kitchen. So in a special new five-part series, Jamie Oliver is sharing his own secrets for a stress-free family Christmas. As well as his fool-proof recipes, it’s about getting as much done beforehand, and getting everyone to muck in, so no-one’s stuck slaving over a hot stove while everyone else is enjoying themselves. Filmed at his Essex home, and featuring Jamie’s family and friends, it’s the must-see solution to all your Christmas food worries. Jamie shows how to make the best, most succulent turkey - using incredible flavoured butter - with delicious gravy and stuffing, as well as an exciting new way to use up all that leftover turkey on Boxing Day. He reveals his tried and tested, fail-safe way to make the perfect roast spuds every time, crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, plus simple spiced-up Christmas veg. And don’t throw away your leftover veg until you've seen what Jamie and Gennaro have planned. Jamie also creates some cracking Christmassy desserts and has quick, ideas for snacks and festive lighter meals. And he reveals the secret of enjoying your own party - DIY party food your guests put together themselves.

"What I want to do in this five-part series is look after you," says Jamie. "Hold your hand, give you my tips and my shortcuts, my ducks and my dives and really focus on the basics of the best turkey, the best gravy, the best potatoes and then the veggies, snacks, party food, puds and drinks. And if we do this together, I promise you this is going to be one of the best Christmases you've ever had - so welcome to my Christmas!"

Programme 1 - In the first programme of the series, Jamie shows you everything you need for the perfect turkey. It’s the whole package from the bird to the gravy, simple stuffing, roasting with festive butter, how to make carving simple and the best way to use your leftovers. First up: the turkey. We've all had a dry, over-cooked bird that tastes like cardboard, so Jamie shows the easy way to use a festive butter you can make yourself to get the perfect, succulent turkey. And Jamie’s two top tips for stress-free turkey? Prepare the bird on Christmas Eve, packing the butter under the breast skin to guarantee juicy meat, and let the bird rest for two hours - yes two hours! - which will make it even more succulent and frees the oven up for your veg. Jamie’s stuffing is a cinch - just cook together pork, bacon, breadcrumbs and chestnuts with herbs and spices – and it’s another recipe to reduce hassle and prepare on Christmas Eve. Next is perfect gravy. Jamie’s version is so simple, using veg and chicken wings, and you can make it days in advance, or even freeze portions. But what will the world’s number one gravy fan - Jools - make of the results? Jamie gives a masterclass on carving. Once you know how, you can impress the family with your skills - and no need for an electric carver! Finally, Jamie and his sister, Anna-Marie, cook a spicy way to use up your leftover meat - turkey con chili. It's certainly a change from turkey sandwiches for two weeks…

Programme 2 - Christmas is not just about all the old favourites, so today's programme focuses on brunches, lunches, snacks and special bits and pieces for when you can’t face the sight of more turkey! First up, Jamie is joined by daughters Poppy and Daisy to make some American-style pancakes that work every time - and they’re a great way to get your kids involved in cooking. Next he prepares a delicious roasted squash and seared beef carpaccio salad - something that could work as a starter or a snack. Then he gets his 89-year-old nan Betty into the kitchen to prepare some gammon with poached eggs. Finally, Jamie’s dad Trevor helps make a delicious kedgeree, which is cheap and brilliant for breakfast, lunch or dinner - or for hangovers on Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day!

Programme 3 - Tonight it’s all about roasties with the mosties as Jamie is joined by Gennaro Contaldo to show how to make the very best roast potatoes and exciting Christmas vegetables, plus lovely leftover recipes. First off Jamie shows how to make perfect roast potatoes every time - golden, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. The secret is to use Maris Piper potatoes and Jamie’s experimented with olive oil, butter and traditional goose fat to find the best way to cook them. Plus he has an extra-special secret for perfect roast spuds. Next, it’s back to school for a chemistry lesson as Jamie makes a roast vegetable mega-mix, matching each veg with oil and flavouring for perfect results. From parsnips to carrots, you’ll be amazed what brings out the best in your veg. And Jamie gives some simple and delicious ways to use up leftover veg - Boxing Day bubble & squeak and beautiful leftover roasted veg bruschetta. But will Gennaro manage to get revenge on Jamie for last year’s chili mince pies?

Programme 4 - Tonight Jamie prepares some exciting alternatives to traditional Christmas deserts and things to make from leftover pud. Mum Sally joins Jamie in the kitchen to make a killer chocolate mousse - and she reminds him how excited he was as a kid at Christmas, especially when he got a drum kit! Jamie’s Winter Pudding Bombe is a Christmas take on summer pudding, with panatone, ice cream, crystalised fruit and sherry. Just bang it in the freezer and hey presto! Festive strudel is a great way to use up leftover Christmas pud, wrapped in filo pastry, while quick and simple pudding affogato uses ice cream and coffee for a quick, but delicious pudding. And Jamie prepares another dish that’s great to get kids in the kitchen, wibbly wobbly clementine jelly assisted by his nephews.

Programme 5 - Christmas is party time, but you don't want to get stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun, so Jamie has some stress-free tips for food you can make in advance or get your guests to help themselves to on the day - so you can enjoy the party and it's great fun too! Jamie's DIY part combo means just that, you put all the ingredients on a plate and guests create their own dish. Why not bring your toaster into the party room and people can prepare their own chicken liver party parfait? An easy cheese fondue means that everyone can dip away, while winter party squash soup is a warming treat - served in a hollowed-out pumpkin. And what party wouldn't be complete without some Christmassy drinks. Jamie brings the series to a close with some delicious pomegranate shots and incredible mulled cider."

RelaxZen NIGHT

2010-12-06T00:48:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Smile.ly sent me a bottle of RelaxZen NIGHT to try at home. This is what they say about it:

"Live a RelaxZen™ life with RelaxZen NIGHT.
RelaxZen shots were developed to help reduce stress and improve quality of life. RelaxZen NIGHT is the perfect remedy for people who have trouble falling asleep. Blended with all-natural active ingredients, RelaxZen NIGHT is crafted to allow people to fall asleep quickly and wake up refreshed and full of energy to start their day.

RelaxZen helps to*:
Reduce stress and fatigue
Increase focus and alertness
Balance mood
Promote restful sleep

For full ingredient list, click here.
Follow RelaxZen on Twitter (@RelaxZen) and "like" RelaxZen on Facebook (Facebook.com/RelaxZenShots).
For 15% off plus FREE shipping on any RelaxZen product, use code Holiday2010 at Thirstmonger.com/RelaxZen.
Enter the Facebook sweepstakes for a year's supply of RelaxZen!
Visit RelaxZenShots.com for more information."

I tried it, and... it didn't really do anything for me. I'm used to taking big doses of melatonin, though, so maybe I'm not a good candidate for this product. As with everything, if you think a product might fill a need the only way to know is to try it yourself.

If you want to join Smile.ly and get your own goodies to review, or read more about the product, go here:

http://smile.ly/36237.cfm

And the winner is...

2010-11-28T23:40:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Pillsbury Toaster Strudel "Million Morning Smiles" prize pack giveaway is... Noelle M!! Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel "Million Morning Smiles" prize pack giveaway

2010-11-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"When the sound of your alarm means the start of a morning filled with packing lunches, getting everyone dressed and out the door on time, it can be a challenge to serve a quick breakfast that everyone will love.

When your morning routine has you in a hurry, make it a better morning with Pillsbury Toaster Strudel frozen pastries. A simple pleasure with sweet filling, creamy icing, and flaky crust, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel pastries are the ones everyone will want to eat - and decorate too! Since every Toaster Strudel pastry can be personalized with your own icing design, your family can gather around the table to kick off the day with a fun delight that will keep everyone smiling all day long!

Now you have the chance to show us what kind of icing artist you are with the "Doodle on A Strudel" Facebook application. Visit Pillsbury on Facebook and click on the Toaster Strudel tab to use your cursor to draw your favorite icing designs on the virtual Toaster Strudel pastry. You can save your Strudel Doodles and share them on Facebook or send a doodle to your friends by clicking "Share Your Strudel Art."

Need even more to smile about? Pillsbury is also giving you the chance to win Toaster Strudel pastries for a month through the "A Million Morning Smiles" sweepstakes. With over 2,000 winners per week, simply visit

http://strudelsmiles.pillsbury.com/

and enter to win four boxes of Toaster Strudel from now through February 7, 2011."

They also sent me a "Million Morning Smiles" prize pack that includes a Pillsbury Doughboy Giggle Doll and a smiley face-themed mug, placemat and stress ball. And, they provided me with another prize pack to give to one of YOU!! Whoever sends me the funniest Thanksgiving story will win it; I'll announce the winner at the end of the weekend.

And the winner is...

2010-11-19T03:25:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Carmex Moisture Plus Tints duo is... Cheri B!!

Stay tuned for more giveaways. :-)

Twinings of London

2010-11-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Smile.ly sent me the following info:

"Twinings of London

You deserve a better cup of tea.

You can taste Twinings of London’s passion and commitment to the perfect cup of tea with every sip you take. Using only the finest leaves the world has to offer, Twinings blends more than 50 varieties of tea. So whether you drink a classic black, soothing green or calming herbal, you’re sure to taste the difference only 300 years can make.

Get FREE shipping now through 11/24/10 at

TwiningsUSA.com/TeaFan

using the code FREESHIPSM.

To sign up for the Twinings of London Tea-Mail newsletters and be the first to learn about new blends, special offers and more, click here

http://twiningsusa.com/teafan"

They also sent me the TEA... and this is some seriously GOOD tea, I've really liked all the flavors and so has my husband. The cooler weather demands more hot beverages, so give it a shot.

If you want to read more about this product, or get goodies of your own to try and review, go here:

http://smile.ly/26415.cfm

Carmex Moisture Plus Tints

2010-11-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

(NB: Carmex sent me free products to try out and review as a member of their Blog Squad... but they didn't put any words in my mouth.)

Carmex has done it again!! Now, you can get Carmex moisture and protection with a hint of color AND a really cool case that looks like a skinny lipstick; it comes in Sheer Pink and Sheer Peach, and both shades give your lips a really nice fresh look... you could wear them with a bare face and still look natural. I hope they'll eventually introduce a shade for women of color, like maybe a berry-ish tint, and while they're at it a deeper, rose shade for more mature women... if I ever become mature I'll certainly wear it, lol. The balms are also SPF 15, and you KNOW you need to have SPF on your lips every time you go out into daylight.

Like all Carmex balms, these really do a good job of keeping your lips soft, and they stay on a pretty long time; longer than a tinted gloss, that's for sure, and it's less greasy and teenaged-looking in the bargain, not to mention a better price.

Currently you can only get the goods at Walgreens and Walgreens.com; the cardboard backing is Carmex Yellow, and the tubes are gray, so they should be easy to find. I'd prefer that Carmex eliminate the backing and save some trees, and offer the products in one of those racks that lipsticks get displayed in; it's a fairly glamorous-looking product, so why not take it all the way? However it's packaged, it's a neat balm, one that you could loan to your mother or your daughter and they'd both love it. With the weather getting colder it's time to stock up on lip balms, so give it a try.

