Spring Is Coming! Time To Start Shaving Our Legs Again

No more bending, stretching or wobbling when shaving in showers thanks to Giraffe Razor Extension

Never again risk slipping, falling or bending awkwardly in the shower when shaving with the Giraffe Razor Extension. Shaving just got easier — especially for expectant moms, women with arthritis, back pain or just with a small bath space — with the Giraffe Razor Extension Handle that will extend any razor an additional 15-20 inches of length!

The Giraffe Razor Extension has been featured on the Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda during the "Bobbie's Buzz" segment, when style editor Bobbie Thomas was pregnant — and she loved the Giraffe for saving her when shaving!

The patented razor extension handle keeps women’s feet safely on the floor:

• Pivoting head rotates to different angles for hard-to-reach areas
• Features two universal razor attachments that securely locks razors into place
• Works with almost every reusable and disposable razor
• No-slip grip with rubberized finish and quick connect and release buttons

The 411:

I have friends who say they never shave in the cold months. I don't know if it is because  they are not showing their legs or because they need the additional insulation during the winter months but I always shave. If I didn't I would totally have man legs. However there were times that I couldn't shave my legs due to medical issues like surgery or pregnancy. Oh those were some long annoying weeks for me.  

The Giraffe would have made all the difference and oh how I wish I had it back then.

With the Giraffe which comes with the long extension arm and two different size attachments to fit your razors. These attachments are both adjustable so there shouldn't be any razor that can't be used. 

It is so easy to use. Press the button on the attachment and insert your favorite razor. Close the button which engages the clamp which will  hold your razor steady and secure. There is also a button (purple) in the middle of the Giraffe which allows you to angle the razor to wherever you need it.

I believe the Giraffe will help many with back problems, arthritis and other medical or flexibility issues so you can reach those hard to reach places. I recall a time during the last weeks of my pregnancy where I couldn't reach my ankles so the leg was clean except the last two inches. Craziness!

To purchase the Giraffe is available for $29.99 on Amazon.com or Giraffebathandbody.com.

Ex-firefighter and paramedic James Smith and his wife Kathryn, a registered nurse, co-founded Giraffe Bath & Body and were inspired to develop a shaving accessory that would assist women with varying physical abilities to shave their legs safely and comfortably. Today, emails and phone calls pour in thanking the couple for making lives easier and giving women back their independence.

Three Parenting Strategies That Can Make Your Child Healthier And Happier

Raising a child can be one of the most exciting and rewarding tasks that you undertake as an adult. In most cases, the parent's primary concern and perceived role is to nurture and guide the child in a manner that promotes her or his health and happiness. If this is your parenting objective, it's time to find techniques that will help ensure that your child is well-adjusted. Here are three parenting techniques that can help you make it happen:

1. Optimize Your Child's Living Space.

Environment is influential in key factors such as mood and productivity. As such, parents who want their children to be exceptionally healthy and happy should take the time to optimize their living space. There are several ways you can make it happen, such as by replacing artificial lighting with streaming beams of light from the sun. This can give your child's room an organic glow while simultaneously enabling her or his body to produce the vitamin D it needs to function optimally. You can attain professional assistance in the room optimization process by working with a home renovation contractor provided by companies like Renovation Expert.

2. Utilize Diet Optimization Strategies.
  
There's no time like youth to start teaching your child how to eat properly. In many cases, the eating habits developed during childhood remain with your young girl or boy for life. For this reason and many more, you should begin talking to your child about good nutrition as soon as they are able to comprehend the concepts you convey. Also be sure that you are modelling good nutritional habits by consistently eating an optimal diet. Put good food like fresh fruits and vegetables in conspicuous places throughout the house. Also take time to pack your child's lunch for school so you don't have to worry about whether they're consuming a fat and salt-laden tray of food from the cafeteria.

