THERAFIRM Therapeutic Gradient Compression Hosiery Review & 2 Pair Giveaway 12/01 WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

BELINDA M

I wished I was able to give these away to all those that needed them!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

My oldest works as a cashier and usually complains of foot and leg pain.  She has the support cushions in her shoes and even purchased a higher grade pair of shoes to see if that would help.  When THERAFIRM offered her a chance to try out these graduated compression hosiery, we jumped at a chance.  She received the mild support trouser socks and wore them for a week.

She noted her feet didn't get as hot and sweaty as they did with her other socks which is one of the benefits noted with THERAFIRM Therapeutic Gradient Compression Hosiery.  She also commented that her feet didn't hurt.  She also had no leg pain and perhaps that was due to the hosiery. 

They come in many sizes and colors as well as trouser, knee highs, thigh highs, lace top thigh highs, pantyhose, maternity pantyhose and men's trouser socks.

Another unique feature of THERAFIRM is you pick the level of compression you need or click HERE to read more about it.

THERAFIRMlight

Light Support 10-15 mmHg

THERAFIRM

Mild Support 15-20 mmHg

Moderate Support 20-30 mmHg

Firm Support 30-40 mmHg

Anti-Embolism

Core-Spun by THERAFIRM

Light Support 10-15 mmHg

Mild Support 15-20 mmHg

Moderate Support 20-30 mmHg

Firm Support 30-40 mmHg

The Giveaway:

2 Pairs THERAFIRM Therapeutic Gradient Compression Hosiery

To Enter:

Leave a comment and follow my blog.

Extra Entries:

Follow me on Twitter for 2 comments.
Subscribe to my blog for 2 comments.
Enter one of my other giveaways and leave 2 comments.
Tweet about the giveaway for 2 comments (can be done daily).
Blog about the giveaway for 2 comments.
Vote for me at DivineCaroline (see widget on left side of blog) for 5 comments.


Giveaway ends 12/01/09 at midnight.
Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Good luck!

Are you Preggers? Free Trial Product for Completing Survey

Therafirm™ Hosiery is looking for pregnant women to be a part of their "Preggers" Test Group to help provide insightful feedback and opinions for the development of new products.  Just click here to join.  As part of the test group, you will receive free products to evaluate. The products will be yours to keep. They will also keep you informed of special promotions and new product introductions.

Complete this survey for a free trial product.

More information on Preggers by Therafirm™:

Preggers by Therafirm™ is a unique line of maternity compression products developed by future moms for future moms. We are inviting moms-to-be to try our products and provide opinions on styles, colors, and fit. Our “Preggers Mommas” team will be an integral part of our product and brand development to ensure a full line of healthy products that will benefit you during and post-preggers. Would you like to be part of our test group and receive a free sample product? Simply fill out our brief survey.

What does gradient compression hosiery do?

Compression has often been recommended for use during pregnancy to help energize tired, achy legs and to help reduce and prevent swelling. True gradient compression hosiery delivers a controlled amount of pressure greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases towards the top of the stocking promoting better blood flow to help energize tired legs and feet, improve circulation, and assist in the prevention of swelling. They are also ideal for individuals required to sit or stand for long periods of time.

What is unique about Preggers by Therafirm™ compression products?

Finally, maternity compression products where you, expecting moms, are being heard. No more stigma of the old, “yucky” compression that is available in only a few styles, off-trend colors, is uncomfortable, hard to get on, and expensive. We believe you can wear compression and get the benefits it provides and still be fashionable. We want to you to feel AND look great!

Some lucky mommas out there never experience any of the discomforts of swelling or fatigue during pregnancy. (Lucky you!) But because Preggers is light compression it is ideal for everyday wear. Moms simply appreciate wearing light compression products because they energize tired, achy legs. And what busy mom couldn’t use a little extra energy, improved circulation, and shaping support?