One of you will try it for FREE!! Whoever sends me the best Thanksgiving recipe will get TWO balms, one of each color. I'll post the winner in a few days.

And the winner is...

2010-11-14T02:33:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Old El Paso "Family Taco Night" prize pack giveaway is... James C!! Stay tuned for a new giveaway in the next few days!! :-)

Old El Paso "Family Taco Night" prize pack giveaway

2010-11-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"With the return of weekday routines, it may be difficult to gather the family together for a home-cooked meal every night. Amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy schedule, look to Old El Paso to bring fun to your dinner table and spice things up with a "Family Taco Night" fiesta!

Why not set aside time at least once a month for "Family Taco Night?" Old El Paso offers a variety of seasonings, sides, sauces, and meal kits as simple solutions for a night of catching up with the family over a delicious taco dinner. To satisfy your Mexican style cravings, the Old El Paso line up of products includes chilies, dinner kits, dips and sides, enchilada sauce, refried beans, seasoning mixes, shells, taco sauce and salsa. The Old El Paso taco seasoning mix selection includes flavors like Burrito, Cheesy Taco, Chili, Fajita, Taco, Mild Taco and even a seasoning with 40% less sodium. For a fun twist on Taco Night, be sure to try one of the delicious recipes below.

Double Layer Tacos

Old El Paso Favorite Recipe! Layered taco shells and tortillas create the "double" in beef- and bean-stuffed tacos.

Chicken Ranch Tacos

Need a new idea for a 30-minute dinner? Here's a twist on tacos using precooked chicken.

To keep your family laughing at the dinner table, have some fun with El Tacodor, the world's only Family Taco Night Game. With El Tacodor, your family can share a special night at home by challenging one another to quick fire trivia, wordplay and pantomime. Visit

www.ElTacodor.com

today to download instructions, a score card, and a challenge sheet for even more fun on Family Taco Night!

Visit Old El Paso for news and great tips, recipes and more. Take a minute to share family fiesta photos and videos from Family Taco Nights on the El Tacodor Family Spotlight!
In addition, you and your readers can visit

http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/b069/

to download a printable coupon for $0.60 off any two Old El Paso products today!"

They also provided me with an Old El Paso "Family Taco Night" prize pack which includes a packet of original Old El Paso Taco Seasoning (which is a big time-saver and very tasty, whether you use ground turkey or beef), a Cactus Chip & Dip Serving dish, a set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and a $10 gift card to purchase taco fixings. And, they've provided me with an additional prize pack to give away to one of YOU; the person to send me the best Mexican recipe will win it!! :-)

And the winner is...

2010-11-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives giveaway is... Elana C!!

Come back tomorrow for another giveaway. :-)

Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives giveaway

2010-11-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Yoplait and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"According to Komen.org, 10 million people could die of breast cancer in the next 25 years. As breast cancer continues to impact far too many of our loved ones, we invite you to join the cause. This fall, look for specially-marked pink lids on Yoplait yogurt cups through Yoplait´s Save Lids to Save Lives campaign.

For every pink lid saved and sent in by December 31, 2010, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a total donation of up to $1.6 million and a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000. To date, Yoplait has raised more than $25 million for the breast cancer cause.

In an ongoing effort to educate and encourage women of all ages to put their breast health first, Yoplait´s Save Lids to Save Lives campaign is once again collaborating with celebrity breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk, in addition to the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Nancy G. Brinker and MTV star Audrina Patridge. Through their relationship with Yoplait, these empowered women are encouraging everyone to save their pink lids and join the fight against breast cancer.

How Can You Help Contribute to the Cause?

Be sure to sure to save the lids from your favorite participating Yoplait products including all single serve yogurt cups - Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, Light Thick & Creamy, Whips!, Yoplait Delights, Yoplait Greek and select specially-marked packages of large size Yoplait yogurts and Yoplait Frozen Smoothies. Remember, there are no specialty codes, so be sure to save and send in your pink Yoplait lids by December 31, 2010."

"To watch educational videos and read a Q&A with Dr. Funk, learn more about Nancy Brinker's new book Promise Me, and for additional information about Save Lids to Save Lives, visit www.YourLidMatters.com.

Don´t forget to visit Facebook.com/YoplaitPledge

http://www.facebook.com/YoplaitPledge

where you can find fun and easy tools to pass on. While you´re there, make sure to "Like" the page and take a minute to share your photos of the pink lids you´ve collected. Get your friends involved in the cause by sending them a virtual Save Lids to Save Lives gift! For every lid gift sent by December 31, 2010, Yoplait will donate $1.00 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure up to $100,000.

You can also check out the Promise Me book tour sponsored by Yoplait

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307718129&view=isbn_events

to find out when Nancy Brinker will be making a stop in your area."

They also provided me with a prize pack that included 2 VIP coupons for Yoplait Greek (which is some seriously tasty stuff, especially the Honey Vanilla (my lesser half would say the Blueberry, but this isn't his blog)), a pink leather journal and pen and an awareness charm bracelet. In addition, Yoplait made a $25 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on my behalf. They've also provided an additional prize pack to give away to one of you; if you're a breast cancer patient or survivor, be the first one to send me your story, and the prize pack is yours.

RIP Caprica :-(

2010-11-03T03:15:00.000-07:00

Today, I officially became the last person in the Western hemisphere to realize that Caprica had been cancelled:

"Syfy has announced that it's cancelling its Battlestar Galactica prequel, Caprica. The show, which launched fully earlier in the year, has been battling low ratings and criticism of its narrative, which seems to have spent most of its running time building up story blocks rather than telling them. However, it's sad the show has bitten the bullet. There's real intelligence and ambition in Caprica, it was just hard work to watch at times, and consequently, very hard to sell.

As Syfy's Mark Stern said, "We appreciate all the support that fans have shown for 'Caprica' and are very proud of the producers, cast, writers and the rest of the amazing team that has been committed to this fine series. Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, 'Caprica' has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season."

Caprica's demise was expected, to be fair, following the announcement of the new spin-off series, Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, which Syfy announced at the end of last week. That's already got the look of something a little more action-focussed, from where we're sitting, and on paper, it's a show that looks set to enjoy more success. There's no guarantee of that, of course.

The remaining episodes of Caprica appear to have been removed from the schedules. There are five that haven't yet been aired, and we're told that Syfy will announce when these are to be broadcast early next year."

http://www.denofgeek.com/television/656554/caprica_cancelled.html

The endless focus on religion, the Tauron culture, and how badly people would behave in a virtual reality world without consequences, while fascinating to ME, were undoubtedly too much for many potential viewers, and the admittedly sparse bits of plot devoted to the evolution of the Cylons probably alienated much of the geek audience. Bummer... :-(

And the winner is...

2010-11-01T02:59:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Carmex goodie bag giveaway is... Denise V!! Stay tuned for more reviews and giveaways!! :-)

And the winners are...

2010-10-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Date Night prize pack giveaway is... Susan F!!

The winner of the "Connecting for a Cure" prize pack giveaway is... Monica K!!

Stay tuned for more contests. :-)

Carmex review and giveaway

2010-10-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Carmex sent me a fab package of products including their new skin care duo, Healing Lotion and Healing Cream. I was very excited because I go through lip balm like you wouldn't believe, and because with the weather getting cooler my skin has been taking a beating and I'm always on the lookout for new products to keep from becoming a shriveled prune.

The new products come in tubes of the distinctive Carmex yellow, so they'll be easy to find... and you'll want to find these products if you need serious dry skin care. In the same way that Carmex lip balm is what you reach for when your lips need major protection and replenishment (try it if you're not already using it and you don't want chapped lips this winter), Carmex Healing Lotion and Healing Cream will be the new best friends for your skin. They worked very well on my hands, which are prone to getting so dry that they itch; I have been itch-free while I have been using them.

They both feel rich but not greasy, with the cream naturally being heavier; you'd think they were from a fancier brand... although some of THEM aren't that rich, frankly, so price doesn't really tell you much-you have to try things for yourself. These products don't have a strong scent, which is just as well since the strongly-scented ones tend not to moisturize as effectively in my experience. The lotion smells faintly of vanilla to me, and the cream has that and another scent too, maybe it's a little hint of their traditional balm scent... or maybe I'm just trying too hard to analyze a light scent, lol? In any case, the scents are totally inoffensive, so a man could use them without feeling emasculated, and you could use them at work without the Fragrance Nazis complaining.

The Carmex goodie kit contained a purse-sized lotion, and this works very well in even a jumbled bag because the cap stays on and there's no leaking. The tube shape of the products in general is good because it can be tossed in a desk drawer, glove box, etc without a disaster, and if you stand it up it'll drain to the end where you can squeeze it all out, not like some bottles that you have to prop and wedge up to get the last of the contents out.

Overall, then, I'd say that Carmex has done a bang-up job of making skin care products that have the same sort of dependable and good-quality results as their balms have always had. You should try them... and one of you will do so for FREE!! Whoever submits the best essay about their winter plans that will lead to them needing a Carmex fix will win a kit just like mine, with over $50 worth of Carmex products, including the new Healing Lotion and Healing Cream, all in a super-cute bag!! I'll post the winner at the end of the weekend. :-)

Date Night prize pack giveaway

2010-10-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

The fine folks from Wanchai Ferry and Macaroni Grill via MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Do you remember your first date? Maybe it was dinner at a quiet little Italian restaurant, or dining on some takeout at home. Wherever you were when love first filled the air, Wanchai Ferry and Macaroni Grill Dry Dinner Kits can help you recreate that special evening in the comfort of your own home.
Enjoy an Asian escape with Wanchai Ferry restaurant-inspired dishes by simply adding your own protein to delicious entrees like Cashew Chicken, Spicy Garlic Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Kung Pao Chicken. Or bring the romance of Italian cuisine to your kitchen with Macaroni Grill favorites such as Chicken Piccata and Angel Hair Pasta, Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken & Pasta, Chicken Alfredo with Linguine, Garlic & Herb Chicken Penne, and Chicken Marsala with Linguine.
So stay in and go all out! Make your meal an experience by perhaps adding some ambiance with candles and flowers.
For more information and dinner tips, visit

WanchaiFerryAtHome.com
and MacaroniGrillAtHome.com.

And be sure to follow Macaroni Grill on Twitter and "Like" the Facebook page to keep up with all of the latest news on your Macaroni Grill favorites!"

In addition, check out this online coupon

http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/198d/

for $1.50 off two packages of Wanchai Ferry and/or Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits.

