Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Looking for that perfect Sweet 16 or Graduation invitation?

I would like to introduce you to Krystyn from Krizzy Designs. Krystyn, a self-taught designer is a science teacher by day and designer by night. She creates really cool birth announcements and birthday invitations ranging from Baby's First to Happy 100th and everything in between.

Krystyn designs also include greeting cards and blog designs. Not only can she create a blog for you from start to finish, but she can also pimp up your existing blogs. Her blog designs are really great! Check them out here.

Blog Design


Blog Design
Invitation

Announcements



Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Time to refresh the unmentionables?

Cheapundies.com is full of high-quality brands at heavy discounts. And don’t worry – these aren’t seconds. The inventory at Cheapundies.com is all brand name, first-quality overstock and closeout goods. Basically, it’s pieces that they could charge you a whole lot more for. But they don’t. Cheapundies is for the more bargain conscious people who want to purchase closeout underwear for men and women from over 60 designer brands up to 75% off!

As a loyal pant-wearing girl, I have been thinking about wearing more skirts this summer. I love the new prints and styles the skirts have to offer and my pants just don't give me that "just wanta have fun" feeling. This Body Hip Slip by Nancy Ganz looks like a great place to start. I have heard good things about the brand, but I haven’t had the chance to try any of her products. This slip offers firm, smooth shaping power and is only priced at $15, which is 50% off!



I am also considering this Mary Green Silk Knit with Lace Chemise. It is 100% silk edged with scalloped lace at the neckline and hem and cost only $25, which is half off the $50 retail price. Chemise for $25? Not bad!


Here are a few more of my faves:

Champion O2 Cool Workout Pant for $19.00.

D&G Dolce & Gabbana Not Vintage Boy Short fore $16.00.



And, Puma Daily Cotton Tank Top for only $6.00.

G o ahead and visit their website by clicking the banner below. There is plenty of information available to help you make choices before purchasing. They provide information regarding fabric and measurements and offer multiple views. And, with bras as low as $8.50 and panties as low as $4.50 you’d be crazy to go anywhere else.

Monday, April 27, 2009

The swimsuits are coming!

Congratulations to Vicky who won the Scrabble Tile Necklace from Home Studio! Thanks for commenting Vicky and be sure to keep reading for more fun giveaways!

Remember, only 4 more days to win a hip-T! Click here to enter.

For most of us women, the thought of entering a dressing room each spring is one of the most dreaded occasions of the year. While there are a few lucky ladies out there, most of us don't have swimsuit-ready bodies and finding the right suit can be torture if you don't know what you're looking for.

Take the guesswork out of ordering a swimsuit online when you shop with the experts at Swimsuits for All. You’ll get personal service and straightforward advice, with recommendations tailored to fit your body, your style, and your budget. They offer free, personal consultations with a swimwear specialist who will recommend swimwear solutions to fit your body, style, and budget.

Swimsuits For All started as a small E-Bay business in 2004 and has since become one of the leading online retailers of swimwear sizes 8 and up. They specialize in hard-to-find swimwear such as chlorine-proof, cup-sized, and plus-sized swimsuits. They are dedicated to offering their customers the best selection in fashionable, high-quality swimwear for every age, body type, and price range.

Swimwear Clearance ~ suits start at $9.98!


Free Ground Shipping! Use Coupon Code freegroundship. Expires This Week - So Shop Now! (Restrictions Apply)

What is Etsy?

Two important announcements today~

First, congratulations to Beth for winning the $10 off gift card for lia sophia. I will apply it to your order. Thanks for ordering and thanks for reading Spoutin' Out.

Second, remember today is the last day to enter the "Winner's Choice," contest for a Scrabble Tile Necklace from Home Studio on Etsy!

Etsy is an online community of designers creating and selling everything from purses and pillowcases to shoes and children's clothes.

According to the company’s website, Etsy’s vision is to “build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.” The Etsy website is a community of people passionate about handcrafted items. The website is fun for shoppers to use, offering a multitude of unique ways to search for items to purchase.

It is a great place for sellers with awesome talent and limited funds to sell their stuff. Any seller without any other online store can create an Etsy storefront. The process is fairly straightforward, and the high rank of the Etsy website affords sellers tremendous exposure that may be otherwise unattainable on a limited marketing budget.

For buyers, it's an awesome place to find a great deal and a unique gift while supporting entrepreneurs and local communities.

Watch the video to learn more about Etsy! You'll be glad you did.