The THERAFIRM® Brand

Want or need a more support? THERAFIRM offers a full line of true gradient compression hosiery in mild, moderate and firm support. With experience of making compression hosiery for more than 50 years, we continue to innovate compression garments. While compression stockings have been around for decades, THERAFIRM compression hosiery products are not "your grandma’s compression stockings". They are made with the most beautiful and comfortable fibers out in the fashion industry today. We use advanced technologies for developing products that are fashionable and comfortable while delivering the health benefits you need. We offer a wide range of advantages including updated shades, sheer yarns and knit pattern texture options, so you can feel good about wearing compression hosiery. Therafirm products are 100% made in the USA in our own manufacturing facilities.

This promotion is intended for participation in the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia ("D.C.") only.

SmartKnit Kids Seamless Socks Review and 3 Pair Giveaway 12/1: WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

CAROL!

An e-mail was just sent to Carol.

Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned for more great giveaways!

Is your little one sensitive to the seams of socks that tend to bunch up or not feel good when they don't put their socks on right?  Mine is and I don't know if it's because of her medical condition or not but she's hypersensitive (diagnosed).  Socks have to feel just right but then come to think of it, I'm the same way.  There is nothing worse than a bunched up sock or a seam that doesn't fit right on the foot.  I was delighted to have an opportunity to review two pairs of SmartKnits Kids Seamless Sensivity Socks. 

SmartKnits Kids Seamless Sensitivity Socks are available in three types of socks:

1. Crew
2. Ankle
3. Knee High

They are also available in white, purple, pink, navy and black.

For this review, I chose the crew length and received both pink and white.  The pink was a nice soft pink and not overbearing.  I had her wear both of them and asked her what she thought:

"I like them. There were no bumps."  I realize the testimony from a six year old may not be overly filled with elation but if I can provide an ounce of comfort in her day, I'm happy to do so even if it's as minor as sock uncomfortable feelings.  If you have a kid that is plagued with this issue, you will definitely appreciate and love these socks!

They are priced at $6.95 of less so they are affordable and they are thicker than normal socks.  They will come in handy during the winter as well.

A little extra, there is a Bugsley's Holiday Contest where you could win a Bugsley's bag of holiday goodies including a wii fit, DVDs and other great products by clicking HERE.

The Giveaway:

3 Pairs SmartKnit Kids Seamless Sensivity Socks!

To Enter:

Leave a comment that you want them and follow my blog.

Extra Entries:

• Sign up for their newsletter.
• Follow SmartKnit Kids on Twitter HERE.
• Become a fan of SmartKnit Kids on Facebook HERE.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Subscribe to my blog.
• Enter one of my other giveaways and leave 2 comments.
• Tweet about the giveaway for 2 comments (can be done daily).
• Blog about the giveaway for 2 comments.
• Vote for me at DivineCaroline (see widget on left side of blog) for 5 comments.

Giveaway ends December 1, 2009 at midnight.

Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

* I was provided two SmartKnit Kids Seamless Sensitivity Socks for review and received no financial compensation. 

My Frugal Christmas Success "Purchases" To Date: $668.53 Total/$16.99 Out of Pocket

This is my follow up to "my frugal Christmas" to keep track for myself what I bought for Christmas this year either free or next to nothing.  Granted I'm using some ways that not everyone has access to such as bank reward card points and employee reward points but it all adds up as you look to whatever you can do to make Christmas cheaper. 

• I cannot remember who posted it, but another blogger posted an Amazon special where you buy two games, you get a $40 voucher for another.  With my $40 voucher, I bought my six year old MySims Agents for $6.99!  I used my $40 voucher and had free shipping! 

• My employer offers appreciation tokes in the value of exchange bucks.  With my work bonus of appreciation points, I ordered this which at Amazon (it's not where I ordered it from), it was $249.97:

• I participated in a TwitterMom campaign with VTech and by submitting my contest entry, received a discount on the VTech Bugsby Reading System.  If my memory is correct, I was able to purchase it for $10.

• This is my latest purchase but using my bank's reward points.  I was able to buy two for $0!  I have to buy two of almost everything to keep the peace!  As two budding artists, this will be loved!