They also sent me a Date Night prize pack that includes one Wanchai Ferry dry dinner kit (specifically Orange Chicken, which is to DIE for), one Macaroni Grill dry dinner kit, and a $25 Visa gift card. And, they also provided me with an additional prize pack to give away to one of YOU. Whoever sends me the best first-date story will win it!! :-)

"Connecting for a Cure" giveaway

2010-10-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at General Mills/MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Recognizing the tremendous impact breast cancer continues to have on millions of lives, General Mills created Pink Together. Now in its fourth year, Pink Together is a campaign that aims to raise greater awareness of the disease and to help those touched by breast cancer find strength together.
Individually we are strong, but together we are stronger. We encourage you to visit PinkTogether.com, an ever-growing community of hope of more than 680,000 breast cancer survivors and supporters. There you can share stories, post comments of encouragement and send virtual flowers to let someone know you are thinking of him or her.
On this site, you can also read the empowering stories from the 2010 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors, five incredible individuals whose courage in the face of breast cancer serves as a source of inspiration:

Ebony Steele - This three-year survivor serves as a National Ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Circle of Promise, an effort focused on fostering breast cancer awareness, support, empowerment and action among African American women.
Eli Arroyo-Allen - A two-year survivor, Eli is the founder of the Loving Life/Amando La Vida program supporting Latina women with breast cancer.
Ginger Johnson - A mother and four-year survivor, Ginger is the director of Happy Chemo!, whose mission is to bring happiness to those dealing with the negative effects of chemotherapy and cancer.
Libby Pomroy - Libby is a two-time, 15-year survivor and a General Mills employee.
Nicole Vazquez - This three-year survivor is a Komen breast cancer activist in the Latino community.

These Survivor Ambassadors and their empowering stories will also be featured on the Pink Together Facebook fan page and YouTube channel, and on special pink packaging on your favorite General Mills' brands like Cheerios Cereal, Green Giant Frozen Vegetables and Nature Valley Granola Bars. If you or someone you know would make a great candidate for next year's Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors, please visit PinkTogether.com for more information.

To encourage personal connections in the online community, General Mills will donate $1 (up to $20,000) to Komen for each inspirational story submitted, encouraging comment posted, or virtual flower of support sent on PinkTogether.com, and for each shared message of hope posted on Pink Together's Facebook fan page during the month of October (up to $5,000). This $25,000 is in addition to the $2 million donation General Mills has committed to Komen to advance breast cancer research and support education and community outreach projects."

They also sent me a "Connecting for a Cure" gift pack that includes a Pink Ribbon car magnet and key chain, travel mug, and drawstring backpack, along with coupons for free packages of one Big G cereal, Green Giant Frozen Veggies, Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits, Fiber One Bars and Progresso Soup; as you can imagine, there was much rejoicing in the Omni household, because these are all products we already use and enjoy, with the Fiber One Bars being my husband's all-time fave. And, they're giving me an additional gift pack to give away to one of YOU. (All of the items included in the gift packs are from ShopKomen.com, where 25 percent of the merchandise purchase price benefits Komen.) If you are a breast cancer patient or survivor, send me your story, and I'll pick a random winner in a few days.

Caprica is coming back on Tuesday!!

2010-10-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing I found this:

"For a while there it looked like a second season of Caprica wasn’t coming at all; then there was the news that the Battlestar Galactica spin-off would indeed get a second season, but it wouldn’t premiere until 2011 – now, Syfy channel has revealed that the second season of Caprica will premiere a few months earlier, by which I mean right around the corner. Caprica‘s second season will officially get under way October 5th, which is a Tuesday. Perhaps it is a bit telling that Stargate: Universe will serve as Caprica‘s lead-in at 9pm EST – is Syfy counting on some of that Stargate magic to rub off on Caprica? Does that seem right?

Rumors earlier in the year suggested that Caprica‘s second season will jump ahead a bit in the mythology and make faster moves towards the accretion of the Cylon empire. Critcs of Caprica often bemoan the histrionic plot-lines and Peyton Place-ish soap opera nature of the show. Whether or not this involves a time jump at all is anybody’s guess, but a move towards the Battlestar universe we know and away from the Earthisms would definitely be a plus in this writer’s book."

"The highly anticipated return of Syfy’s critically-acclaimed series Caprica will come even sooner than anticipated. The second half of season one will now premiere on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 10:00PM ET/PT, the channel announced today. Fans will no longer have to wait until January to watch the series exciting kick-off, as the citizens of Caprica deal with the chaotic aftermath of the mid-season finale’s harrowing events.

The second half of season one will transport us from stunningly vivid, twisted Virtual realities to the fascinating outer worlds of the 12 Colonies. Along the way, revolutionary tensions rise, family power shifts and our characters grapple with the physical and emotional consequences of their questionable decisions. As the season races towards its stunning conclusion, each episode lays the groundwork for the inevitable (and brutal) clash between the new Cylon race and its human creators.

“Though we initially announced the January return of Caprica, we still had hopes of finding a way to get the series back on the air sooner,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions. “We’ve been able to successfully re-work our schedule, and are thrilled to bring the show back during what is traditionally Syfy’s most-watched time of the year. The outcome should also please fans who expressed their wishes for a shorter mid-season hiatus.”

Caprica stars Eric Stoltz (Daniel Graystone), Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Esai Morales (Joseph Adama), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Sasha Roiz (Sam Adama)."

http://www.tvovermind.com/cable/syfy/caprica/syfy-moves-caprica-season-2-premiere/30264

The first season showed real promise, so fingers crossed for Season 2!!

Ideal No Calorie Sweetener

2010-09-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Smile.ly are sending me a box of Ideal No Calorie Sweetener to try at home. This is what they say about it:

"Ideal® No Calorie Sweetener

Tastes so delicious it’s a Sweet Revolution™!

Ideal® No Calorie Sweetener is the only no-calorie sweetener that is preferred over sugar.* It measures cup for cup like sugar, dissolves quickly in your favorite hot or cold beverages, and lets you indulge your sweet tooth without the guilt. Ideal® offers a no-calorie, great-tasting alternative and is suitable for everyone in the family, including those with diabetes.

Preferred over sugar!*
Keeps its sweetness & provides volume & texture during the baking process.
Made with xylitol, a natural sweetener found in fruits & vegetables, known for oral health benefits.
Available at your local grocery store or on Amazon.com.

*Preferred for sweetness, flavor, and overall liking over sugar in independent university taste tests.

For more information about Ideal® No Calorie Sweetener, click here. Get $1 off an in-store purchase here.

"Like" Ideal® on Facebook

Follow Ideal® on Twitter

Purchase Ideal® at Amazon.com"

If you want to join Smile.ly and get your own goodies to review, or read more about the product, go here:

CLICK!!

9-11

2010-09-11T17:43:00.001-07:00

I don't have any new insights into the events of 9-11 or the aftermath, nothing to say that hasn't been said a million other times. The primary lesson for me is that we have to stop, stop, STOP treating the citizens of the Arab world like naughty children that it's out job to steer into the right path, ie Christianity, democracy, capitalism, and did I mention Christianity? Yes, their religion is harsh on women, but so is OURS, it's just that in our culture we mostly ignore the parts of our holy book that discuss that... despite which we still have any # of double standards that disbenefit women, and continue to fail to get a woman into the top slots of gov't despite women being 51% of the voters... but I digress. You don't win hearts and minds by showing scorn and contempt of people's dearly-held beliefs, and, while we strongly wish that they'd change the way they handle some things, THEY wish equally strongly that WE'D change how WE handle some things; it's the height of arrogance to believe that it's ok for us to try to change them, but if they tried to arm-twist US we'd scream bloody murder. If they want to run their countries by a certain interpretation of their religion, that's their right. If the people of any given country rise up to try to change how things are run, more power to them, and if they ask our help we of course should help them... but that's as far as it should go. Our time, $ and effort needs to go to putting our own country in order, not to trying to force every other country to be like us.

Gain Dishwashing Liquid

2010-09-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

"This product review was based on using complementary Gain product provided by P & G through My Blog Spark. Bloggers also received Walmart gift cards and T-shirts to share with their friends at their discretion. P & G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blog site."

The fine folks at P&G and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"Close your eyes; we´d like to take you to a magical place where sink meets scent. Achieve sensory nirvana with new Gain Dishwashing Liquid, now available in the dish aisle at your local retail store such as Walmart.

Now, everything you love about Gain is available for your dishes. With three refreshing scents, you can kiss the days of boring, unpleasant dishwashing goodbye! You´ll soon find yourself saying, "Honey, I´ll do the dishes tonight."

For more information about the new Gain Dishwashing Liquids, visit ILoveGain.com or YoAmoGain.com. In addition, be sure to "Like" Gain on Facebook and follow Gain on Twitter!"

They also sent me a Gain "Sniff, Sniff, Hurray" kit that includes a bottle of the new Gain Dishwashing Liquid, three Gain t-shirts and three $5 Walmart gift cards to share with my friends. The shirts were actually kinda cute, and the Gain does smell pretty fab; give it a try, it'll be a nice change from the old lemony scented stuff you're probably using.

Why I don't write a book

2010-09-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

The following bit of wisdom is courtesy of Dilbert creator and all-around brilliant thinker Scott Adams. (He uses some Google thing to show him every internet post that mentions him, so... hi Scott!! You're the MAN!!) Check this out:

"The Artist's Secret is that all art comes from abnormal brains. So if you create art that satisfies your own tastes, you have created for a market of exactly one abnormal person. If you're lucky, a handful of other freaks get some joy from your creations too. But it won't be enough to pay your bills. It's not a career until you learn to create products that normal people like."

http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/comic_fail/

I'm a geek, and an Aspie, and, let's face it, abnormal. The only objectively decent writing I create (see my posts from 2007 and earlier, when I was posting serious essays) comes when it flows easily from me, and THAT only happens within my narrow and highly opinionated areas of interest; I can churn out grammatically correct sentences on any topic, just like YOU can, but it'd read like a high school assignment... people would pay to NOT read it.

I can't apply my "writing process" to socially-desirable content, because I don't HAVE a process.

I'm not even entirely sure what socially-desirable content IS; I literally have no idea what normal people want to read about, aside from obvious things like music I've never heard and movies I've never seen.

AND; I have no idea how to modulate how I word things so that the bulk of people don't recoil from what I write, any more than I can modulate what I say to keep from putting people off, which I clearly do no matter how polite, agreeable and friendly I am. It's an Aspie thing; somehow the "tone" is just "wrong" in a way no one can ever put a finger on if asked.

In a zone as big as the blogosphere, with its highly disproportionate % of eclectic thinkers, I managed to draw a pretty respectable audience. I'm betting that if I self-published a book and offered it for free, a fair # of them would read it. If they had to pay, there's a reasonable chance that a few die-hards would in fact ante up... and that's the "handful of other freaks" that Adams referred to. And that's as far as it would ever go... and that's why I don't write a book.

And the winner is...

2010-08-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit is... Betty K!! Stay tuned for more giveaways!! :-)

"Are you embarrassed?"