Click here to enter to win the Scrabble Tile Necklace.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Silent Sunday

Most bloggers seem to have a day where they stop blogging with words and blog with pictures. I've always liked that idea, so thought I'd give it a try. Starting today, I am going to dedicate Sunday to "Silent Sunday," where I will just post pics with a brief description.

Here goes my first, Silent Sunday.
We took advantage of the great weather here on the east coast and took the kids and dog to the Salmon River for a bike ride and picnic. I love these "simple" trips because they help us reconnect.

And we're off!

And we're back! Waiting...for Blue. It was a long ride. The Salmon River

Arriving at the river's edge.

Hannah ~ We told her it was too cold!
Victoria ~ loves her picture taken.

Casey ~ skimming rocks.
I beat him in skips.
He hates that. LOL!
Me and Mike My kids.....

....... laughing because I am standing on a very tall rock!

.....getting along splendidly!
......standing on the only tiny patch of land in the middle of the river.
"So nice to see them standing so close together." Wink, wink.

It's findings like this that let you know as a parent, you really are doing something right.
I found this one in my daughter's pics and love what she had pasted to it.
Saying reads, "There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother.
Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too. ~ Anna Quindlan

Saturday, April 25, 2009

What is your least-favorite body part?

At my son's ball game the other day, a few of us moms were discussing our least fave body part and by an almost unanimous decision (someone said flapping skin under arm ~ who invited her), we agreed that it was belly fat. You know, the unattractive “muffin top” as it is lovingly referred to. It is potentially dangerous and stubbornly tough to get rid of. There is good-new though! The editors of Prevention magazine say they've found the science (MUFAS) that can put an end to belly fat and have written a new book called, “The Flat Belly Diet" to prove it.

What are "MUFAS" and why do they work?

Here is what Prevention had to say: MUFAs" are monounsaturated fats found in oils, such as olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocados, olives, and dark chocolate. The benefits of "MUFAS" were discovered in 2007, when Spanish researchers published a study in the journal "Diabetes Care" that showed that eating a diet rich in MUFAs can help prevent weight gain in a person belly. Researchers looked at three types of diets, one high in saturated fat, another high in carbs, and a third rich in "MUFAS," on patients with "abdominal fat distribution," or belly fat. Only the MUFA diet reduced the accumulation of belly fat, and, more specifically, visceral belly fat.

I too struggle with excessive weight around my waist recently, (remember, I use a hip-T to hide my muffin top) and for the past 2 weeks have tried to lose it, but have been unsuccessful. Everyone says it's my age. I hate that excuse. Hum, nothing to do with the ice cream and cookies I eat an hour before bed? That's cool, because I love ice cream. (wink)

This is not my photo, but if it were, it wouldn't be too far off.

Watch this video from cbsnews.com to learn more about MUFAS and losing belly fat.

After watching this video myself, I plan to get the book. I won’t promise you that I will go on the diet, but I do promise you that I will review it further. My initial thoughts are that this won’t work for me, as I hate all the MUFAS they discuss. Yes, even the dark chocolate. However, I suppose if I think of the MUFAS as I do the really nasty cough medicine I have to take to suppress my cough, that I might be able to endure the MUFAS for the sake of losing the weight. Who knows? Maybe this diet will work for me, nothing else seems to be.

I'll get back to you on that one.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Customize your t-shirts this Summer

Remember a few posts back I told you that I couldn’t find, because I didn’t have ~ any jewelry to wear to a bridal shower I was attending? Well, today with the temperatures threatening to reach 80 degrees, I decided to break out my summer wardrobe and .....you guess it, nothing!

All that I was able to find in the box that I put away last winter were some old faded t-shirts, shorts that might fit my 8-year old, but certainly not me and capris that looked like maybe I was taller last year. There certainly was nothing in that box that any self-respecting mom of three could wear around town or in public anywhere for that matter.

So, with that it was back to the World Wide Web for….yup, you guessed it again, fun, unique and affordable clothes. I was really just looking for something casual that I could wear on the weekend or slip on after work, when I found this really cool site.

I would like to introduce you to Customized Girl. Customized Girl is an interactive website focused on personalized fashion. They believe in encouraging creative expression and know that fashion is more exciting when you can be your own personal designer.

At CustomizedGirl.com you can mix and match t-shirt styles and sayings in categories from mother’s day and military wives to baby showers and maternity. The site is very user friendly. Browse through their many designs already listed or create your own unique signature t-shirt, hoodie, pants, and even underwear! They have clothes for women, men, and kids as well as accessories.

