Strange Daze Indeed

Sometimes I think I didn’t get the shopping gene, the one that makes you want to run to every sale and shop at every opportunity. I find this is true mostly when shopping for myself. I hate to go from store to store, and, although I find it somewhat easy to pick up casual clothes when needed, whenever I need a dress I just simply can’t find the right one. Very frustrating!

Recently I was invited to a dinner party and wanted to wear a dress that would express my personality and flatter me, so I began doing research online. I’m much happier shopping online from the comfort of my home where I find that the whole day hasn’t somehow magically disappeared like it does at the shopping mall.

I didn’t want to break the bank or freak out at the prices, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that DressFirst, a leading wedding dress company, has introduced a great collection of cocktail dresses that are affordable and fashionable. They are constantly releasing new designs that incorporate personality, quality and style. Just what I was looking for.

Here are a few that I am looking at:

This Sheath V-neck Short/Mini Tulle Charmeuse Cocktail Dress With Lace Beading comes in a variety of sizes and more colors than one usually finds.

I also love this next Sheath dress and feel that it makes a statement (and it’s on sale for $130.99).

Sheath, One-Shoulder Short Mini-Chiffon Cocktail Dress with Ruffle Beading

DressFirst features various collections of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, and evening dresses along with matching accessories and shoes. I plan to share this with quite a few friends who are looking for high quality and the latest styles at affordable prices for themselves and their daughters.

This is one of my favorite jewelry sets at a very reasonable price ($24.69):

So, let me re-evaluate here. It’s not really the shopping I dislike. It’s the dragging myself from store to store and not finding anything, then coming home only to collapse in exhaustion. And after that, it’s time to come up with something for dinner. Not fun!

With DressFirst, I’m happy at home, excited about what I’ve found for that special occasion and still full of energy to enjoy the day.

Maybe I do have that shopping gene after all, because I’m thrilled when I find something just right for myself, family or friends. I think I’ve just been dragged around in too many futile pursuits!

My DVR is seriously pissed off at me. I’ve been so busy the past month that I haven’t been paying attention to it and now it’s full, bloated and surly!

How in the world will I be able to record the new and returning Fall shows: The Voice, Survivor: Blood & Water, The Amazing Race, Revenge, Parenthood, The Blacklist and more. I suppose I could just give up TV, but, then again, no.

What are you looking forward to watching this Fall? And do you find you have the time or is your DVR full as well?

One of my dreams has always been to be a graphic designer for t-shirts. I’ve bought some of my favorite and most cherished designs online for myself, family and friends.

In my journeys online, I’ve recently discovered Teespring. Teespring is a very cool crowdfunding platform for groups, communities and causes to design and sell custom apparel. The seller keeps the profit from the shirt so you can use Teespring as a fundraising tool or to earn some extra money.

Anyone can engage with the site and design a shirt to sell via Facebook, Twitter or anyplace else online.

I have a very cool Facebook group with friends I’ve known for years. We are like family. It would be a blast to design a shirt for our group.

Basically, Teespring does most of the heavy lifting for you! The best part is that the shirts don’t print and ship until a date determined by the seller. This ensures that you have to pay nothing upfront, have basically no risk and don’t have to deal with the right number of shirts to order.

You can have some fun and check out the designer if you go to teespring.com/design. You can upload your own art or work with their extensive library of over 10,000 pieces of art and more than 50 fonts.

The following are some awesome examples of what people have done on Teespring:

A couple sold this “Love makes a family shirt” to raise money to adopt.

Here’s another one which included children’s and toddler’s shirts to help raise money for an 11-year-old to sing in a children’s choir in Hungary. 

And, since I live in the Boston area, this shirt is particularly dear to my heart and raised over 85k for Boston relief.

Why not have shirts that mean something to you personally and that you can be proud to sell and wear? I’m looking forward to designing a shirt and fulfilling one of my dreams. What might Teespring do for you?

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, however all the opinions herein are strictly my own.

I love watching funny commercials and now the Kia Hamsters are back to introduce the new 2014 Soul! Being a fan of their antics, I was intrigued to see what they’d got up to now and this is one of my favorites! I love the music by Lady GaGa and the transformation.

2014 Soul! shown. Expected Fall 2013

Some of my favorite parts are their work-out shirts, the one who is trying to be oh-so-suave on the treadmill to pick up chicks and falls on his face as well as their beauty regime. But, the icing on the cake is most definitely the total transformation as they go from dumpy to debonair!

What is your favorite part of the new Kia Hamsters commercial? 

Enter below to win a $25 iTunes Card to celebrate the new 2014 Kia Soul! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I have been compensated for this post. However, all opionions are completely my own. 

For example, when my Mom came home from physical rehabilitation after a bad fall, we bought new sheets, blankets and a comforter for her room. It was amazing how much that purple lilac comforter brightened up the whole room and her spirit when she saw it.