2010-08-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

That line came up in a scene from the movie "The Box"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362478/

and was used in the same way little kids use that old familiar phrase "what are you, SCARED?"; to manipulate a weak-minded person into taking the action the speaker wants to push them into. It's quite brilliant, really, because with an adult a wild accusation of FEAR can be extreme enough to get a disgusted negative as a reply, and any listeners can be expected to agree that fear wouldn't apply. But embarrassment, on the other hand, IS believable as a reason an adult might not want to do a given thing or reveal certain info; we're social creatures, and avoidance of embarrassment and anything that might cause it is as automatic as breathing for us. And, while we might have sympathy about valid fears, we don't have much where embarrassment is concerned; we see it as foolishness, childishness, a weakness to be overcome, or, just as bad for the victim, something that we feel like we should encourage them to overcome... we might even believe that the victim is faking the embarrassment because they WANT to be coaxed, since plenty of people do just that. The "accuser" can thus be fairly certain that peer pressure can be brought to bear if the victim resists, just as kids understand that once the "afraid" label is tossed out everyone within earshot will take up the cry.

Powerful stuff...

Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" giveaway

2010-08-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

The fine folks from Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark sent me this:

"Is your child picking up more than the ABC's in school? While you're packing your child's backpack with the pencils, notebooks and tools they'll need for a great school year, don't forget the supplies they'll need to stay healthy and germ-free, too.

With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it's no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children's classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).

This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child's health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:

Optimize the immune system

Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.

Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.

Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.

Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs

Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.

Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation's disinfecting wipes kill 99.99% of germs* naturally using the active ingredient thyme, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the herb thyme.

Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
*Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details"

They also sent me the URL for this Seventh Generation video about the history of germs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8EkNJgc0nY

They ALSO sent me a Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit that includes a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes, disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels. This is some quality stuff, and the disinfectants smell SO much better than the chemicals you're probably using.

AND, they're also providing an additional gift pack to give away to one of YOU. Whoever sends me the best essay about how they keep their family healthy will win it!! :-)

Hacked inbox, the sequel

2010-08-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

In my post of 6-7-10, I reported that my Yahoo account had received a chunk of delivery failure notices that alerted me that a batch of spam emails had been sent to my contacts from my inbox; thank goodness for the dead addies it turned out that I still had in my address book, because the heads-up their delivery failures gave me is what alerted me to the hack and allowed me to take the correct action quickly.

When a delivery failure notice appeared in my OTHER Yahoo account today, my blood pressure shot up... rightfully so, because it WAS in fact proof that that account had also been hacked. Either this was a different hacker or they'd refined their technique...

It just now occurred to me that the fact that I saw emails with dates from 2 years ago in my Trash folder as part of the nightmare of the original hack probably meant that the hack program was trying to delete my inbox, and the sheer volume of emails bogged it down, or it timed out, or whatever... thank God for the failure notices, or I could have lost who knows how many old emails. !!!!!!!!!!

OK, so, the current hacker did NOT delete my Sent or Trash folders; they ONLY deleted their own emails from my Sent and Trash folders.... if I hadn't gotten the delivery failure notice, I'd literally never have known I'd been hacked. There was another difference, too; NOT all my contacts were used, because if they had been I'd have gotten a spam email to my primary account.

Which brings me to my husband's recommendation for hack detection; put your own email addies in all your contacts lists. As I saw, though, apparently some hackers don't use ALL the contacts, so... have some dead addies in there, or even make up fake ones, like nospam@spammersreallysuck.com, so that you'll get those crucial delivery failure notices.

And; do NOT use your email passwords for anything else, especially when you sign up on unknown sites.

AND; make sure that your passwords to already-hacked sites like Twitter and Facebook don't get used for anything important.

I hope this is the end of it...

And the winner is...

2010-07-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

The winner of the "Cascadian FarmVille Fan" prize pack is... Java F.!!

Stay tuned for more giveaways!! :-)

There's a word for diarrhea of the mouth!!

2010-07-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Scarily enough, the word even LOOKS like the word "diarrhea": logorrhea. It sounds like something a lumberjack would experience, doesn't it? Anyways, here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"In linguistics and editing, logorrhoea or logorrhea... is an excessive flow of words. The spoken form of logorrhoea (other than in the medical sense) is a kind of verbosity which uses superfluous (or fancy) words to disguise an otherwise useless message as useful or intellectual. Logorrhoea is also known as "verbal diarrhea"."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logorrhoea_(linguistics)

I can't wait to whip THAT out on my lesser half. ;-)

Cascadian Farm giveaway

2010-07-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Cascadian Farm and MyBlogSpark sent me the following:

"Are you a fan of FarmVille? Then hop on your tractor (or the Internet) and join in Cascadian Farm´s newest FarmVille initiative to help make a positive change for a healthier earth!

Cascadian Farm, a pioneer in the organic food industry, is blazing yet another new trail as they become the first official branded - and organic - crop to be offered in Zynga´s popular online game, FarmVille. Joining forces, Cascadian Farm and Zynga will provide an innovative gaming experience for FarmVille fans, breathing virtual life into real world organic farming within the largest online agricultural space.

Beginning July 19 through July 26, Cascadian Farm will provide FarmVille players with a variety of benefits including, coupon offers, organic farming and green living tips, as well as the opportunity to build up their farm quickly. During the week-long partnership, branded Cascadian Farm organic blueberry crops will be the most profitable FarmVille crop offered in the game, to beginner and expert FarmVille players.

The brand has also recreated the real Cascadian Farm, located in the Upper Skagit Valley of Washington's North Cascade Mountains. The virtual Cascadian Farm will carry out the brand´s mission to grow good and honest food by encouraging FarmVille users to harvest crops that are free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. All of their online fruits and vegetables will be planted with the same ideals and values found in organic culture, while also sharing the rewards from playing the game with Cascadian Farm´s online fan base.

To further connect with other FarmVille users, Cascadian Farm has created an avatar farmer called "Farmer Joe Cascadian," who was inspired by the brand´s real-life farmers. "Farmer Joe" will serve as the "virtual" tender to the brand´s own FarmVille farm and users can request to be his neighbor by "friend-ing" him online at

www.facebook.com/farmerjoecascadian

and by using the FarmVille application to become his neighbor in-game.

For more information, please visit

www.cascadianfarm.com "

They also sent me a "Cascadian FarmVille Fan" prize pack that includes Cascadian Farm Fruit & Nut Granola and Harvest Berry Chewy Granola Bars (and that's some SERIOUSLY tasty stuff, I had to fight my husband for it), a Cascadian Farm coupon for a free product, and a game card containing FarmVille currency. They also provided me with an additional prize pack to give away to one of YOU!! The person who sends me the best essay on why they want to eat organic foods will win; I'll post the winner in a few days.

I AM THE RACCOON WHISPERER!!

2010-07-11T02:20:00.000-07:00

NB: PLEASE don't use the following description as a suggestion of something that YOU might try. Wild animals are dangerous and unpredictable, and even small ones have sharp teeth and claws that they can use without warning. An adult raccoon is a powerful animal, and many of them have had bad experiences with humans who want to be rid of them. Most importantly of all: any mammal can carry rabies, even one that seems to be healthy. Just because I'M able to interact safely with wild animals doesn't mean that YOU can. Please admire wild animals from a safe distance!!

The female raccoon that has been visiting us for some time now, and was coming every night when she was clearly nursing, had started visiting more sporadically; she was starving when she came, so she hadn't found better pickings... we assume the babies are so active now that she doesn't dare leave them for long, and we're not that close to her den.

Tonight, she came and started shoving food in her mouth with both paws, literally. It had seemed like there was still a decent amount of food, but at the rate she was eating she was quickly down to crumbs. I had gotten right up to the screen door to talk to her, and she was about a foot away, and showing no fear, so I thought maybe if I showed her that I had food she'd let me open the door and give her some. I got a handful of kibble and held it up to the screen; she came right over and sniffed, and then tried to reach out with her paw a couple of times and was baffled by the screen. I reached up to ease open the door, and belatedly remembered that it had gotten so out of whack that it has required some real effort even by my husband to open it over the past month or so... and it's a noisy process. I didn't ask God for help, although I should have, but He was watching, ready to assist both me and the hungry coon, because when I made my first attempt to open the door it moved easily and soundlessly; the raccoon watched with interest but no fear as I slowly extended a handful of food. She came forward, sniffed my hand, and reached out and took some kibble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She started eating from my hand with her mouth, and when she'd gotten most of it I tipped the remainder out, mindful that she might not grasp where the food ends and the hand begins, and raccoon teeth are SHARP. She could see very clearly that there was no more food in my hand, but she reached out her paw and touched my fingers several times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did several more rounds of this, with her using her mouth or paws apparently at random to take food from me and then feeling my hand even when there was no food in it and plenty on the ground. Coons are highly intelligent and curious creatures, and she was absolutely checking me out; even when I pulled my hand back, she reached past the doorway to touch my hand some more.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't tell you what a magical experience this was.

Are babies born with a moral sense?

2010-07-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

It seems that the answer may be YES:

"Not long ago, a team of researchers watched a 1-year-old boy take justice into his own hands. The boy had just seen a puppet show in which one puppet played with a ball while interacting with two other puppets. The center puppet would slide the ball to the puppet on the right, who would pass it back. And the center puppet would slide the ball to the puppet on the left . . . who would run away with it. Then the two puppets on the ends were brought down from the stage and set before the toddler. Each was placed next to a pile of treats. At this point, the toddler was asked to take a treat away from one puppet. Like most children in this situation, the boy took it from the pile of the “naughty” one. But this punishment wasn’t enough — he then leaned over and smacked the puppet in the head."

!!!!!!!!!!!!

"A growing body of evidence, though, suggests that humans do have a rudimentary moral sense from the very start of life. With the help of well-designed experiments, you can see glimmers of moral thought, moral judgment and moral feeling even in the first year of life. Some sense of good and evil seems to be bred in the bone."

"...6- and 10-month-old infants overwhelmingly preferred the helpful individual to the hindering individual. This wasn’t a subtle statistical trend; just about all the babies reached for the good guy."

There's lots more; give it a read, and be sure to watch the video:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/magazine/09babies-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

And the winner is...

2010-06-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Lawry´s "Get Grilling Kit" is... Joan C!!

Stay tuned for more chances to win!! :-)

Lawry´s "Get Grilling Kit" giveaway

2010-06-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Lawry´s and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Nothing says summer like backyard grilling, and as the weather heats up, more families are heading outside to fire up the grill. This summer savor the sizzle by breaking out of your "bore"-becue routine. Take a "cue" from Lawry´s to help turn your dull dinner into a mouthwatering meal!

Lawry's newest marinades allow you to infuse your meals with exotic flavors without ever leaving your home. Inspired by the sun-drenched villages of Italy, the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato Marinade features extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers and the perfect blend of herbs. The Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ Marinade gives meat a delicious sweet and sour flavor with a touch of Szechuan heat.