Let me know what you think.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Beauty products for $1 ~ I'm there!

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is…except in the case of e.l.f. cosmetics. e.l.f., which means eyes lips face, believes that all women deserve to look and feel their best and they make it possible with beauty products for $1.

Whether you’re searching for a Super Glossy SPF or a French Manicure Set, you can meet all your beauty needs for just $1. These days, it’s hard to find a pack of gum for less than a $1. So for the woman who can never have too many cosmetics, e.l.f. is a fantastic find!

The products may not be in the same class as MAC or Estée Lauder, but for the cosmetic connoisseur on a tight budget, they are pretty darn good. For the price of one designer item, you can fill your entire makeup case with products.

I haven't tried the e.l.f products yet, but my research has shown that they have a lot of people who have and have given great feedback, so I plan to. I know there are a lot of you out there who’ve taken advantage of their amazing prices, so please comment back and let me and my readers know your thoughts!

The website for e.l.f is http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp. When you get there you will have to enter a coupon code. Use CAROLINA and save an additional 50% if your order is over $15.00. (Please note maximum savings is $7.50 with that coupon...basically it covers shipping plus a little more).

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

How to leave a comment on a blog

Spoutin' Out would like to announce Leslie as the lucky winner of the Soy Linen & Body Spray from The Gift Closet! Congratulations Leslie and thank you for posting your comment. Be sure to keep reading Spoutin’ Out for more fun giveaways!


Many of you have sent me emails off line asking me how to add a comment to Spoutin’ Out, so I am going to use today's post (a post is the written article) to explain. Afterall, what fun is this blog if you can't enter to win anything?

At the bottom of every post, you will find a "comments" link like this:

The comment link will take you to the posting page that looks like this:

I know it's hard to see, but the visual should give you an idea. The upper left corner displays the blog post title you are commenting on. The rest of the left-hand column contains any comments that have already been made. The profile photos of the comment authors may also display, depending on the blog's settings.

The screen shot below is the right side of the same page above.

The right hand side of the page is the space for you to enter your comment. Beneath that are the identity options. Identity options are where you identify yourself and let me and other readers know who you are.

The identity options are a little different in this screen shot then they are on my blog, but it should give you the idea. My blog identity list will read:


Google (Blogger): Your Blogger name will appear, along with a link to your profile and your photo, if you have one. If you don't keep reading

Open ID: Most of you new to blogging won’t have this, so skip this option

Name/URL: For newbies, this is probably the best option. All you have to do is enter your first name. You can enter a url if you happen to have one, but it’s not necessary and just your works fine

Anonymous: No identifying information is displayed. The comment is not credited.

Note: Anonymous is my least favorite, because there is no way for me to tell who you are, if you don’t have a Blogger account.

The most important thing to remember if you don’t have a Blogger account or Open ID is to leave me your email address. If I don’t have it written in your comment, you can’t win, because I can’t find you.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Jewelry Lovers Giveaway!

I was recently looking through my jewelry for something nice to wear to a shower. After sorting through broken necklaces, missing earrings and tarnished bracelets, I ended up putting on a watch that didn’t work, a bracelet I bought at a tag sale and the same pair of earrings that I wear almost everyday. Pathetic right? Right.

I told myself that day, that I deserved better and made myself a promise that at the very least, I would find myself some new jewelry ~ and that is just what I did.

In addition to finding this great deal for myself, Home Studio has also offered to give one lucky Spoutin’ Out reader a "reader's choice" pendant and snake chain. Home Studio is located in CA. Their collection is designed by husband and wife, Stef and Mark. Visit Home Studio for more great designs, but before you do, be sure to enter to win your own free scrabble tile necklace!



One thing is for sure…at Buy Three Get One Free, I am getting four of these for Mother’s Day.




How to Win:

1. Visit Home Studio, pick out a necklace design that you like, leave a comment here (be sure to include your email address if you don't have a profile) telling me which of their designs you'd like to win. It does not have to be one of the two above.

Blogger Newbies: To leave a comment ~
Click on the word "comments" in caps below (you can also comment on older posts), type your comment in the "comment" window that pops up
Enter the word verification
Click on the button that reads, Name/URL (Enter your first name only)
Click Post


It's that easy!

2. For an EXTRA entry, email 3 people about this contest and cc: me on it. Then, come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know which design you’d like to win.