I also try to follow feng shui principles such as using soothing colors and lighting in the bedroom for calm and relaxation. An attractive and well-balanced bed is very important in creating a perfect feng shui bedroom as well as not having the bed in a direct line with the door.

Lately I’ve been researching Bedroom decorating ideas since usually that is my favorite room and sanctuary. I especially want a new quilt, sham and pillows as I feel that is the centerpiece.

Here is something I’m considering:

Wandering Vine Chenille Bedding from the Lakeside Collection

My style has always been a bit eclectic, however I do like to keep a flow going throughout the different rooms. I try to keep all hallways clear and leave space so that rooms don’t look cramped.

One thing I’ve been working on lately is clearing up the clutter. It’s amazing what a difference that makes. Sometimes, I’d wonder looking at particularly neat homes, don’t they have “stuff”?

But, I’ve found it’s really a matter of putting things away and creating storage space which really opens up your rooms. You can even incorporate your design theme into accessories used for organization like displaying books in neat stacks on bookcases, end tables or wall shelves.

Using colorful themed kitchen accessories for organizing kitchen gadgets can add character to your countertops.

I have way too much paperwork, so I’m looking at this file cabinet which does not look at all like my usual idea of one and fits right in with my furniture.

Lakeside Collection

A beautiful piece of artwork, a colorful throw rug, and warm lighting can be just the accents you need to really make your house feel like a true home.

Personalized Street Scene Wall Art – Lakeside Collection

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.

Sometimes I wonder why most of us never talk about our bathroom routine. I mean, everybody has one and it’s perfectly natural, but no one really discusses it.

If you have children or have taken care of children, I’m sure you’ve used baby wipes. The idea of cleaning your child without them seems crazy and they are so incredibly effective. So, why are we, as adults, different? The truth is we’re not.

I, myself, love to feel clean. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of just getting out of the shower and toweling off then getting in fresh sheets and going to sleep. It just seems to me to be a natural process to want to have that clean feeling last throughout the day. People talk about deodorant, nothing embrarrassing about that. So, let’s bring awareness not just to our armpits, but also to our bums!

I, myself, am pleased to have discovered Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths as they make my bum happy! In fact, everyone in my house is happier now that we use them and they are, by far, my favorite brand. Super-soft and fresh-smelling, they are now a standard in our home. I find that I use them for other things as well like wiping messy hands or cooling the back of my neck on a humid summer day.

Let’s say you’re cleaning up your car and find a sticky peanut butter sandwich that has wedged between the seat (yes it has happened to me!). Using a paper towel, just doesn’t do the job. This is why I also have these cleansing cloths in my car. They also come in soft packs that fit in a pocket or purse. And, by applying the same principle to our bums, why use only toilet paper alone when you can feel so much cleaner.
 
In our bathrooms, we now have Cottonelle Ultra Comfort Care Toilet Paper and a dispenser of Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths. I also keep convenient refills handy.

In the past, we’ve had those tubs that are kind of ugly, but, Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths are now available in a sleek, newly designed, upright dispenser – making it easier for everyone to enjoy the clean and fresh feeling of the Cottonelle Care Routine. And they look pretty cool and modern as well. Once you’ve tried them, it’s hard to be without them. And, really, why would you want to?

London-based immersive journalist Cherry Healey is partnering with Cottonelle to encourage consumers to open up about their bathroom behaviors and “makeover” their old toileting habits. Cottonelle wants everyone to be talking about their bums and develop a better bathroom routine! You can visit Cottonelle on Facebook to talk with Cherry and others about the Cottonelle Care Routine and then try it for yourself.

Nothing leaves you feeling cleaner and and that makes every day a fresher one.

What are your thoughts and how do you feel about the new Cottonelle Care Routine? 

Conversation  opens up new avenues and we often realize that though the particulars may vary, we’re all more alike than we know.

Cottonelle wants to get you talking about your bum and on a better way to clean “down there” by using the Cottonelle Clean Routine. By combining the use of Cottonelle Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths, the Cottonelle Clean Routine is a revolutionary way to keep your bum cleaner.

Are you ready? Don’t be shy! Visit Cottonelle on Facebook to learn more about the Cottonelle Clean Routine and join the clean routine conversation.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.

JUST ARRIVED TODAY!

For Baby, Toddlers or PreSchool Children

Today, August 22, marks the launch of the new educational game app, 5 Little monkeys, by Kid’s Academy, a creator of educational children’s mobile apps. Kid’s Academy has received many positive accolades and were top rated by Children’s Technology and Parent Reviews.

The popular nursery rhyme 5 Little Monkeys will be available as a universal iOS app for iPhone, iPad and iPod so that you can take it with you anywhere you go or your children can enjoy it anytime at home.

Nursery rhymes are a blast for kids, but they also have great educational value.

“Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.” [Fox,M.(2001) Reading Magic, San Diego, CA: Harcourt]

I find it quite amazing that I still remember nursery rhymes my Mom taught me when I was a wee babe. Not just the standard ones, either, but “Dr Foster Went To Gloucester” and “There once were two cats from Kilkenny”. To this day, many years later, I can still recite them perfectly – which astonishes me, because sometimes I can’t remember where I put my keys a half hour ago!

In any event, apparently they did have a very positive effect on me because they contributed to my reading at a very early age. I was asked by the teacher to read “Make Way For Ducklings” to my kindergarten class. It’s funny the things you remember.

Nursery rhymes help with language, cognitive and physical development and this app aims to help parents teach their children counting and language skills while sharing this beloved rhyme with beautiful graphics and pleasing sounds.

The graphics are high resolution, colorful and bright. The song is extremely catchy and easy to learn.

We begin with five adorably dressed monkeys jumping in the lush jungle. Bananas hang overhead and as your child interacts with them, they drop one by one from their bunch. There is a lovely lantern which chimes when touched as fireflies fill the air.

Soon Mama Monkey comes out to “call the doctor” about the “monkeys jumping on the bed”. This Mama has rollers in her hair and a banana for a phone and she’s calling Dr. Rhinoceros. It’s incredibly cute.

The repetitious quality of the nursery rhyme helps kids develop vital cognitive skills including memorization, reasoning and comprehension. Additionally, nursery rhyme singing helps kids to learn pitch control, volume, and voice inflection.

This app combines humor, fun and learning in a simple but brilliant way that will provide a great educational foundation for your younger children.  When learning is this enjoyable, don’t be surprised to find your little monkeys entranced with this fun-filled sing-a-long. 

Features

One great thing about snacking is discovering new and delicious treats. Now, just in time for back-to-school lunchboxes, or after class, Sara Lee, an American classic, is introducing a variety of pre-portioned delicious snack cakes.

Baked fresh, to go, they come in mouthwatering flavors. The introductory line of Sara Lee Crème Filled Snack Cakes includes Devil’s Food Crème Cakes, Golden Fudge Cakes, Chocolate Crème Cupcakes and Golden Crème Cakes, with more on the way.

I got a chance to sample them and they are truly delightful. Individually wrapped, and just the right size for a treat, they taste moist and fresh. My first favorite were the chocolate creme cupcakes. What can I say I’m a chocolate and cupcake lover and they had great flavor!

I also loved the individual crumb coffee cakes. Those would be perfect to serve if you have friends over for coffee or tea. Buttery and soft with a delicious cinnamon scent and taste, they really melt in your mouth.

These snacks are incredibly convenient and so easy to pop into a lunch or just grab a box when your children bring home friends (that is if you’ve left any for them!).

Seriously delicious! The next best thing to baking them yourself.

Sara Lee is generously offering one of my readers a back-to-school pack. We received one and it’s very cool!

• An official Sara Lee logoed lunch box
• An official Sara Lee logoed water bottle
• 2 full-sized boxes of Snack Cakes 

Just enter via Rafflecopter below. Good luck and Happy Snacking!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate my review however all opinions are strictly mine.

I love shopping, but I don’t love standing in line, crowds or dealing with nasty weather. To be honest, life is so busy lately that time is at a premium.

However, I just love browsing online for gifts for friends, new products for myself and my family and those neverending necessities. Whether it’s for back-to-school, redecorating our home, a party or a holiday swap, it’s so much fun for me to check out all the different stores and sales.

But, surely there must be a better method than having a million tabs open and trying to purchase from a myriad of different stores. Shefa Weinstein thought so! She’s a busy mom who had to buy her family a bunch of things from a bunch of stores and thought there had to be a better way… so she invented it. Shopetti lets you shop in multiple stores and check out all in one basket. Now that’s my idea of convenience.

Shefa’s background is in technology and business and she founded and ran a web development company for 12 years before founding Shopetti. She loves her job and doing research shopping online!

Shopetti is in the early beta stages and the site is still being improved. I’m always excited to try new technology and social applications and am waiting for a social part of Shopetti which will be evolving soon. There is also a Shopetti plugin which adds Shopetti to your online experience.

If you are tired of going from store to store, Shopetti aims to help you enjoy shopping again with a shopping experience online that unifies stores.  Their dream is to make a unique mall for each user. You can pick the stores you love and they will all be in one place, allowing you to freely compare items.

Then, you can bring in your friends, the ones you love to confide in, to help you make decisions or to share your items. I have a good friend who has similar taste who I can always count on when I’m stuck about color, style or scent (I’m talking about you Jenna!).

So, check out Shopetti.com and get ready for a new way to enjoy shopping again!

And thanks to Shopetti, you can also enter right here to win a $125 American Express gift card for your very own shopping spree! I know we can all use that!

a Rafflecopter giveaway