These marinades fuel the flames of flavor and are on-point with this season´s hottest grilling trends, adding inspiration to your favorite dishes. Take your family´s grilled dinner to the next level - Try Lawry´s Tuscan Grilled Lamb Chops with Warm White Beans Provençal recipe featuring the new Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato Marinade tonight!

For more ways to put a fresh spin on your go-to grilling menu, check out these new pairings from the recently released McCormick Flavor Forecast 2010: Grilling Edition:

Applewood & Plum - Juicy plums accent smoky applewood and add flair to all-American barbecue.

Cilantro & Lime - Cutting across the diverse cuisines, this bright and zingy pair is a refreshing taste of summertime.

Rosemary & Fig - Figs are an unexpected and regionally inspired match for aromatic rosemary.

Chipotle & Maple - This culinary comingling deliver a fresh take on smoky, spicy and sweet.

Brown Sugar & Bourbon - This duo brings a delicious dose of Southern charm to the patio.

Cinnamon & Coffee - Bold and confident - with just the right edge of bitterness.

Red Chili Sauce & Mango - The flavor of mango takes hot or sweet red chili sauce far beyond mere "condiment status."Looking for a refreshing summer meal? Treat your family to Lawry´s Tequila-Lime Skirt Steak with Avocado Chopped Salad recipe featuring the Cilantro & Lime flavor profile.

For more recipes and Lawry´s marinades that complement the flavor pairings visit the Grilling Flavor Forecast website at

http://www.mccormick.com/FlavorForecast/2010FlavorForecastGrilling.aspx.

Visit www.lawrys.com to check-out the full line of Lawry´s products, additional grilling tips and to find delicious recipes for grilling season and beyond!"

They also sent me a Lawry´s "Get Grilling Kit" that includes both of the new Lawry´s marinades - Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ - a set of skewers and a marinating dish. AND, they have provided another package to give away to one of YOU!! I just bought a bunch of grapefruits, so the first person to send me a marinade recipe that uses grapefruit juice will get the prize!!

And these new marinades are GOOD; bursting with chunks of goodies, good strong flavors and NO MSG. I'd take them over BBQ sauce any day. :-)

Inbox hack update

2010-06-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

The good news is that there's no evidence that the hacker got back into my inbox, so I'm cautiously optimistic.

The bad news is that, as you no doubt expected, Yahoo tech support is useless. They made the mistake of asking me about my experience with them after the dust settled, and I sent them the following:

"You need to hire people who have some tiny bit of knowledge about your system, and how computers in general work, and the ability to read a complaint before replying, and also some SENSE. I made it very clear that a hacker was in my inbox, deleting my Sent folder and using my contact list for spam, and got the reply that the reason I got emails bouncing back was that my email addy had been forged into a spammer's emails. When I reiterated the issue, and the evidence that the hacker had been IN my inbox, the reply was that it must be due to a virus or worm on my PC, despite the fact that these things CAN'T affect my Yahoo webmail account. When I pointed that out, the reply was to change my password; no mention of DOING anything about this hacker that broke through your security measures and sent spam from my account. I KNOW you have records that would show where the hacker came from, since you provide that info when asked to by law enforcement, so why not pursue what is after all criminal activity and track the hacker down and take legal action?"

Not that there's much chance that they READ any of these surveys they offer up, of course, lol, but it feels good to vent.

Snikiddy Baked Fries

2010-06-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Smile.ly and Snikiddy sent me 7 snack bags of Snikiddy Baked Fries to share with my peeps; these things are reeeeeeeeeeeally tasty!! Here's the scoop:

"Baked Fries from Snikiddy are a healthy, tasty alternative to the typical fried snacks such as potato chips, veggie sticks and veggie chips. These crunchy, savory baked fries have 50 percent less fat than regular chips, making them a favorite for families seeking healthy snack options.

At Snikiddy we insist on only THE BEST all natural ingredients. We take pride in knowing that all of our tasty morsels will pass the real test ....your family!

50% less fat than potato chips
Gluten and Wheat Free
No Preservatives
No Corn Syrup
No Trans Fat
Low in Saturated Fat
No Hydrogenated Oils
Peanut Free"

You can view the complete Snikiddy product line here:

http://snikiddy.com/index.php/products/

If you want to see more info, get a coupon, or join Smile.ly and get your own goodies to review:

http://smile.ly/13537.cfm

Inbox hacked, spam emails sent, Sent folder deleted

2010-06-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

(Before anyone asks; no, I have never under any circumstances given my email password to any individual or website or logged into my inbox from other than my bookmarked link.)

This happened to my Yahoo account today; out of the blue, I got a chunk of delivery failure notices that alerted me that, as it turned out, a batch of spam emails had been sent to my contacts from my inbox (a surprising # of which were actually dead addies, which was lucky in this case).

I immediately sent a report to Yahoo, since I don't want them labeling me a spammer, and so that they could de-hack my inbox (foolish hope, as it turns out, since they don't admit to actually doing anything other than suggest you change your password).

I deleted a couple of the "delivery failure notice" emails, then thought better of it, went to the Trash folder, and it was showing emails with dates from 2 years ago in there; I didn't look at them long enough to know what exactly they were, ie if the dates were scrambled or if some actual old emails had been deleted, because I was clicking to get to the next page to try to find the ones I'd just deleted... and then suddenly the Trash folder was empty.

I then noticed that the # next to the link for my Sent file was missing; that folder was also empty. I contacted Yahoo to get my Inbox Restored, but didn't know if the Sent emails could BE returned; a Google search revealed that there's been waves of this exact pattern happening in recent weeks, mostly to Gmail accounts, and Gmail apparently does NOT restore Sent folders, which is grim.

I was lucky; unlike what some people experienced, neither my inbox nor my contacts were deleted (I have backup for the latter, so only time and aggravation would be an issue there, but Yahoo doesn't have a way to backup free email accounts, and there are a TON of business emails as part of my record-keeping in there).

Clearly, the hacker's intention was to send spam and then delete the Sent and Trash folders to cover their tracks. I reset my password and changed the setting about how long to stay logged in, but one day is the lowest choice, and that leaves a great deal of room for mischief if they haven't logged out in order to log into some other Yahoo account... and of course they've demonstrated that password hacking isn't an issue for them in any case.

Then, a couple of hours later, I refreshed my inbox... and every email I'd received today was GONE. I freaked out, assuming that the hacker had returned, seen that bounced-back proof of their activities, and done the deletions; I was filling out another Restore request for Yahoo when it occurred to me to check my alternate email to see if I'd heard from them... and they reported Restoring my inbox to where it had been at 6:30 AM, grrrrrrrrrr. However, my Sent folder was BACK, meaning all the business correspondence that needs to be followed up with is back!! I didn't dare do another Restore, since there was the overwhelming chance that doing so would re-wipe my Sent folder, so I just quit while I was ahead; luckily, I'd had a very light day, and had been keeping on top of what came in, and didn't really lose anything. I had to go to a few websites looking for the info about my accounts that had been sent to me, and send a few emails to people asking them to re-send what I remembered seeing in my inbox, but I THINK I didn't lose anything significant.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the winners are...

2010-05-31T22:38:00.000-07:00

The winner of the "Delicious Dessert" prize pack is... Lori T!!

The winner of the "Costco Sunny Day Snacks" giveaway is... Milagros G!!

Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways coming soon!! :-)

Josh Billings

2010-05-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

In my quote widget today, I saw:

"Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute." - Josh Billings

This impressed me enough to look him up on Wikipedia:

"Josh Billings was the pen name of humorist born Henry Wheeler Shaw (20 April 1818 – 14 October 1885). He was perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States in the second half of the 19th century after Mark Twain, although his reputation has not fared so well with later generations."

He turns out to have been behind a very common saying:

"While the Squeaky Wheel analysis was used in different forms before Billings, his poem, "The Kicker" brought the idiom into common usage of American language. The term "kicker" at the time in the 1800s was another term for a complainer. The poem is:

I hate to be a kicker,
I always long for peace,
But the wheel that does the squeaking,
Is the one that gets the grease."

He has some other brilliant ones:

"As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.

Common sense is instinct, and enough of it is genius.

Confess your sins to the Lord and you will be forgiven; confess them to man and you will be laughed at.

Don't ever prophesy; for if you prophesy wrong, nobody will forget it, and if you prophesy right, nobody will remember it.

There's a great power in words, if you don't hitch too many of them together.

I have finally come to the conclusion that a good set of bowels is worth more to a man than any quantity of brains.

There may come a time when the lion and the lamb will lie down together, but I am still betting on the lion.

And last but nt least, one that's particularly apropos for the Omni household:

"As a general thing, when a woman wears the pants in a family, she has a good right to them." lol

"Costco Sunny Day Snacks" giveaway

2010-05-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at General Mills and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Now available at Club Stores, Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars and Simply Fruit Roll-Ups deliver great value and are perfect to have on hand for last minute day trips and even an afternoon in the backyard.

Not only nutritious, but convenient too, the club sized snacks are individually wrapped and ideal for throwing in your purse or travel bag, just in case your little one´s tummy starts to rumble.

Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars are a delightful, 100% natural, combination of tastes and textures you´ll love. Now, you can get 25% more of the whole almonds, peanuts, raisins and cranberries in every bar! With no artificial flavors or colors and only 140 calories, Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars also contain 8g of whole grain per serving.

Simply Fruit Roll-Ups are a better-for-you treat that kids love! Simply Fruit Roll-Ups are an excellent source of Vitamin C and are available in a convenient variety pack of Strawberry and Wildberry flavors. Every delicious roll is made with 90% real fruit and fruit juice and packs a full serving of fruit. Even more exciting? They´re gluten-free and contain only 50 calories per roll.

Check out your local Club Store today for stock up packages of these delicious snacks and more!"

They also sent me a "Costco Sunny Day Snacks" prize pack that includes stock-up sized packages of the Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars (48 ct.) and Simply Fruit Roll-Ups (42 ct.), and a $25 gift card for Costco; these are some seriously tasty snacks, and it's good to have snacks with some nutritional value that can be stuck in a pocket to provide a few minutes of bliss when you're hungry miles from home... MUCH better than the greasy fast food you usually get at such times.

AND, they've provided an additional prize pack to give away to one of you. This is a very nice prize, so send me your story of how you served your community, and the best (believable, not Hollywood, sorry, lol) story wins!! I'll post a winner by the end of the long weekend.

RIP Gary Coleman

2010-05-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is so sad, and after all he'd been through, the poor man:

"Gary Coleman, the adorable, pint-sized child star of the smash 1970s TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" who spent the rest of his life struggling on Hollywood's D-list, died Friday after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 42.

Life support was terminated and Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. MDT with family and friends at his side, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank said.

Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became a star after "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted in 1978. He played Arnold Jackson, the younger one of a pair of African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white man.

"It's unfortunate. It's a sad day," said Todd Bridges, who played the older brother Willis. "It's sad that I'm the last kid alive from the show."