Contest ends Tuesday, 4/28/09 @ midnight & is open to US residents only

Monday, April 20, 2009

Who said tweeting on Twitter was easy

I spent all of last night and most of this morning trying to figure out how to put a link to Twitter on my blog without showing a listing of all the posts too. As of now (two hours into it again this morning), I stilll have not figured it out. As a result, I was not able to blog about anything last night, so I am just leaving a post of this picture showing how I feel right now.

Can someone please help me out!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow however, because I have a really cool giveaway!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Free Dining at Walt Disney World

I was on line today looking at park prices for our Disney trip in June (remember, the one I told you about) and found that Disney is now offering free dining for those who stay at a Walt Disney World resort.

Free Dining was first offered to those people with a Disney Rewards Visa card, but is now open to everyone. If you've been waiting for this, you're not alone. With the state of the economy, I am sure Disney fans everywhere are already lining up to take advantage of this great offer ~ so be sure to make your Advance Dining Reservations (ADR's) as soon as possible.

The package is available to guests buying a five-night/six-day room and theme park ticket package for stays most nights from Aug. 16 to Oct. 3, 2009.

As a long-time subscriber of MouseSavers, I have enjoyed deep savings and many helpful Disney tips. MouseSavers, was founded in 2001 by Mary Waring as a way to help others takes advantage of the special savings she had been researching. Today, MouseSavers offers its member terrific resources to help them plan their Disney vacation including the Disney Cruise line, Disney books, music, movies and lots more.

Click here for your MouseSavers money saving tips and to find out more about this package.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

What is a hip-T and who is Generation Y

Some say these kids are part of a generation that rivals the baby boom in size and soon, in buying clout. They are the children of boomers. Born during a baby bulge that demographers set between 1979 and 1994, they range in age from 5 to 20. At 60 million strong, they are 3x the size of Generation X and the biggest thing to hit the American scene since the 72 million baby boomers.

I say -

Get it? See the Y? I love this Google image. Seriously speaking however, I can’t just pick on the kids. I myself find my own jeans sitting lower and lower on my hips and constantly having to hoist them up before I sit down. Now, I am not saying we should all go back to the days when jeans were worn above our navel, but something had to be done. So, I set off to search the world wide web for a solution and after a few late nights, I found one! “hip-T” to the rescue!

What is a hip-T? A hip-T is similar to a tube top, but worn around your waist over your jeans, and under your shirt. It creates layers without the t-shirt tangle and prevents “rear” views. The purpose of the hip-T is three fold including hiding your “butt-crack”, stopping the appearance of the unsightly “muffin-top” and eliminating the viewing of panties and thongs at the back of jeans, shorts or skirts.



Creators, Christine Meeks and Kelley DeSerpa sent me a hip-T to try for myself and OMG, I love it! My first day with my hip-T was fantastic! It created the illusion that I was wearing layers with a cami underneath my shirt, but all I really had on was one shirt, so there was no bulkiness. The hip-T stayed in place all day and gave me the comfort and security to sit and bend at will, without having to give my pants a yank.

Christine and Kelley are offering one lucky Spoutin’ Out reader a chance to win their own hip-T!
What a great idea these ladies came up with. You have gotta check them out! Click here to see all the great colors and styles. hip-T is also offering free shipping until 5/15.


How to Win:

1. Leave a comment here (be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile) telling me which style/color hip-T you'd like to win.

Blogger Newbies: To leave a comment ~
Click on the word "comments" in caps below (you can also comment on older posts)
Type your comment in the "comment" window that pops up
Enter the word verification
Click on the button that reads, Name/URL
Enter your first name only
Click Post

It's that easy!

2. For an EXTRA entry, email 3 people about this contest and cc: me on it. Then, come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know which sytle/design you’d like to win.

Contest ends Wednesday 5/2/09 @ midnight & is open to US residents only. Due to the many school vacations this week and next, I am extending this contest an extra week.

Friday, April 17, 2009

3 Reasons to Pack a School Lunch

Although schools are really trying to improve their lunch programs, not every school cafeteria provides appealing, healthy lunch choices. Even if your school provides healthy options, it is easy to give in to temptation and grab a less healthy choice when you're feeling really hungry or are rushed. But, how can you take control? Brownbag your lunch!