• 
  
  Thanks to Freebies4Mom, I was able to get 50 personally designed beautiful Christmas cards from Fuji for FREE to include shipping!  That's a great deal so thanks to Freebies4Mom for the code and alert (freebies4mom-1109) at SeeHerebyFuji.  That was a $39.50 savings before shipping!  This expires November 30!
  
  
  

• Free photo book from Kodak priced at $9.99.

• I used MyPoints to trade in points for a $50 Game Stop Gift Card.

• I used the rest of MyPoints to trade in points for a $50 Macy's Gift Card.

• Today, I used my bank reward points to purchase this frame that was valued at $80.00.

I just bought a Tommy Bahama shirt from Rue La La's Thanksgiving sale for a total of $39~ including shipping and taxes.  The shirt is normally priced at $120.

Total Purchases: $788.53 (without tax/shipping factored)

Total Out of Pocket: $55.99 (without tax/shipping factored)

I'll have to inventory my Kohl's purchases of the gifts and non-gifts to "weed" out my Kohl's dollars I earned to make those fair.

Stay tuned for more of my purchases. Always remember to look for the deals and specials that are available to you.

TheSkinny: New Beauty Sample Site

TheSkinny.com is a new site that once you join, you get e-mail notifications on sale events and your products are chosen based on a recommendation on your entries when you first join.   TheSkinny is the first online skin care sample site that was launched August 31, 2009. 

"With a new skin care product launching every 85 minutes, it's not surprising that shoppers are overwhelmed," said Lauren Fornes, co-founder of The Skinny. "Consumers want solutions to their skin concerns and are open to trying new brands, but the top reasons consumers don't try a new brand are confusion and cost. We started The Skinny to lower those barriers and help skin care brands gain new customers."

Some of TheSkinny sales include brand name products from Perricone MD, Lisa Hoffman Beauty, Tammy Fender, International Orange and more. The Skinny goes beyond big discounts. Led by Fornes, a licensed aesthetician, the Skinny's expert team produces entertaining and educational brand and product videos that quickly highlight each solution's science and efficacy.

"Education is a big focus for us, but skin care should be fun too! Our video content communicates the science behind the products in an approachable, interactive way," said Fornes.

Interested in learning more about TheSkinny, click here and join.

L'Oréal® Paris Revitalift® Deep-Set Wrinkle 24HR Eye Repair Duo Seven Week Review

12/07/09 UPDATE:  I'd have used this for seven weeks now and unfortunately, I have run out.  I noticed a subtle change in the crows feet.

I've been using L'Oréal® Paris Revitalift® Deep-Set Wrinkle 24HR Eye Repair Duo for four weeks now and as part of my participation with BzzAgent, I want to share my results.  I'm attaching pictures at two weeks and the bottom set is four weeks to see the results.  Eight weeks is the optimal usage to start seeing results.  Now you may not be able to see the results without looking hard and if you do look hard, you will see that I need to get my brows done :(.

After blowing up the pictures, I can see a diminishing of wrinkles in the crow's feet area which makes me happy.  I want to see more results in that area as well as lower in the laugh lines.  We'll see what eight weeks has to offer.

If you don't know anything about this product, it's a two in one treatment for the eyes providing 24 hour treatment with SPF 15.  You apply small dots around your eyes and gently smooth in.  L'Oreal offers a video on expert advice HERE.

The formula, made with Pro Retinol A, helps to repair broken skin fibers and smooth out the surface of deep-set eye wrinkles. It is clinically proven to visibly reduce the appearance of deep-set wrinkles, leaving you with younger-looking eyes.

Want to read more about the product, go to L'Oreal HERE.

Lindsay Olives Wreaths & A Good Cause

As the holiday seasons are fast approaching as well as my desire to have the perfect looking home for the gatherings to include my "duty" as an Army officer's wife, I keep hunting for the perfect items.  I found these wonderful homemade olive branch holiday wreaths.