The series lives on thanks to DVDs and YouTube. But its equally enduring legacy became the troubles in adulthood of its former child stars.

Dana Plato, who played the boys' white, teenage sister, committed suicide in 1999. Bridges was tried and acquitted of attempted murder.

Coleman's popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.

He remained estranged from his parents Sue and Willie Coleman, who said they learned about his hospitalization and death from media reports.

Sue Coleman said she wanted to reconcile and had been patiently waiting for her son to be ready.

"One of the things that I had prayed for was that nothing like this would happen before we could sit with Gary and (wife) Shannon and say, 'we're here and we love you,'" Sue Coleman said. "We just didn't want to push him."

She would not discuss the cause of the estrangement.

In 1989, when Gary Coleman was 21, she filed a court request trying to gain control of her son's $6 million fortune, saying he was incapable of handling his affairs. He said the move "obviously stems from her frustration at not being able to control my life."

Coleman chafed at his permanent association with "Diff'rent Strokes" but also tried to capitalize on it through minor reality shows and other TV appearances. His adult life also was marked with legal, financial and health troubles, suicide attempts and even a 2003 run for California governor.

Coleman suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth. He suffered the brain hemorrhage Wednesday at his Santaquin home, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City.

A statement from his family said he was conscious and lucid until midday Thursday, when his condition worsened and he slipped into unconsciousness. Coleman was then placed on life support.

"Diff'rent Strokes" debuted on NBC in 1978 and drew most of its laughs from the tiny, 10-year-old Coleman.

Race and class relations became topics on the show as much as the typical trials of growing up.

Coleman was an immediate star, and his skeptical "Whatchu talkin' 'bout?" — usually aimed at Willis — became a catchphrase."

"Coleman was born Feb. 8, 1968, in Zion, Ill., near Chicago. His mother told Ebony his kidney disease was diagnosed when he was 2. He underwent his first transplant at age 5.

He attracted attention when he took part in some local fashion shows and people suggested he should get work performing in commercials, which he then did, she said.

She stayed with her son in California while he was making "Diff'rent Strokes," while her husband Willis, a pharmaceutical company worker, stayed behind in Illinois."

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/diff-rent-strokes-star-gary-coleman-dies/41561?nc

Isn't in bizarre how often we end up having to feel sorry for people who have achieved the highest levels of wealth and success? There might be a lesson in that somewhere...

Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars

2010-05-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Get ready to wow them with new Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars - a decadent, down-south dessert that nobody will believe came from a box!

With layers of chocolate cookie crumbs sprinkled over mini marshmallows in a chewy chocolate center and a crunchy chocolate cookie crust, this brand new recipe is sure to impress friends and family. Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars provide an out-of-the-box flavor, with in-the-box convenience. You don´t have to go to Mississippi to snag the mix for these delicious bars; Betty Crocker makes it easy to make a tasty treat anytime, anywhere."

The also sent me a "Delicious Dessert" prize pack that includes a box of the new Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars and an 8x8 metal baking pan; I put the former into the latter, and, as you might well imagine, chocolate ecstasy resulted!! If YOU'D like the opportunity to be among the first to try the new Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars before they hit shelves this summer, you're in luck, because they're letting me give a gift pack away; send me an email telling me what Memorial Day means to you, and I'll pick the best one and post the winner in a few days.

Stevia

2010-05-26T00:42:00.000-07:00

Here's what Wikipedia says about stevia:

"Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets."

And what do our fellow netizens say about stevia? Some of those that fail to grasp that this is a NATURAL sweetener, and instead assume that it's just a new brand of aspartame or whatever, claim to have tried stevia and gotten the same old "artificial sweetener headaches" that they've always gotten. From a NATURAL sweetener.

This adds more proof, should any be necessary, that the "artificial sweetener headaches" are purely psychosomatic. Ignore claims of that sort and sweeten your coffee with whatever floats your boat.

Win a free bra makeover!!

2010-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

I got an email from MomSelect that said:

"Do slipping straps, riding up backs, or not enough support have you ready to write a Dear John letter to your old bras? Apply for a Bra Makeover from Playtex! Seven out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, which can result in an ill fit for the rest of their outfit, back and shoulder pain, as well as bruising and digging.

We know that busy moms don't always have time to update their bras or even check to make sure they are wearing the correct size. That's why we wanted to let you know about this contest from Playtex! Playtex recently launched

http://www.playtexbramakeover.com/

a site where women can go to apply for a bra makeover or nominate a friend. If chosen, the winner will be flown to New York to receive a Bra Makeover with style expert Alison Deyette. Deyette is a fashion and trend lifestyle expert who has been featured on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker and TLC's Ten Years Younger, as well as in print publications including Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, and O Magazine. Apply for your chance to win a Playtex Bra Makeover today. The last day to apply is Friday, May 21st, 2010.

The 10 winners selected for a Bra Makeover will also star in their very own webisode wherein a makeover candidate will receive a fitting with Deyette and walk away with the perfect Playtex products. A new webisode will premier on

www.PlaytexBraMakeover.com

every two weeks. "

What are you waiting for; you KNOW you can find a better fitting bra than the one you've got on, lol!! This sounds like it'd be a blast for the winner; I'm gonna give it a shot.

By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a free bra from Playtex. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The power of language

2010-05-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know that language can apparently alter the way your brain works? Here's a fascinating example:

"HOW DOES OUR LANGUAGE SHAPE THE WAY WE THINK? [6.12.09]
By Lera Boroditsky"

"Follow me to Pormpuraaw, a small Aboriginal community on the western edge of Cape York, in northern Australia. I came here because of the way the locals, the Kuuk Thaayorre, talk about space. Instead of words like "right," "left," "forward," and "back," which, as commonly used in English, define space relative to an observer, the Kuuk Thaayorre, like many other Aboriginal groups, use cardinal-direction terms - north, south, east, and west - to define space. This is done at all scales, which means you have to say things like "There's an ant on your southeast leg" or "Move the cup to the north northwest a little bit." One obvious consequence of speaking such a language is that you have to stay oriented at all times, or else you cannot speak properly. The normal greeting in Kuuk Thaayorre is "Where are you going?" and the answer should be something like " Southsoutheast, in the middle distance." If you don't know which way you're facing, you can't even get past "Hello."

The result is a profound difference in navigational ability and spatial knowledge between speakers of languages that rely primarily on absolute reference frames (like Kuuk Thaayorre) and languages that rely on relative reference frames (like English). Simply put, speakers of languages like Kuuk Thaayorre are much better than English speakers at staying oriented and keeping track of where they are, even in unfamiliar landscapes or inside unfamiliar buildings. What enables them - in fact, forces them - to do this is their language. Having their attention trained in this way equips them to perform navigational feats once thought beyond human capabilities. Because space is such a fundamental domain of thought, differences in how people think about space don't end there. People rely on their spatial knowledge to build other, more complex, more abstract representations. Representations of such things as time, number, musical pitch, kinship relations, morality, and emotions have been shown to depend on how we think about space. So if the Kuuk Thaayorre think differently about space, do they also think differently about other things, like time? This is what my collaborator Alice Gaby and I came to Pormpuraaw to find out.

To test this idea, we gave people sets of pictures that showed some kind of temporal progression (e.g., pictures of a man aging, or a crocodile growing, or a banana being eaten). Their job was to arrange the shuffled photos on the ground to show the correct temporal order. We tested each person in two separate sittings, each time facing in a different cardinal direction. If you ask English speakers to do this, they'll arrange the cards so that time proceeds from left to right. Hebrew speakers will tend to lay out the cards from right to left, showing that writing direction in a language plays a role. So what about folks like the Kuuk Thaayorre, who don't use words like "left" and "right"? What will they do?

The Kuuk Thaayorre did not arrange the cards more often from left to right than from right to left, nor more toward or away from the body. But their arrangements were not random: there was a pattern, just a different one from that of English speakers. Instead of arranging time from left to right, they arranged it from east to west. That is, when they were seated facing south, the cards went left to right. When they faced north, the cards went from right to left. When they faced east, the cards came toward the body and so on. This was true even though we never told any of our subjects which direction they faced. The Kuuk Thaayorre not only knew that already (usually much better than I did), but they also spontaneously used this spatial orientation to construct their representations of time."

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/boroditsky09/boroditsky09_index.html

One eskimO

2010-05-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at One2One Network sent me the following info:

"One eskimO is a critically-acclaimed English band fronted by singer-songwriter Kristian Leontiou and includes musicians Pete Rinaldi (guitar), Jamie Sefton (bass, horns) and Adam Falkner (drums).

They currently have the #1 adult alternative song called 'Kandi' which you may have already heard since it's the most played song on all adult rock radio 4 weeks and counting

Billboard Magazine calls One eskimO's self-titled debut album "...catchy, ambient pop." and Los Angeles Times Magazine hails the song "Kandi" "a beautiful, aspirational track." The album is available in stores now.

The album release comes in tandem with a full length animated film. "Hometime," one of the tracks that an animated short was first done with proved to be quite a sensation. It received numerous honors at film festivals around the world, as well as a 2008 British Animation Award.

Band is on tour May/June/July supporting Michael Franti and in addition to festivals and headlining shows

Tour Dates

May 14 Miami, FL Fillmore
May 15 Jacksonville, FL Free Bird Live
May 18 Orlando, FL House of Blues
May 19 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor
May 22 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
May 24 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
May 25 Charleston, SC The Music Farm
Jun 01 Toronto, ON The Guvernment
Jun 03 New York, NY The Beach at Governor’s Island
Jun 04 Boston, MA House of Blues
Jun 05 Essex Junction, VT Camplain Valley Expo
Jun 06 Hunter, NY Mountain Jam Festival
Jun 08 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Thtr
Jun 09 Grand Rapids, MI Orbit Room
Jun 12 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
Jun 13 Kansas City, MO Crossroads
Aug 14 Denver, CO Mile High Festival

Links:

One eskimO Website: http://bit.ly/bCAfYE
"Kandi" Video: http://bit.ly/9CkEsg
Tour Dates: http://bit.ly/bQa94y
Band’s Facebook: http://bit.ly/906Gp3
You Tube Channel: http://bit.ly/bgZM8P
Deluxe Edition on iTunes: http://bit.ly/agXgTj
Free Download of "Astronauts" via Twitter: http://bit.ly/97B94S

For more info about One eskimO refer to our newsletter: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410294733

Hosted Images

Album Cover: http://www.one2onenetwork.com/images/oneeskimo_500_large.jpg
Photo of Band on Stage: http://www.one2onenetwork.com/images/photo_18.jpg
Collage of Band: http://www.one2onenetwork.com/images/oneeskimoCollagelowres.jpg
Publicity Photo of Band: http://www.one2onenetwork.com/images/IMG_6621.jpg
Logo: http://www.one2onenetwork.com/images/OE

Tracklisting

Hometime
Astronauts
Kandi
Slip
Simple Day
Givin Up
Chocolate
All Balloons
Chosen One
UFO
Amazing"

They also sent me a free promotional CD to listen to and review. The music is very sparse, and sounds to me like a combo of early 60's folk and early 70's soul; the term "rock" doesn't apply at all, as it bears no resemblance to any form of rock music that I recognize. Some "hard to define" music excites me, and some leaves me cold; this album is in the latter group. Whatever it is that is supposed to be great about it totally escapes me; there isn't anything I can point to that I liked. It wasn't that it was bad per se, just that it was unreservedly dull; it would probably be fine as background music, but forcing myself to pay attention to it so that I could review it was really unpleasant.