1. Variety. It doesn't hurt once and awhile to cave in and enjoy a slice of pizza or hot dog. But if you're eating these foods all the time, your body probably feels run down. By packing your lunch a couple of times a week, you can enjoy some favorites that you might not find at school. Try:

· Hummus and pita bread
· Whole wheat pita breads filled with turkey, chicken, beans, grated vegetables, and rice.
· Rolled up tortillas filled with a thin layer of cream cheese and chicken or fish (like smoked salmon) or filled with rice, beans and cheese.
· Cut up chicken from dinner the night before and put it in whole wheat bread or eat with brown rice.
· Hard-boiled eggs or egg salad sandwiches. Add grated vegetables to the egg salad.
· Pasta. Add chopped spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and a favorite dressing for a cold pasta salad. Tortellini filled with spinach and a touch of olive oil or flaxseed oil. Cook a little extra pasta for dinner and use it for lunch the next day.

2. Control. Have you ever waited in a long lunch line only to find that when you get to the front that you don't like anything they are serving? So you reach for that pizza or hotdog again. By packing a brown bag lunch, not only to you get the nutritional value of the food from home, but you also get to skip that long line and finally get a seat at that table that is always packed.

3. Energy. If you have an after-school activity and going to home for a snack is impossible, brown bag a healthy snack that contains proteins with carbohydrates that will give you lasting energy and keep you going until you can get home for dinner. Try:

· Your own "trail" mix of dried fruit and nuts or sunflower seeds, whole-grain pretzels and low-fat cheese, or a bagful of baby carrots and yogurt dip.
· Pretzels without trans fats, instead of potato chips.
· Graham crackers, oatmeal raisin cookies instead of chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, or brownies.

Whether you pack or eat in the cafeteria, what’s important is that you make healthy choices. If you're concerned that your cafeteria doesn't offer enough healthy choices, get involved in trying to make changes. Ask a teacher or someone in food service for advice on how to get started. You can also make lunch fun, but using these fun bags designs. For more bag designs, click here.

Sorry, I can't remember how to link to paypal, but for now, just email me at gwennmitchell@cox.net and I will get your order right out to you. Thank you!

Remember, April 15th is the last day to order your lia sophia items. Don't miss the great buy two get one free sale they are having.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Great Potato Peeling Tip!

Is anyone out there old enough to remember Dawn Wells? You know, the American actress, who's best known for playing Mary Ann Summers on the sitcom Gilligan's Island from 1964 until 1967. She was the one that always tried to get the professor's attention, but continuously lost out to the glamorous movie star, Ginger Grant, played by Tina Louise.

I used to love that show as a kid and would watch the reruns whenever I could, after all I was just a baby in the 60s. LOL! Anyway, if you haven’t seen her potato peeling video already, you've got to check it out. My mother found it on YouTube and sent it me. Had I only known this trick years ago, my Thanksgiving dinners would have had more potatoes served.

So, if you're reading this mom. You are reading my blog, aren't you mom? Your mom has to at least read your blog, even if no one else is, doesn't she? Thanks for sending this video!

Oh, and if you have other ideas on how to peel a potato, you can enter the Idaho potato contest! The instructions are at the end of the video. Be sure to let me know if you win!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A Gift from ~ The Gift Closet

Today’s giveaway comes from my new friend and blogger, Heather from The Gift Closet. The Gift Closet offers awesome giveaways, reviews, tips and recipes.

Heather is offering one lucky Spoutin’Out reader a chance to win a Soy Linen & Body Spray, specially formulated to refresh your body and linens with natural soybean proteins and a touch of soybean oil. The natural ingredients will refresh, soothe and add calmness to your life.

As a Body Spray: Soy protein adds nutrients to your skin without harmful chemicals or by-products. It contains more than 17 types of free amino acids, which help to build, maintain and repair the body. Amino acids have also been found to assist with cell regeneration and minimizing wrinkles.

As a Linen Spray: Soy protein adds strength to your best linens without any harmful chemicals or by-products. This spray will not stain or color your linens and adds a wonderful aroma to improve sleep and add calmness to your life. You can also spray your closest to bring new life to your stored linens or use as a room spray.

Heather has become a wonderful “blogger friend” and was my inspiration in starting Spoutin’Out. She held my “virtual hand” from start to finish…although blogs are never really finished. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to have met Heather and adore her blog.

Be sure to stop by The Gift Closet and enter her many great giveaways, you’ll be glad you did! But, before you go, be sure to submit your entry here to win her Soy Linen & Body Spray!