From the site:

Our charming handmade wreaths are the perfect way to kickoff the holiday season. Hang as a front door welcome, decorate the holiday table, or send to a loved one!

Packaged gift-ready in holiday-red tissue paper with a personalized gift card, each wreath is hand-woven upon order from freshly harvested olive branches – universally recognized as a symbol of peace – along with branches from aromatic bay and eucalyptus trees. Over time, they dry to a beautiful silvery green.

Proceeds from the wreath sales go to The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), representing programs that provide meals to people in need.

Orders will be accepted starting September 1, with delivery from October 15 to December 31, 2009. Wreaths must be ordered no later than December 15 for delivery by December 24, 2009. Orders are also accepted at (800) 765-2029.

Free Photo Gifts, Coupons & Special Wrap Up at 12 Stores

I just ordered my free Kodak photo book that I'll use as a Christmas present as part of my attempt at a very frugal Christmas.  As I keep seeing e-mails and other blogs, there are so many offers for free cards and photo books that I thought I would try to find as many as I can to make it easier. 

These photo books make nice presents and are FREE!

Winkflash
40% off Holiday Cards - Use Code HOLIDAY09

Offer Details: Sale ends December 17th, 2009 - Offer valid for 40% off any card - Normal shipping rates apply - While supplies last - We reserve the right to cancel these offers at any time for any reason - We reserve the right to deny these offers to anyone for any reason - winkflash offers, promotions, and subscription discounts cannot be combined on any order - one use per household/account - valid for orders placed and shipped within the U.S.A.

Shutterfly

Free Shipping on orders $30 or more - Use Code SHIP30
20% off cards, photo books, calendars, address labels and more by clicking HERE.
Three free greeting cards - Use Code 3FREECARDS

Snapfish

Free shipping on orders $30 or more - Use Code SHIP30
50 Free prints for new customers
20% off all catalog items - Use code HOLIDAY09

Kodak Gallery

Free $15 Million Thanks Giveaway

My Publisher

Free photo book when you sign up - expires December 7, 2009.

Publix Photo Center

In conjunction with Snapfish, Publix customers get 30% off calendars, cards and photo books by clicking HERE.

Amercian Greetings Photoworks

Free shipping on photobooks - use code MYFIRSTORDER.

PEPhoto

Free photo book HERE.

TrendyPrints

Free 20 page photo book HERE.

Vista Prints

50% off cards HERE.

HotPrints

One free photo book per month HERE.

SeeHere by Fuji

Thanks to Freebies4Mom, 50 personally designed beautiful Christmas cards from Fuji for FREE to include shipping! That's a great deal so thanks to Freebies4Mom for the code and alert (freebies4mom-1109) at SeeHerebyFuji. That was a $39.50 savings before shipping! This expires November 30!

Make your skin act younger!

Pro X Olay Professional Pro-X has advanced technology that makes skin perform more like it did when it was younger. Pro-X reveals younger surface cells faster and helps your skin’s moisture barrier stay strong.

See why it’s more than a skincare regimen. It’s a skin-changing regimen.

http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=-714834584936738972211

Ever Try to Cancel from Proactive? Yikes...

I completely understand these customer service agents that answer the phone when you call to cancel a reoccuring order make their money based on talking you out of cancelling but the woman at ProActive was amazingly rude.  She continued to overtalk me, she kept repeating everything because she kept cutting me that she didn't understand the comment/question I was making. 

After all that, she had the audacity to even continue to talk me out of cancelling my membership. 

I guess the spirit of good customer service is not warranted in some businesses in spite of the economy.

Epilepsy Awareness Month: Epilepsy Therapy Project

Nothing is more terrifying than experiencing a seizure especially a first time seizure when it comes to epilepsy.  I remember my daughter's first seizure and the level of panic that gripped me of not knowing what was going on or what to do.  No warning, no nothing and all of sudden, it looked like she was having a stroke.  I was scared beyond my wildest imagination.  After many tests and procedures, her diagnosis came and we were faced with a twice a day treatment for what appears to be Benign Rolandic Epilepsy.  I'm not too keen on pumping this trial and error medication into her but the alternative of waiting and seeing is not one I prefer. 

