Extreme Measures: October 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween

I know that we should be talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas, yet I wanted to share some Halloween with you. The company that hubby and I work for has a corporate wide Halloween contest each year. Each department comes up with a theme and attempts to be the winner. Of what you may ask? One of 3 simple pizza parties. However, it is the event that makes it so much fun.

Each department works on a unified theme and hopes to pull it off without a hitch and win. Our departments theme this year was Disco. We had an area that came off the elevator to our floor that we turned into a disco. We had someone waiting downstairs to let is know when the judges were coming up the elevator. Once the elevator doors opened, they found a bouncer leading to what looked like a real disco.

Once they experienced the disco, they were lead to the VIP lounge, complete with cocktails (Welch’s cider in the champagne looking bottles).

My favorite was the Lady Gaga performance. I have no guts for this display and congratulate them, not only for a job well done, but for the guts to pull it off. Their group decorated there are like a concert hall and stage and then about 6 of them did a Lady Gag performance. I attempted to take a photo, below, but they were moving and those of us watching had limited space. They had to perform in the rows between cubicles. As many of you know, this isn’t much room. It was an excellent performance and a lot of fun!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Scandle Shimmering Body Massage Candle

Scandle Shimmering Body Massage Candle Review and Giveaway

As a candle lover, Scandle Candle is one of my new favorites.. I was recently sent a candle and fell in love with the scent and the silkiness of the massage candles. Can you believe, Scandle Candle recently introduced a new collection of candles called Shimmering Lotion Candles, which include the same all-natural ingredients as their original massage candle but with added shimmer!

The Scandle Shimmering Lotion Candle burns 2° above the average body temperature to produce a shimmering, fragrant lotion. I was sent a 4oz.travel tin candle. It is the perfect amount of fragrance. It smells absolutely delicious!

Scandle Candle's Shimmering Candle gives your skin a little shimmer. TI loved how I felt like it hid my wrinkles and my other imperfections. It left my skin feeling silky smooth and silky. I loved the shimmery look and natural glow.

Scandle Body Massage Candles are 100% all natural candles, made with soy butter, shea butter, jojoba, vitamin E, aloe, and essential oils. Unlike paraffin candles, Scandle’s soy candles are water soluble, slow burning, biodegradable, and toxin-free. All Scandle Massage Candles are FDA approved and made without the use of stearic acid, lead, zinc, paraffin, petroleum or UV inhibitors.

To me, the candles feel like an expensive massage oil. Yet, they are way more affordable. My skin was left feeling great. They are multi -use. I found it to be great for a sensual body massage, repair of cuticles, for my manicures, etc.

BUY IT: The Scandle Shimmering Body Candle is available in a very handy travel tin at $13.95 as well as the refillable ceramic candle at $22.95. Shop online at ABodyCandle.com. Think Christmas! This would make an excellent stocking stuffer!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TriDerma Spot & Wrinkle Erasing Cream

ERASE YOUR PROBLEM “SPOTS!”

Introducing TridDerma MD® Spot & Wrinkle Erasing Cream

Anti-Aging Complex

If you’re like many women, you’re probably no stranger to dark spots and wrinkles. But out of this darkness there is “light” and a way to help “erase” the problem: Introducing NEW TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ Anti-Aging Complex. This medical strength, fast acting cream will help to reduce the appearance of brown spots, age spots and scars, while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.

TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ contains clinically proven botanicals, anti-irritants and five specialized brightening ingredients that work together to help resurface skin naturally and increase cell turnover, leaving behind a smoother, brighter and more refined looking complexion. Containing ingredients such as AP4® Genuine Organic Aloe, a proprietary complex that naturally contains over 200 healing properties, TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ won’t irritate skin and is safe for all skin types.

Spots and Wrinkles… Why Do We Get Them?

The most unmistakable signs of aging are the formation of wrinkles and spots. Factors such as hormonal changes, heredity, exposure to sunlight and the skin's inability to retain moisture are all part of the natural aging process and help contribute to their formation and appearance. Skin begins to show signs of wrinkles when skin cells die off faster than can be replaced by natural regeneration. With time these wrinkles deepen, reaching the supporting dermal layer, and when the dermis loses its elasticity, deeper and more permanent wrinkles form. TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles with its unique combination of botanicals and anti-oxidants.

Additionally, as we age our skin is subjected to increasing levels of sun damage. Our skin’s natural ‘melanin pigment’ absorbs sunlight and helps to protect our skin from UV rays. However, as we age our skin's natural ability to fend off UV rays from the sun begins to deteriorate, and as a result you see the development of age spots.

TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ provides results similar to that of a dermatologist without the cost of expensive chemical peels and procedures. Safer than Hydroquinone and Retin A, this cream lightens and brightens skin without harsh chemicals. Applied twice daily on clean skin, the clinically proven ingredients in TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ have shown to provide the following results:

· 55% Increase in skin firmness

· 70% improvement in skin tone

· 55% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

It’s finally time to erase your problem “spots.” Use TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ for a more radiant, spot and wrinkle complexion.

TriDerma MD® Spot and Wrinkle Erasing Cream™ is available at limited Walgreens and www.TriDerma.com.

Suggested Retail Price: $15.99

I am always up for trying new products, especially those that help with spots and wrinkles. I do not want to look old. I was anxious to try the TriDerma and found it so be a smooth,delicate lotion that wasn't greasy. As I have some oily areas prone to breakouts, I was all little nervous. I had no breakout issues while using the TriDerma and I like the way it made my skin feel. I don't notice any changes, yet. However, I just started using it and am optimistic. I will report back with further updates. I will definitely continue to use.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards

With the upcoming holidays, I have the same worry every year. I have a hard time deciding on a design because I can never find a really great one. Until I came across Shutterfly. My worries are over!

When it comes to holiday cards, I want a high quality design that I can edit to include photos of my kids. I tend to like the cards that are not the norm. Ones utilizing a vintage look or an extremely modern feel with a visual pop. For example, I love holiday colors that are not typical.

They have a huge selection in all categories, but the selection of Holiday Photo Cards was surprising! I was surprised to find so many Christmas Photo Cards available this year. There were pages and pages of selections! All simply adorable. They did not make the selection easy! Just look at a few of these amazing cards!

Cute, trendy card.

Elegant

Equally amazing is the selection of birth announcements. They have them categorized as Baby Boy Birth Announcements, Baby Girl Birth Announcements, Twin Birth Announcements, and Holiday Birth Announcements. Since I know I am having a girl, I delved into the Baby Girl Birth Announcements. Wow! They are just stunning! I have selected a few to show the beautiful quality, but let me tell you, if you are looking for birth announcements, you need to go take a look. The limited amount I am showing you, just does not do justice to the large selection of announcements available! They even have them for the holidays!

Okay,okay, it's hard but I will stop!

Selecting your Photo Christmas Card is the hardest part. They make the rest of the process easy! You can make selection from the comfort of your own home. And remember, I am due November 25th. I think there will be a lot of online shopping in my future! They have a lot of great options and I selected a few of my favorites to show you:

They also have some really exceptional holiday invitations to choose

I think that I will even do personalized thank you cards, this year!

And FAB gift tags!

Now that you've seen just a few of my favorites in these categories, you can see just why I want to work with Shutterfly!

Don't you want to see what you want to make for your special occasion?

Do you want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly? Click here to go to Shutterfly for information on how you can get 50 free cards this holiday season, and make sure to select Clever 1000 as the referral source.

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Creative Halloween Decor Ideas

I wanted to share some blog love and ideas worth sharing today. I have some fabulous blogs I follow that have some really great ideas throughout the year. There were a few things I'd love to *copy*, if I find the time. However, as Halloween is upon us, it may have to wait until next year!

On with the love....

Step over to Cheap Chic Home. This is one fabulous blog that never leaves me disappointed! Kim amazes me with her creativity! On September 5th, I found a simple, yet really creative Halloween decor post. Kim created Jumbo Styrofoam Candy Corn for the holidays! I think I would have to leave these out through Thanksgiving!

Kim really exhibited creativity, in my eyes, when she envisioned jumbo candy corn while looking at styrofoam cones!

Kim, these are fabulous!!!!

Next up is Kathy from Creative Home Expressions. Kathy and her blog have long been favorites of mine! And she is the nicest blogger! I once contacted her with a question and she gave me a quick tutorial on how to do it! Love her!

Having wanted a cloche for sometime and not wanting to spend what I see them costing in my area, I was excited to see her post on how to make my own!!! Kathy used a vase to create her own.

Using this vase, she simply turned it over and affixed a knob to the *new* top. Using a pillar candle stand she had on hand completed the look.

House Of Smith's wins the award for creativity on a budget! Utilizing what she had as well as Dollar store finds, she created a stunning Halloween display. Shelley centered her display around a table candy display. She created candy labels with some fun, new candy titles:

The family created the names and she simply printed the names on thick cardstock, cut and mounted on brown packaging paper, distressed inked the edges, put black eyelets on the outsides and ran twine.