However, if you're one of the many people for whom early 60's folk and early 70's soul bring pleasure rather than cringing, you'll probably like it; check out the free download of "Astronauts" or some of their videos using the links above and decide for yourself.

"Scientists able to manipulate morality"

2010-05-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

More terrifying than any scifi movie:

"Scientists able to manipulate morality

Published Date: 30 March 2010
By CLARE BAILLIE

MORALITY is not based on social conscience or religion, but a brain region just above and behind the right ear, research suggests.

Scientists found they were able to alter people's moral judgments by directing magnetic pulses at a knot of nerve cells known as the right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ).

Volunteers subjected to a number of "moral maze" tests had their notions of right and wrong disrupted. In one scenario, participants were asked how permissible it was for a man to let his girlfriend walk across a bridge he knew was unsafe.

After receiving a 500 millisecond magnetic pulse to the scalp, the volunteers delivered verdicts based on outcome rather than moral principle. If the girlfriend made it across the bridge safely, her boyfriend was not seen as having done anything wrong.

Lead researcher Dr Liane Young, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said: "You think of morality as being a really high-level behaviour. To be able to apply a magnetic field to a specific brain region and change people's moral judgments is really astonishing."

Previous studies had shown the RTPJ to be highly active when people thought about the intentions, thoughts and beliefs of others. The MIT team reasoned that since judging the morality of an action depended on assessing beliefs and intentions, it might involve the RTPJ. The region is situated at the brain's surface above and behind the right ear.

To investigate the hypothesis, the scientists first pinpointed the RTPJ in each of up to 12 volunteers using a brain scan.

Experiments were then carried out in which participants were subjected to magnetic pulses targeted at the RTPJ. The non-invasive technique, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), creates weak electric currents that temporarily block the ability of brain cells to fire normally.

In one test, volunteers were exposed to TMS for 25 minutes before reading a series of 192 stories involving morally questionable characters. Participants were asked to make moral judgments of the characters' actions on a scale of one (absolutely forbidden) to seven (absolutely permissible).

A second experiment involved applying a 500-millisecond TMS burst at the moment a volunteer was asked to make a moral judgment.

In both cases, the researchers found that when the RTPJ was disrupted, volunteers were more likely to judge actions solely on the basis of whether they caused harm or not. Irresponsible or deliberate actions that might have resulted in harm were seen as morally acceptable if the story had a "happy ending".

Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said: "A particularly striking effect occurred for attempted harms (eg 'actors' who intended but failed to do harm) … TMS to the RTPJ caused participants to judge attempted harms as less morally forbidden and more morally permissible.

"Thus, interfering with activity in the RTPJ disrupts the capacity to use mental states in moral judgment, especially in the case of attempted harms.""

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Scientists-able-to-manipulate-morality.6189323.jp

Wishes For My Little Girl Facebook Contest

2010-05-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

I got the following email from MomSelect:

"Earlier this month, I introduced you to Cristina Carlino and her campaign for She Colors My Day - the now worldwide movement which embarks upon a global journey to create for a cure. Inspired by a mother's infinite love, this ever widening circle of caring will benefit Susan G. Komen for a Cure ® and The Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund. Thank you for your support!

To continue giving back to women everywhere, Cristina has published her first interactive journal, "The Changing Room: A Mother's Journal of Gratitude to Her Little Girl." This interactive journal by Cristina Carlino and YOU captures all those astonishing parenting moments before they fade into the swirl of everyday life. Throughout the book, Cristina shares her personal story and asks questions that inspire you to remember those first precious years of motherhood. This journal is a special place for your memories, drawings and letters. One day it will become a priceless keepsake for your daughter. (For more on The Changing Room, click onto this video link:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107098785997769

Cristina's friend, actress Mariska Hargitay is in love with the book, and she and Cristina have joined forces for her Joyful Heart Foundation, benefiting survivors of rape, incest and abuse. The neat thing is 100% of the net proceeds for The Changing Room will go to Joyful Heart.

Mariska says this about the book:

"This beautiful and rare journal is an expression of the exquisite and tender delight Cristina takes in motherhood. As if by magic, the journal opens doors into the most precious terrain where the miracles of childhood transform into memories large and small. What a gift to be led to this place of wonder, joy and gratitude. And we are so pleased that 100% of the net proceeds from this book are being donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation. Thank you, Cristina!"

To celebrate the season of mothers and the release of The Changing Room, Cristina is hosting a WISHES FOR MY LITTLE GIRL PHOTO CONTEST on her Facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/cristinacarlino

Five winners will receive a free copy of The Changing Room.

To enter Cristina's Wish and Photo Contest, Wishes for My Little Girl, click onto Cristina's Facebook Fan Page, and post your favorite photo of the little girl in your life -- it can be your daughter, a niece, a neighbor, the daughter of a friend. All our little girls need our wishes. Tell us of a big wish you have for this little wondrous person.Winners will be determined by the number of "Likes" they receive from other Cristina Carlino Fans, so invite your friends to Cristina's fan page and vote! Hurry! Contest ends on Monday, May 10th."

Sounds like a sweet book, so give it a shot!! :-)

Census consensus

2010-05-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

The last time they did the census (2000), they got some sort of computerized gadgets for the census takers to use that were so bad they had to be junked. A decade later, they don't have BETTER gadgets, they're still using paper and pencil.

They're not allowed to use paper clips on any official census papers... but each census taker is issued a box of paper clips.

Each census taker is also issued a pencil sharpener, logically enough. In at least some areas, these are reported to be bright pink. I bet some of the men are buying their own rather than use the official one, although that's probably not allowed.

Census takers are required to give out their home phone #'s. And no one else in the household is allowed to listen to the messages. Uh-huh.

Each census taker is given an official 2010 Census bag. The bags aren't taken back and destroyed at the end, they get to keep them. Despite the fact that people will automatically open their doors for a census taker. Am I the only one who sees robberies and rapes in the future from this lapse in common sense?

Typical gov't setup.

And the winner is...

2010-05-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

The winner of the $25 American Express gift card courtesy of SuperValu and General Mills through MyBlogSpark is... Elaine T!!

Stay tuned for more goodies!!

"Be good and you will be lonesome." - Mark Twain

2010-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

If you don't believe it, you haven't been paying attention. We as a culture dislike and distrust the virtuous. We feel made small and petty by comparison. We enviously tell ourselves that they can't be that great, and thus must be lying, faking, tricking us. We neurotically assume that they're looking down on us. We therefore feel resentful, angry, even vengeful... against those who never did or said anything wrong to us, or at all.

Where does that leave the good person?

What are you going to do about it?

Box Tops for Education sweepstakes and giveaway

2010-04-30T02:35:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at SuperValu and General Mills through MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Moms like you do whatever they can to help their kids´ schools get the resources they need to provide the best education possible.

In fact, every year 24 million parents and children join in clipping Box Tops to support their local schools. As a result, SuperValu shoppers helped participating schools earn more than $10 million in the 2008-09 school year alone!

To make it even easier to participate in the program, the SuperValu family of stores (ACME, Albertsons, Cub, Farm Fresh and Jewel-Osco) joined Box Tops for Education in creating a website that not only tracks your Box Tops contribution and the school´s redemption, but also offers recipes, coupons, store promotions and more.

From now through May 31, SuperValu stores and Box Tops for Education are giving you a chance to win 50,000 bonus box tops for your school. That´s a $5,000 value! All you have to do is register at www.GrowingLocalLearning.com, and click the link to the 50,000 bonus box tops sweepstakes*. You will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up!

*Please note that the sweepstakes is void in some states. Visit www.GrowingLocalLearning.com and view the sweepstakes´ official rules for more details.

After you´ve entered the sweepstakes, be sure to stick around and browse the website where you´ll find a variety of great offers on your favorite General Mills brands including Betty Crocker®, Old El Paso®, Totino´s® Pizza Rolls® and Pillsbury®. Once you register you can also find recipes that will earn you even more Box Tops and you can access coupons for the latest deals at your local SuperValu store!"

They also provided me with a $25 American Express gift card, AND an additional $25 American Express gift card to give away to one of you; send me your story about what you're trying to earn for your child's school, and the best story wins the card. I'll post the winner Sunday night!! :-)

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-04-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver isn't heart-attack-inducingly hot like he was back in the "Naked Chef" days, but he's still a doll, and still well worth a watch:

Full Episodes - Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - ABC.com

http://abc.go.com/watch/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/250784?cid=fullepisodeaccess

And the winner is...

2010-03-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

The winner of the "Spring Sweet Treats" gift pack from Safeway and Betty Crocker (through MyBlogSpark) is... Marci B.!!

Stay tuned for more goodies!! :-)

Precognitive dream

2010-03-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had a strange dream in which someone was asking me what scents I like the best, and I gave a list, spelling out a a couple of the harder words and pointing out how they were mostly spices. Today, I got an email from a company that might want me to come and do a fragrance testing panel... and of course they asked me for a list of the scents I like the best. And NO, I did NOT just sign up for this, nor was this when I was expecting to hear from them; obviously I had to have applied for it, but so many months ago that I have no memory of it. There was no reason for this to be on my mind much less in a dream last night, and let's face it, this is a VERY odd and EXTREMELY specific thing to dream about.... how else can you explain it?

School dream revisited pt 2

2010-03-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I had a new twist in my school dreams; I realized that I wasn't enrolled, much to my relief. Last night, I had another new twist; I believed that I had just finished my last day of college that day; this was also a relief, although I had concerns about what my grades would be. Another, VERY weird twist was that I took tearful leave of 2 men on the campus who, in waking times, I recognize as acquaintances who work in my area to whom I have no attachment; in the dream, their names were different, and they'd apparently protected or assisted me in some significant way.

Then, either as a continuation of that dream or a new one (I couldn't tell), I suddenly thought I was in my final quarter of school, and was wondering why I'd chosen all serious courses rather than easier ones to finish up the required # of credits; this was new too, although a disappointing step backwards towards the traditional school nightmares. Also new was that I was thinking how I particularly liked one of the courses, and one of the professors, which somehow made me think I should keep ALL the current classes (none of which I had any idea what they were, which didn't seem to disturb me).

There isn't anything going on in my life that I can point to to explain all these changes to the decades-old patterns, but it's still interesting; maybe it'll make more sense after a few more rounds.