3. Talk About Peer Pressure.

One of the most challenging realities that children have to grapple with in their youth is peer pressure. During the very same time period during which children are attempting to develop a strong sense of independence and identity, they are simultaneously faced with the task of creating social networks. In many cases, children begin engaging in lackluster behaviors in order to gain the approval of their peers or entry into a specific group. Remember to have open, honest conversations with your child about what peer pressure is and how to effectively respond to it. This can help prevent your child from engaging in psychologically and physically debilitating activities.

Don't Delay: Start Optimizing Your Child's Life Today

If you're serious about raising a healthy, happy child, now is the time to begin. Get started now by implementing the parenting strategies outlined above!

This Candle Is Making Me Hungry #‎amazonsugarcreekcandles‬

Who knew a candle could make me crave a candy I don't even like?

Sugar Creek Candles come in all kinds of scents and colors. Last week I received a purple one called Jelly Bean. It is a purple candle inside a thick glass container with a lid. Upon opening the lid you immediately smell the sweet aroma but it isn't a gross, overly fake, sweet smell. It is pleasant and enticing which probably has something to do with the wild cherry, ripe peach and tangy strawberry with a hints of cinnamon and cherry with undertones of vanilla and musk. It is the perfect combination.

Ever since my Handsome was a toddler I always buy soy candles because they produce no soot. I remember seeing Handsome after a party. There was a candle above the TV burning and when I finally picked him up to change him for the night I noticed black around his nose area. He had been very interested in the candle all night and stayed below the TV trying to see it. I was shocked. I didn't know candle burning released so much carbon. It was the last time I burned  candle that wasn't vegetable based. Soy also lasts way longer than paraffin candles.

Goddess tells me this is the best candle she has ever smelled and asked that when not burning we keep it in her room by her bed so she can smell it when she goes to sleep and wakes up.

I can't wait to try their other scents. We are definitely new fans.

There are so many scents to choose from. Check out Sugar Creek Candles the next time you are searching for candles.

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinions. The opinions are 100% mine and I will never say I like a product if I don't. I have no problem stating when a product has a problem.

$100 Teleflora Gift Certificate #giveaway

Welcome to the Teleflora Love Note Concierge

$100 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Hosted by: Michigan Saving and More

Supported by Maria's Space

Sponsor: Teleflora

Ends 2/10

Thank you to all the great bloggers that are helping promote this giveaway!!

This gift certificate expires on February 14, 2016!

Teleflora Love Note Concierge starts February 3rd!

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from any of the sponsors in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the Continental United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 2/10/16. The winners will have 24 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com.

Entry-Form

Art By Pre-Teens Makes Me Smile

I work as a Teacher's Assist and the other day I passed these gorgeous photos in the hallway that I just couldn't pass up. Kids are just so talented these days.  There isn't a favorite in the bunch! They are all amazing, colorful and definitely show talent.

For more red photos visit Ruby Tuesday Too

Our World Is Pretty White

This is the only photo I got of the storm on Saturday.  A few years ago I would have taken about 20 photos of the snow and then another 100 of the kids playing in it. They were out in it but I didn't go. I now find it sad how my life has changed over the past 4 years. One life changing moment that didn't break me but definitely bent me has altered my everything and sometimes just doing the norm and not sobbing anymore takes all my energy.

Did you have snow where you are this past weekend? We ended up with about a foot and a half.

 

For more photos around the globe visit Our World

V.C. Andrews My Sweet Audrina

WINTER PRELUDE TO A SUMMER FLING!

 New York Times bestselling author of Flowers in the Attic…

MY SWEET AUDRINA

V.C. Andrews®

ISBN: 9781501138843

$7.99

About MY SWEET AUDRINA:

MY SWEET AUDRINA by V.C. Andrews® has been called “beautifully written, macabre, and thoroughly nasty” (Daily Express) and is the perfect winter prelude to Lifetime’s debut on January 9^th, 2016 as well as the new sequel  Whitefern (July 2016)—the summer fling to satisfy your hunger for more!