Her tips:

*All of the Jars were bought from thrift stores for under $3.00 each

* use Spanish Moss from local craft store $2.99 for the entire bag

*And spray painted white, the corn husk pumpkin that I found for a $1.00, also from a thrift store.

Here, she designed her image in photoshop and then put it in the frame. Easy peasy!

There are a lot more ideas. Run over and check them out. I bet there are some you may want to incorporate in your displays.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Flameless Candles: Set The Scene

I love candles. One might say I have an addiction. However, with small children, safety is at the forefront of my mind. I recently purchased flameless candles for safety. There are ways these can be used, just like "real" candles. All you have to do is change the batteries and they last and last. First, you can have a display on your coffee table without the worry of little hands getting burnt. I love having my driveway all lit up with luminaries to greet holiday guests. Not only are traditional candles worrysome as far as catching fire, but they are hard to keep lit if it is windy. I recently received some new flameless candles and I have been really pleased with how realistic these flameless candles look! They look as though they are melted at the tops and the light shows through. With the new tchnology that abounds, mine are LED! I have guests think they are real and panic when my little ones go to touch.

Think you will miss the scent of a real candle? Mine are scented! They have a wonderful pomagranite scent,

Want to light luminaries in your driveway this Halloween? Think flameless.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Holiday Read to Get You In The Mood-Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

by
- Debbie Macomber
MIRA

Oct 2010
Category: Contemporary Romance
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780778328193

Back of the Book

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

Read Excerpt

My Thoughts:

Emily Merkle, known as Mrs. Miracle, is back in this years Christmas book by Debbie Macomber. I really love that Debbie does a seasonal book each year, I really look forward to them. Mrs. Miracle is one of my favorite characters. Macomber writes the most heartwarming, wholesome stories about people you could meet.

In Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Emily Merkle lands in the toy department at Finley’s. One might think that this would seem a logical place for her at Christmas time since helping is what she does. In this edition, she helps several individuals.

The story revolves around Holly Larsen and Jake Finley. Jake and his father don't celebrate Christmas. Funny, though, is that it is their biggest selling time of year. Two years ago his mother and sister were killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve, and it has never been the same since... Mrs. Miracle is there to make him see that Christmas means more than just making a profit. Holly Larsen has been taking her of her widowed brothers son while he is away in Afghanistan, serving his country. Her brother can’t come home for the holidays and her nephew wants a robot that she cannot afford.

This book is just what I needed to put me in that Christmas spirit. It was such a good, heartwarming read that I finished it in one day!

KT Tunstall Tiger Suit

Here's a CD Tracklisting (you can listen to song samples on Amazon):
1. Uummannaq Song
2. Glamour Puss
3. Push That Knot Away
4. Difficulty
5. Fade Like A Shadow
6. Lost
7. Golden Frames
8. Come On, Get In
9. (Still A) Weirdo
10. Madame Trudeaux
11. The Entertainer

KT will be on tour this fall at these venues:

Oct 31      Crystal Ballroom               Portland, OR
Nov 1       Commodore Ballroom       Vancouver, BC
Nov 2       The Showbox SODO        Seattle, WA
Nov 4       Knitting Factory                Spokane, WA
Nov 5       Knitting Factory                Boise, ID
Nov 7       Knitting Factory                Reno, NV
Nov 8       Warfield Theatre               San Francisco, CA
Nov 11     The Music Box                  Los Angeles, CA
Nov 12     House of Blues                 San Diego, CA
Nov 16     Ogden Theatre                 Denver, CO
Nov 18     Epic                                Minneapolis, MN
Nov 19     The Vogue                       Indianapolis, IN
Nov 21     Vic Theatre                      Chicago, IL
Nov 22     The Crofoot                      Detroit, MI
Nov 23     Phoenix Theatre               Toronto, ON
Nov 25     Club Soda                        Montreal, QU
Nov 26     The Trocadero                  Philadelphia, PA
Nov 27     9:30 Club                         Washington, DC
Nov 29     House of Blues                 Boston, MA
Dec 1       Terminal 5                       New York, NY

If you think you aren’t familiar with KT’s music, you probably are and aren't aware. My favorites of her previous hit songs – the Grammy-nominated “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” “Suddenly I See”, “Other Side of the World” or “Hold On”, will surely remind you of what a great artist she is.