The problem with epilepsy is so much is still not known and treatment is literally a watch and see what works.  For some, it works and for others, it helps to reduce the number of seizures and for others, nothing works.  That is why it's so important for research to continue in uncovering what causes epilepsy, what can be done to treat it and to help understand all aspects of the possible genetic component.

Epilepsy Therapy Project, sponsor of www.epilepsy.com, is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization founded by parents and doctors caring for children with uncontrolled seizures by supporting the development of new therapies that offer freedom from seizures and side effects. Read more about the Epilepsy Therapy Project and how your donations can help support our mission to accelerate ideas into therapies for people living with epilepsy and seizures.

Get involved HERE.

Salvation Army & JcPenney Online Angels for Christmas

What a great way to offer more options to give this year!  JcPenney and The Salvation Army are teaming up to offer The Giving Tree online!

Just click HERE for more information at http://angel.jcpenney.com/.

All you do is put in the zip code you want to support, age group and gender of child and that's it!  What a great way to support your community.  When my middle child comes home from school, I'll have her help pick a child.

PurpleTrail Online Invitations and eCard Review

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by: PurpleTrail for this review.

Need a great way to create, send and/or print cards and invitations online?  Party planners and novice planners are enjoying the ease of PurpleTrail as the only provider of online, stylish, ad-free invitations and eCards for free.  There are membership options available to customize for each own's needs and preferences starting at only $5. 

My review is a step by step process of creating my first online invitation post a very easy registration process that takes very little time and was not difficult.

1. Just click "Get Started."
2. Options include "Print Invitations & Cards" or "Online Invitations & Cards."
3. I chose "Online Invitations & Cards" and had over 69 pages of choices.  You can click on and see the 69 pages of choices and sort through page by page or enter what you are looking through in the Search box for designs.  If you place your mouse over the "Online Invitations & Cards" text, it will allow you to search that way as well.
4. I chose the  "Christmas" designs via the mouse hovering option and had to choose from an abundance of great designs that made it very hard to choose from! 
5. I was very easily able to choose options such as adding my own photo (or one from PurpleTrail), my text, embellishments and more. 
6. Once I uploaded my photo, I was able to choose the opacity level, other options such as black and white (there are more), crop the photo and add frames.  I won't go through all the steps as the program is easy to follow when creating your cards and invitations.
7. To print, PurpleTrail allows the user to sort by selecting the preferred formats: "Print Format" options by choosing Postcard 6x4, Postcard 4x6, Folded Card 8.5x5.5, Folded Card 5.5x8.5 or all sizes.  For this review, I selected the Postcard, 4x6 option.  The free membership provides two pages of choices.

This is what the final outcome looks like once e-mailed to your guest:

PurpleTrail also offers a nice how to tour here which I found as a must have.  I needed a little more explanation on how to add things and remove them.  The invitation box was what prompted me to take the tour.

Other great features of PurpleTrail:

• Fun and great looking invitations, e-cards and announcements.
• Thousands of designs to choose from or create your own unique design.
• Send invitations through email, SMS, Twitter and Facebook.
• Ad free!
• Chat with your guests in real time, add a map to the event venue, pot-luck feature which helps each guest specify what they are getting for the party.
• Easily manage and track guest responses.
• Easy to use.
• Visit the party ideas section and blog with tons of great ideas for your party.
• The invites are Ad free, so your guests/friends won’t have to see ads along with your invites/e-cards.
• Four different membership types with one being FREE.
  

Overall, I enjoyed PurpleTrail and will continue to utilize it for my online cards and invitations.  I am curious about the other membership levels and might take a peek to experiment on what I like the best.  Free is good though and the quality of choices is excellent.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by PurpleTrail for this review.

Wii for $179.99 & 50% Off at Children's Place

Hurry to Dell for a $20 savings on Wii making it $179.99!  Click HERE.