THE IDEA OF HER SISTER HOVERED ABOVE THEM ALL

Audrina fiercely desired to be as good as her sister. She knew her father could not love her as he loved that other girl, for her sister was so special, so perfect—and dead. Upstairs in a locked room awaited her sister’s clothes and dolls, her animals and games—and her sacred rocking chair. Now Audrina will rock and rock and rock to reclaim all her gone sister’s special gifts. And then finally she’ll learn the secrets everyone else knows but her.

One of the most popular storytellers of all time, V.C. Andrews layers psychological suspense with sheer terror in MY SWEET AUDRINA, a provocative thriller of family gone wrong.

About V.C. Andrews®:

V.C. Andrews^® has been a bestselling phenomenon since the publication of her classic Flowers in the Attic. That blockbuster novel began her renowned Dollanganger family saga, which includes Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. Since then, readers have been captivated by more than seventy novels in V.C. Andrews’s bestselling series. V.C. Andrews’s novels have sold more than 106 million copies.

The 411: 

I am midway done with My Sweet Audrina and it is everything a VC Andrews book should be. Audrina was written in the 80s by V.C. Andrews is was not a sage series as her other books but stands alone. Audrina lives in the shadow of a sister she doesn't know. The first and better Audrina according to Audrina. Her father makes her rock in her dead sister's rocking chair to hopefully get all the gifts the first Audrina possessed. It is a lot for a little girl with a bad memory to deal with especially when you don't know your real age, never celebrate birthdays, never attend school, have friends, live with a cousin who makes life more miserable and parents who argue and fight.  Audrina is never to go into the wood alas she meet with the mystery fate of her sister Audrina.

This is a great read. I read it many, many moons ago and I am so excited it was made into a Lifetime movie.

Check it out here. http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/my-sweet-audrina

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered. All opinions are mine.

Don't Become the Next Identity Theft Victim

  

Whether you have some extra money to play with or funds are very tight these days, the one thing you don’t need coming into your life is identity theft.

Unfortunately, countless Americans end up finding themselves victims of identity theft. When that happens, their worlds can be turned upside down, leaving their financial lives in precarious situations.

With that in mind, there are ways you can lessen the odds that you and/or a loved one will become a victim of identity theft, allowing you to sleep a little better at night and not worry about your financial future.

Be Cautious and Be Smart

In order to stay one step ahead of identity theft criminals, remember these tips:

·         Loose lips sink ships – Be very careful when it comes to giving out personal information such as credit card numbers, PINS, Social Security account information and other such sensitive information. It just takes one misstep to throw your life into financial upheaval, sometimes a problem so bad that it can be hard to financially recover from. Even though you likely trust family members and others very close to you, be just as careful giving them any personal account information. While they’re likely not going to be malicious with it, they could have the data on a piece of paper etc. and lose it or have it stolen just as easily as you could;

·         Educate yourself – It is also important to educate yourself on how to protect your important data, what thieves look for, and what the financial implications of losing just one credit card or other important personal item can be. You can use sites such as itpbureau.com or others like them to learn all you need to know about identity theft and why you need to avoid it at all costs. When you’re better educated about the ramifications from identity theft, you are better prepared to not only recover from it should it happen to you, but also better prevent it from happening in the first place;

·         Avoid leaving a trail – One of the worst things you can do is leaving a paper trail for the entire world to see. Keep in mind that identity thieves will oftentimes “pay” others to find out information about you. For example, say you take your credit card receipts (including those that have a copy of your signature on them from a restaurant etc.) and just dump them in the outdoor trash can, not having properly shredded them. Someone comes along (perhaps a homeless person) and digs them out of the trash bag, then passes them on to an identity thief. In return, the thief pays off the person who gave them the financial information. Now financial data that you didn’t want anyone else to have is in the hands of someone with ill intent towards you;

·         Don’t fall for scams – Another ploy to keep an eye out for is a financial scam. If you get a call, email or letter from someone (oftentimes they will pose as a business you are familiar with) claiming to represent this or that business, do not give out personal information like a Social Security number, PIN etc. Always make sure you can properly identify any entity asking for personal details about your finances, allowing you to avoid falling into a trap.