How to Win:
1. Leave a comment here and be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.Blogger Newbies: To leave a comment click on the word "comments" in caps below. There is a "comment" section after every blog post. Comment under the post(s) you are interested in.

2. For an EXTRA entry, email 3 people about this contest and cc: me on it. Then, come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know which one of Heather’s wonderful scents you’d like.

Contest ends Wednesday 4/22/09 @ midnight & is open to US residents only.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Haley & Maddy’s homemade treats!

I’d like to introduce you to my friend Christine and share her story with you. Christine and her husband own two retrievers, Haley, 12 and Maddy, 2. One day, they noticed that Haley, who normally eats everything, including lettuce, celery and green peppers, was not eating much at all and they began to worry.

After several unsuccessful attempts to get Haley to eat, Christine turned to the internet for help and hopefully, a solution. After researching many ideas and reading dozens of websites, Christine decided that they best way to get Haley to eat would be to make the food herself. After all, who knew better what Haley liked?

Today, Christine has turned to making her dog food at home. Although it takes more time than buying it at the store, it has health benefits that far outweigh the cost. Christine’s dog food is a well balanced diet, containing the daily amount of nutrients, fat, protein, carbohydrate and veggies a dog needs and if you are smart in your shopping, the money will be comparable to what you're spending on the store bought food.

Taking care of your dog is a lifelong project. Make sure that you are giving them the proper nutrition. There are so many ways to make homemade dog food and treats. Just Google "homemade dog food" and "Voila" the results pour in!

Look at Christine’s adorable dog treats!


Monday, April 13, 2009

Talk about recycling

First, I would like to announce Gloria as the lucky winner of Spoutin' Out's first giveaway!

Congratulations Gloria and thank you for posting your comment. Be sure to keep reading Spoutin’ Out for more fun giveaways!

In my never ending search to find a deal, I stumbled upon this unique webstite (at least to me) called Swapstyle and would like to share it with you. Swapstyle is a place for women from around the world to swap fashion, cosmetics, shoes, books, ideas, style tips and more!

The entire site appears to be based on trust and friendship. Members are not required to put down any money other than the cost of postage and handling to perform the physical swap. It looks easy enough to swap your items, but I haven’t done it yet myself, so I can't say for sure.

The site also has a swap school section on the website that explains how to start. When you get there, you can also watch a video of how to do everything from swapping, to how to use the Style Diary and blog. Like ebay, once you have swapped with someone you can leave feedback to let other swappers know about your experience and in the future decide whether a member is trustworthy or not.

I plan to try this site out. My daughter has a lot of dresses she'll never wear again and I am dying to know how this site works! If you’ve used it before, let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter Everyone!


Although the bunnies are cute, we all know what Easter is really about.

Happy Easter and God Bless all us bloggers.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Spring Fever

In May we are going to my brother’s wedding in Rhode Island. In June we are going to my niece’s wedding in Florida (combining it with a trip to Disney). In July we are going to the Jersey shore and by August we will be broke.

Tough economy to be going to weddings and taking vacations, but I wouldn’t miss the weddings for the world and hey, the Jersey shore is so fun!

Anyway, like me, I am sure you all have many special occasions to attend this summer and having to buy several different dresses for several different occasions for both you and your teen can get expensive. Since I like sharing great deals, I want to share this one with you. It’s a great site for affordable fashions.

Friday, April 10, 2009

lia sophia - Buy two get one 1/2 price sale

Win $10.00 off on an already great ~ Buy two get one 1/2 price sale!

lia sophia is not only becoming increasingly popular with us “common folk,” but it’s also making a splash with celebs such as Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy and Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewive. Even Miley Cyrus of Hannah Montana and Audrina Patridge of The Hills are singing its praises.

I recently called Gayle, my lia sophia rep to purchase this “Gotta have it” neck lace (upper right) when it occurred to me that my readers would love this lia sophia deal too!

So, Gayle is offering one lucky Spoutin’Out reader an additional $10.00 off the already fabulous buy two get one half-price sale.

Better yet ~ the half-price item can be the most expensive item you purchase. Where else can you get a deal like that?

How to win:

1. Click here to check out the latest lia sophia fashions.

2. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know the catalog name and the item number of your selection. Be sure to leave your address if it’s not on your profile. You can email me separately if you’d prefer.

Blogger Newbies: To leave a comment click on the word "comments" in caps below. There is a "comment" section after every blog post. Comment under the post(s) you are interested in.