Betty Crocker goodies

2010-03-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Safeway and Betty Crocker (through MyBlogSpark) sent me the following info:

"Using Betty Crocker® SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes, and with a little help from the Safeway family of stores, you can put your budding baking skills to the test to serve up special treats that will have you and your little sprouts ready for springtime!

For great spring recipe ideas, visit BakeSweetMemories.com today. Bake Sweet Memories has delicious recipes for fun desserts using your Betty Crocker favorites, including Easter Bunny Cakes and even morning brunches, like the Impossibly Easy Breakfast Bake, which are sure to brighten any morning!

In addition, from March 24th through April 6th, visit the Safeway family of Stores to purchase Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes at the special price of $0.69! Be sure to let your readers know that they can visit their local Safeway family of stores to take advantage of this great savings and more!

Even if you miss the sale, check BakeSweetMemories.com for great coupon offers that download right to your Safeway Club card. This Spring, Betty Crocker makes life a little sweeter."

They also sent me a "Spring Sweet Treats" prize pack that includes a VIP coupon for a free Betty Crocker product, a silicon baking pan, a stainless steel mixing bowl, an oven mitt, a Betty Crocker mixing spoon big enough to use as a weapon, and a $25 Safeway gift card.

They've also let me have an additional prize pack to give away to one of you (that prize pack will not contain a VIP coupon, though, because you're not special like ME, lol). Whoever sends me the best idea for something to bake for Easter will win it!! :-)

Lands' End, Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com Host Travel Twitter Event

2010-03-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

It sounds like fun!! Here's the info they sent me:

"Lands' End, Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com Host Travel Twitter EventTravel Advice and More Than 25 Giveaways and Blogger Promotion

Join Lands' End and representatives from the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com for a Twitter Event to celebrate the Lands' End's Bahamas Adventure to Harbour Island promotion at The Hub

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103226808374&s=56264&e=001wgud-7kjFYW8P8ZXL09_btX-0-iGVwSoBT8Q3v4FGTXIDkP97l-I-BcAXKBqqPIoN0r3_-OfvFqOvn_HJ16FxkCRT095n5tlHdmDUrU9qffXpbWFa9hmG-6E4c6t-fWU.

The site features engaging content focusing on travel through the summer as well as the chance to win a trip for four to the pink-sand beaches of Harbour Island. Be a part of this exciting Twitter Event and tweet with representatives from Lands' End, the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com. The event will feature more than 25 fun giveaways ranging from Lands' End luggage, beach towels, travel kits, beach bags and gift cards.

Lands' End Harbour Island Twitter Event

Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST

Location: #landsend Join the fun and follow:@LEprMichele, @LEprMolly, @LEprLibby, @VisitTheBahamas, @iexplore and @iexplore_Amanda"

I'm participating in the Lands' End Harbour Island blog promotion. :-)

School dream revisited

2010-03-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

My entire adult life, I've had dreams that I was back in school; high school, college, or sometimes a muddle of both. The standard themes are that my locker (which mostly represents my emotional state) has been broken into, that I can't find my schedule (anxiety about the future and/or what actions to take), that I haven't gotten my grades from last quarter, or from multiple quarters, yet (doubts about how well I'm doing everything, maybe?), and trying to remember if I've been to my classes, done my homework, or studied for tests (general anxiety from having to keep track of everything myself because my husband's totally irresponsible).

Last night, there was a new twist; I was walking down the main drag of my college, I was pretty sure it was the first day of the quarter, and I started wondering what my schedule was, and had I been to any of my classes, and fearing that I hadn't, and shouldn't I have gone to the first class of each course... and suddenly I realized that these weren't issues because I wasn't enrolled!! What a relief!!

Was I able to "defeat" the dream because God has taken most of my anxiety and His presence in my life has made even my subconscious feel more confident and secure? Will this be the end of the school dreams?

Alexithymia

2010-03-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

I periodically mention my difficulty in determining what emotions I'm experiencing. I'd never heard of anyone else having that problem, and you probably hadn't either. Thanks to Wikipedia, my research on Asperger syndrome (yes, I'm an Aspie, isn't it obvious?) led me to Alexithymia

"a state of deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexithymia

The main points of the article are included below. As always with any categorization of people, I'm not exactly in synch with all of it; my imagination, dreams and fantasies are all intense and vivid, in sharp contrast to the standard Alexithymic, and I do have SOME clue as to the feelings of others, but the rest of it is dead on (asterisks are mine):

"Alexithymia is defined by:

difficulty identifying feelings and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal
difficulty describing feelings to other people
constricted imaginal processes, as evidenced by a paucity of fantasies
a stimulus-bound, externally oriented cognitive style"

"Typical deficiencies may include problems identifying, describing, and working with one's own feelings, often marked by a lack of understanding of the feelings of others; difficulty distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal; confusion of physical sensations often associated with emotions; few dreams or fantasies due to restricted imagination; and ****** concrete, realistic, logical thinking, often to the exclusion of emotional responses to problems ******."

"A common misconception about alexithymia is that affected individuals are totally unable to express emotions verbally and that they may even fail to acknowledge that they experience emotions. Even before coining the term, Sifneos (1967) noted patients often mentioned things like anxiety or depression. The distinguishing factor was their inability to elaborate beyond a few limited adjectives such as "happy" or "unhappy" when describing these feelings. The core issue is that alexithymics have poorly differentiated emotions limiting their ability to distinguish and describe them to others. This contributes to the sense of emotional detachment from themselves and difficulty connecting with others, making alexithymia negatively associated with life satisfaction even when depression and other confounding factors are controlled for."

Although I wouldn't wish for anyone else to struggle with this, it's good in a way to know that it's a recognized problem with a name. Sadly, there's nothing they can DO about it. Maybe God will fix it some day...

And the winner is...

2010-02-21T22:06:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls gift pack courtesy of Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark is... Cassie W!!

Stay tuned for the next giveaway!!

A plea to parents and so-called experts

2010-02-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

In an article called "Sext Ed" in the February issue of Family Circle, mothers are instructed to have their child give the following speech if s/he becomes the victim of the fallout from stupid sexting and is being teased:

"I made a big mistake. By bringing it up you're making me feel bad. I wouldn't do that to you if you were in my situation."

AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!

Listen to me, LISTEN: it never, ever, EVER works to a child's benefit if they give a speech to teasers or bullies. NEVER. No matter what the speech is, other kids see it as an attempt by the targeted child to act like an adult talking down to them, and this will always aggravate them and make them ESCALATE the teasing. ALWAYS.

No child who's having fun teasing or bullying will be reasoned into choosing to stop, not by an adult and certainly not by another child; even adults, who are usually more amenable to being reasoned with than children, don't change their preferred behaviors because someone ran their mouth... witness every time you've ever tried to talk anyone into changing a behavior you disliked, from leaving the toilet seat up to forgetting to put the milk back into the fridge, and failed.

No teasing/bullying child reacts with contrition upon hearing that they made the victim feel bad; the entire POINT of teasing and bullying is to make the victim feel bad, and saying so just gratifies the bully with a feeling of success. The bully will respond with laughter, grind his fists in his eyes while feigning loud crying, and rub his fingers together while chanting the old line about how "this is the world's smallest violin."

And, no teasing/bullying child would ever believe that any other child would refrain from teasing/bullying if they themselves were the ones who had "made a mistake"... and to tell them otherwise just makes them feel that the victim is lying and trying to portray themselves as superior, which, again, will aggravate them and make them ESCALATE the teasing.

Unless the victim is able to produce a blistering put-down that turns the tide of teasing against the ringleader, only the intervention of an adult with the authority to punish will stop teasing, this kind or any other.

What would *I* tell a girl who was stupid enough to send out a pic of her boobs that got passed around as described in the article? If the tease-leader is male, I'd tell her to look at him with icy contempt and say, "Why are you so excited by a photo of breasts... won't anyone let you look at any REAL ones?" Everyone will turn on a dime and start ragging HIM. For a female tease-leader, she can say, "What's the matter, jealous that no one likes YOUR breasts enough to ask for a photo of them?" Same effect.

If I were a parent, this overall issue would be a no-brainer for me; I wouldn't give a cell phone to a child until they got old enough to be dating and might need emergency help... and then, it'd be a phone with no camera or texting ability. Problem solved.

Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls

2010-02-18T18:03:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark sent me the following info:

"Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls are warm, fresh, and ready to serve in just minutes. With an ooey-gooey texture and a delicious orange icing, Orange Sweet Rolls have a mouth watering aroma that is sure to bring your family together like no other breakfast! Packed with the love and flavor of a treat made from scratch, but without the time and cleanup, Orange Sweet Rolls are the perfect addition to your family's Sunday morning traditions."

And they don't lie; those Orange Sweet Rolls are TAAAAAAAAAAAAASTY!! And, easy enough to make that even my husband can make 'em, which is a big plus in my book. I'll never lose my lust for the cinnamon ones, but orange is right up there... and after all, there are TWO days to the weekend, right?

They also sent me a Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls gift pack that includes a VIP coupon for Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls as well as a very nice hanging photo album... and they're letting me give one away!! Whoever submits the best essay about how their family spends Sunday mornings will win it!!

I'll post the winner by the end of the weekend.

Reincarnation revisited

2010-02-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

A friend said in an email today that he didn't see how reincarnation could work; I'd never figured that out myself, but in replying to him I came up with this:

Because of my experiences with ghosts, I know that there are souls, and that they survive the death of the body. Since they get into houses, spirits can probably pass through matter; I can't say definitely, because they might be hovering around the doors like dogs waiting for them to be opened so they can get through, or they might also be squeezing through the same cracks that allow even pretty big spiders and such to get into every room... I can't even imagine how to create a sealed room and get a person in there for a ghost to interact with without the ghost being able to enter when the person does, so even when science learns how to detect them we may never know the answer to that one.

Anyways; if we assume that ghosts can pass through matter, what's to keep them from STAYING inside, say, a wall if they chose? If a wall, why not a fetal brain? And if a spirit gets back into a brain, is it so hard to imagine it'd attach itself and settle in, assuming that said brain was complex enough to host it, and didn't already have a soul in it, or at least not a fully-formed one? (I've always assumed that souls formed gradually as the energy from the fetal brain thinking and feeling built up; now, I guess I also have to consider the idea that God creates the basic soul and puts it in, which would have the benefit of explaining how the soul has a cohesive and lasting structure... although I still dislike the idea of explaining every confusing thing with "God did it.")

The idea of an old soul DISPLACING a fetal one is chilling, pretty much horror movie material given the trouble-making type of soul that one might assume would be willing to do such a thing, and there's no solid reason to deny the possibility of it happening from a purely logical standpoint... but, one of the nice things about accepting the existence of a loving God is that I think He probably wouldn't allow it.

I'm not saying that souls DO move on to new bodies, regularly or EVER, but it's not too hard to make a case that they COULD.