With all there is to lose in becoming an identity theft victim, practice sound financial decisions when it comes to your personal information.

Yes My Heart Is Blue But It Is Stunning

Reviewing products is what takes up most of my week. I have friends who love checking out my reviews and others who are dying to learn how to do this too. It is not something to go into lightly and it does take time to get products worth reviewing.

When you are a product reviewer there are many steps to getting the products and crossing them off your To Do List.

• There is a ton of emails to get through.
• Make sure the product came in.
• Break the box down and get it ready for recycling.
• Take photos of it before I open it.
• Use the product.
• Show my friends and ask them what they think about the product
• Take more photos or even do a video.
• Research the product
• Write about the product
• Post the product in numerous sites Amazon, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and other places.
• Send the links over to the company that sent me the product and make sure they received they email.

Sometimes it is fast and other times a grueling task that seems to never end. I love when I can cross a product of my To Do List that is always being updated and hangs in front of my face.

This review is something that was far from grueling. It is gorgeous and I can't stop taking photos.

Isn't it stunning?!

I love wearing it and everyone who sees it loves it too!

To Order one for yourself, visit the link below. I know there is a red heart in the photo but this is for the blue heart. I promise. It is the link I used to order and if you check the description you will note the blue details.

Your Guide to Buying and Wearing Birthstones

Birthstones can make for a great personal gift on just about any special occasion. These gorgeous gems are steeped in history and as a result hold quite a bit of intrigue for many people for both their aesthetic properties in addition to their supposed mystical powers. This guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of birthstones while also offering some great tips on incorporating these items into your jewelry collection.

The History of Birthstones

Since ancient times, people have ascribed specific gemstones with deeper meaning. In many cultures, gemstones were thought to contain healing or other beneficial properties, such as providing the wearer with good fortune or improved health. Birthstones in particular have a rich historical background in a number of different cultures.

Birthstones as they are understood today are closely linked to a biblical system devised by a first century historian who claimed that the 12 stones contained within a sacred breastplate corresponded to the 12 months in a year. This claim was met by some confusion, as there were multiple interpretations of texts and translations. At some point, birthstones were designated to their respective months in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Jewelry Options When Buying Birthstones

Virtually any item of jewelry can be fitted with a birthstone of your choosing. In most cases, finding the right jewelry piece is largely a matter of taste, with some women preferring a statement piece and others opting for subtler jewelry suited to everyday wear.

Rings are a popular way to show off your birthstone, as these pieces can make use of relatively few materials and simplified settings. Necklaces are another great option thanks to their visibility, while charm bracelets are a fun way to continually add to your piece with many meaningful additions. For something truly special, consider incorporating your birthstone into a bangle or a pair of gorgeous earrings.

Milano garnet earrings

How to Wear Your Birthstone

Once you’ve determined your birthstone and settled on which type of jewelry you prefer, you can then decide just how you’d like to wear your new piece. Using garnet as an example, this January birthstone comes in a surprising variety of colors outside of the standard deep red hue (known as almandine) so many are accustomed to. There are also pink garnets, which are mostly colorless save for the smattering of color provided by almandine components, orange garnets, and even color-change garnets.

To this end, the type of garnet you choose will be integral in coordinating your stone with your wardrobe. Darker colors (like the classic red) work well with a dramatic silhouette comprised of stark clothing, such as basic black or white, while an orange-hued garnet might be a good match for earthier tones. Experimenting with different color schemes will help you establish ideal matches, no matter the birthstone in question.

Whether you are seeking a memorable gift or are looking for something special for yourself, jewelry emblazoned with birthstones can be just the thing.