3. For an EXTRA entry, email 3 people telling them about Spoutin’Out, then come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know you did so.

Contest ends Friday, 4/17/09 @ midnight & is open to US & Canada residents only.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Texting ~ Helpful or Harmful?

The average number of monthly texts for a 13- to 17-year-old teen is 1,742, according to a Nielsen study of cellphone usage. Yikes! That is a lot of texting, but I think it’s even higher!

At a brown-bag lunch at George Mason University, Peter Pober, who teaches communications, said that texting is turning us into “sound bite thinkers” and told faculty members that for best results, they should limit their sentences to eight words (about ½ the length before texting) during lectures.

Parents and educators are grappling with similar concerns as text messaging has exploded among our teens and tweens.

As a parent with two teens, I can attest that cell phones and text messaging, have become an integral part of teenager’s lives. Teens use their cell phones for text messaging more than calls and tend to text constantly day and night.

As much as I too struggle with the teen cell phone dilemma that surrounds us, I don’t think it’s all bad. Text messaging helps kids connect with their peers, which is crucial for that age group. Texting is teaching teens to be comfortable with technology in a way that will be important for their future. It can teach multitasking, and helps kids become more comfortable with using the written word.

Personally, my two teens have cell phones because Mom needs a security blanket. I love that I can call them and they can call me when they need help, to tell me they are running late or changing plans.

I am not saying it’s all good. There are many reasons to be concern:

· Constant text messaging interferes with normal conversation and interactions
· There’s a fine line between multitasking and distraction
· They may be writing, but it’s hardly quality stuff
· Text messaging can interfere with sleep
· Loss of independence as parents are only a phone call away when a problem occurs
· Text messaging while driving, which is extraordinarily dangerous, is becoming more common
· Text messaging can be used for bullying and harassment
· Text messages can be easily forwarded, leading to wide distribution of messages and pictures that are personal or embarrassing

Since texting is such a new phenomenon, it’s too early to tell exactly when it crosses the line between helpful and harmful, so for now, I am a huge supporter!

Parents ~ Keep your teens safe. Talk to them, set limits and monitor.

Teens ~ Keep your parents happy. Put down your phone while you’re doing homework, don’t text when you’re with other people, don’t text after lights out at night and most importantly, don’t text and drive!


Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul!

Contest ends Thursday 4/14/09 @ midnight & is open to US residents only.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Gluten Free Dessert

Ever since my sister-in-law and niece were diagnosed with celiac disease, I have vowed to make them something special at family gatherings, but to this day, I have not. So, to repent for my sins, after all it is the Easter season, I have decided to post a special dessert for those who have celiac and have a hard time finding good things to eat.

If you don't know what Celiac is ~ it is a genetic disease of the digestive system that's triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, as well as rye and barley. Parents sometimes use the words allergy or intolerance to help other people (like me) understand celiac disease, but it's actually an autoimmune disease and not an allergy.

When a child with celiac disease eats foods containing gluten, their immune system attacks the lining of their small intestine so that they are unable to absorb all the nutrients in food. As a result, they may stop growing, become malnourished, and develop a variety of other consequences. To learn more about celiac click here, to learn how to make this awesome looking cheescake keep reading.

Very Berry Cheesecake



Ingredients:

For crust:4 gf cookies or biscotti, 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil


For filling:4 ounces gf cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar, 2 cups gf cottage cheese, blended in a food processor until smooth, 1/2 cup plain gf yogurt, 1/3 cup corn starch, 2 large eggs, 3 large egg whites, 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 cups fresh berries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.1/4 cup red currant jelly

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Lightly oil a 9" springform pan or a solid 1" fluted bake dish.

Break cookies into pieces and place in a food processor. Pulse until finely ground. Add oil and pulse until blended.

Press crumbs evenly into bottom of prepared pan.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.

Add sugar and beat until smooth. Add cottage cheese, yogurt, corn starch, eggs, egg whites, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt. Beat until well blended.

Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Turn off heat and let cheese cake sit in oven with door ajar for 1 hour. If using a springform pan, transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. If using a solid dish, let cool completely in dish. Arrange berries on top.

In a small saucepan, warm jelly over low heat until melted. With a pastry brush, coat berries with jelly glaze. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate. Serves 12.


Tips: This is one tip I will be using!
You may also use "Pamela’s Butter Shortbread Cookies" to make the crust. Click here for more of Pamela’s products.


Looks yummy! Now, lets see if I can make it.