Children's Place Additional 30% off + 20% off with Coupon Code HA299.  Click HERE.

In NYC or Tampa? Meet Leslie Blodgett & Get an Autographed Bottle of Bare Skin Perfume

If you’re going to be in or around NYC or Tampa next week, RSVP today for your chance to meet Leslie Blodgett—and get a bottle of Bare Skin autographed!

Leslie will be making two (2) in-store appearances to celebrate the launch of her exclusive new fragrance collection, Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries! Come talk beauty with the woman behind the Bare Skin scent, sample the fragrance, and if you’re one of the first 100 to buy a bottle on the day of the event, Leslie will sign it!*

Sephora Times Square
at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue
Wednesday, November 18
5:30-7:30 PM
RSVP here!

Sephora International Plaza
2223 N. West Shore Blvd.
(Cross-Streets: West Shore & Boy Scout Blvd.)
Thursday, November 19
6-8 PM
RSVP here!

Unilever Beauty Tips and Giveaway 12/10: CLOSED WINNER

Congratulations to....

Scott!

An e-mail was just sent to Scott and he has 48 hours to respond.  If a response has not been received, I will use random.org to select the next winner.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

December 10, 2009 10:06 AM

I enjoy getting insightful, useful beauty tips especially from trusted household brands.  Unilever has a beauty widget that is on the right side of my blog in the widget area.  I also embedded the code in this blog for easier viewing pleasure.  This widget features a new beauty tip every day, access to see products, videos and a bonus linked to Body, Hair and Face. 

Today's Hair Beauty Tip is a great quick, easy video on a "Blow Out" technique to create smoother, shiner hair.  I already dry my hair in another room to avoid the moisture from my shower which was one of the steps in achieving gorgeous hair.  I didn't know that the cool setting provides a lock in feature to benefit the hair once you dry it in sections.  Very nice ideas if you want to learn more, check it out each day!  One of the things I also do to protect and nourish my hair is to leave conditioner on it for 10 minutes wrapped in a towel once a week.  

Don't forget to click on the "bonus" tab to see what awaits you!

Unilever has numerous products ranging from Food, Personal to Health.   One of the best things that Unilever focuses on with the Dove brand is the Campaign for Real Beauty, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund (DSEF) that launched in 2004 to help make women feel more beautiful everyday.  I love this campaign as it uses REAL women and not fake, unrealistic one's.

Giveaway:

One reader will win a Unilever Beauty Box valued at approximately $30.00 filled with products representing Pond’s, Q-tips, Vaseline and Dove.

To Enter:

Leave your favorite beauty tip and follow me.  That's it!

Extra Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter for 2 comments.
• Subscribe to my blog for 2 comments.
• Enter one of my other giveaways and leave 2 comments.
• Tweet about the giveaway for 2 comments (can be done daily).
• Blog about the giveaway for 2 comments.
• Vote for me at DivineCaroline (see widget on left side of blog) for 5 comments.

Giveaway ends 12/10/09 at midnight.

Winner will be chosen by random.org.  Good luck and thanks for entering!

SeeHerebyFuji Photo Greeting Card Review

Thanks to Freebies4Mom, I was able to get 50 personally designed beautiful Christmas cards from Fuji for FREE to include FAST shipping!  That's a great deal so thanks to Freebies4Mom for the code and alert (freebies4mom-1109) at SeeHerebyFuji.  That was a $39.50 savings before shipping!  This expires November 30!

I just received my 50 free cards after just ordering them on Sunday night.  Totally FREE!  The print paper is a little flimsy and I would have preferred a heavier weight paper for both the photo card and envelopes but the quality of the image is excellent.  For FREE, you can beat that!  Even for those that need to watch their budgets and had to pay full price, it's still an excellent deal.  Last year, I made my cards at Zazzle and although the quality if of higher quality for the paper, the images were comparable at a fraction of the cost if I had to pay full price.

I'll probably retry it as I'm a perfectionist (usually) and will try my hand with professionally taken portraits (I took these) and my Zazzle account.