Her new CD, from this talented, multi-platinum singer, was just released on October 5. The Tiger Suit CD features 11 songs, including the first single "Fade Like A Shadow" that has already been a Top 20 radio hit. All songs are written by her, and the lyrics as equally as remarkable as the music and vocals. The songs range from soulful to upbeat. I happen to like KT because she has a unique music style that’s all her own. She music and lyrics have a soulful, yet rocker, yet ballad style, yet you can dance to it. I have enjoyed the entire album and have shared it at my workplace to rave reviews.

You can connect with KT Tunstall on Twitter and Facebook.

I was provided no compensation was received for this post. I did receive a review copy of the CD in which to facilitate my candid review. Thank you KT Tunstall and One To One Network.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Busy Week Night Tips

I am a very busy mom. I have a full time job with a 2 hour a day commute, kids, my blog, my Etsy, etc. I also need to maintain a healthy and clean home. Week night dinners are hard to fit into my tight schedule but I have a few tricks I'd like to share with you. They will work for busy stay at home moms, too.

1) George Foreman Grills-
No matter which one you invest in, these are HUGE time savers! I am on my third! Is that because something happened to the old ones? No way! When they come out with a new one, I upgrade and gift mine to someone that can use it. It cooks in record time, cleaning is a breeze, and it drains the fat. My new one also can bake and cook sliders!

2) Slow Cookers-
This is another huge time saver. Depending upon the meal, I sometimes have it in my removable crockpot bowl ready to go in the a.m. Mine is also a programmable. I should say my main crockpot. I have a large one that I can cook a whole meal or the main entree in. However, I also have several that can hold side dishes and desserts, dip, etc. Think you need a bunch of cookbooks? You don't. I regularly use About.com Crockpot section as well as A Year of Slow Cooking at crockpot365.blogspot.com. She has done all the legwork by trying out the recipes. While tastes may differ, the recipes are tested to see if the work.

3) Pizza Cutter-
My pizza cutter is a necessary tool in my home. I have been through many in my home because the cheapies are just not made well. One day, while at Sams Club, I saw a commercial pizza cutter and purchased it. Best, minimal investment I have made! What do I do with my pizza cutter? First, the majority of use is cutting children's food. It cuts quickly, especially when they are hungry and getting upset. I also use it to cut a pan of brownies, herbs when cooking, etc.

4) Quick GO-TO Meals-
Each family has their own, but you can keep a list of your go-to meals so that eating out is kept to a minimum. Not only is it a money saver to make your own meals, it is generally healthier.

Here are a few of my family's go-to meals:

Tuna Noodle Casserole
(Many families may not like this but it is a favorite and requested dinner in my home. And it is very cheap!)
1 can of tuna, drained
1 can of cream of mushroom, or cream of chicken, or cream of celery
1 soup can of milk
1 16oz. bag of egg noodles
1 can of peas (I have also used frozen (thawed) broccoli)
1 bag of shredded cheese (I use shredded Velveeta because of it's smooth texture when melted)
Season to taste (I use salt, pepper and minced onion)

Boil noodles and drain. Put noodles in a microwave safe bowl. Mix the rest of ingredients into the drained noodles. Microwave on high. This depends on each microwave but mine is about 6 minutes. Everything is cooked, so all you are doing is heating through and melting cheese.

Chicken Strips

These are so easy!

1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders (I cut my own strips to save money)

1 C. dry mashed potato flakes

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 egg beaten

Mix the dry mashed potato flakes and parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl.

Beat the egg in another shallow bowl.

Dip each chicken strip in egg then dry mashed potato flakes and parmesan cheese mixture.

I wear gloves to keep my hands clean.

Bake at 400 degrees in oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Salmon Patties

24 oz of canned salmon (drained and the bones removed)
2 eggs
4 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 C. mayonnaise
1 C. dry mashed potato flakes

1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1 t lemon juice

Mix all ingredients well.
Place 1/4 C. mashed potato flakes in a shallow bowl.
Scoop salmon mixture and flatten on mashed potato flakes. Flip to coat other side.
I use an ice cream scooper to make it easier and the patties proportioned.
To cook:
Heat 2 T oil in skillet on med/high heat. Cook 3 minutes on one side and then flip and cook 2-3 more minutes.

5) Freezer Cooking-

When we have a little extra time on the weekends, we will plan short freezer cooking sessions. For example, we recently did a mostaccioli and lasagna. We purchased several family sized aluminum pans and made several. When we do a session, it is a lot of work, so we will use one of those for that night's dinner. We made about 10. We have 3 large freezers.

I hope this gives each of you at least one tip you had not thought of. If you have a tip, enter it in the comments and I will post them!