Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Perfect Memorials Holiday Gift Guide

Disclosure: This post was provided by eAccountable and contains affiliate links that may yield commissions earned at no cost to you.

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Ornaments serve as very thoughtful gifts for someone who is looking for a unique way to memorialize a lost family member or friend during the holiday season. Perfect Memorials has many different styles to choose from and even offer them in packs of 5 or 10, which makes it very easy for you to share an extra special memory with a group of friends or family that will last for years to come.
Give a gift that will be enjoyed year round with a Perfect Memorials Photo Engraved Pendant. These pendants are engraved with the photo and name of a loved one and can be worn around the neck or displayed alongside other mementos and keepsakes.
Personalized Memorial Cards are very thoughtful stocking stuffers you can give to your loved ones during the holiday season. Perfect Memorials memorial cards come in five vibrant color options and serve as a very nice and tasteful way to carry or display a photo and special memory of your lost loved one. Visit PerfectMemorials.com and enter the keyword Memorial Card to view all of your Personalized Memorial Card options.
Perfect Memorials Premium Jewelry Collection is guaranteed to steal the hearts of your loved ones and the spotlight at your next holiday party. The Premium Jewelry Collection combines our most iconic cremation jewelry pendants with free engraving and a complimentary custom engraved jewelry gift box. With 12 options to choose from, you are sure to find a special gift for everyone on your holiday list.
Whether displayed in a memorial garden, city park, or inside your home, engraved stones make a perfect way to celebrate your loved one. Personalization including names, dates of their legacy, other text sentiments, and artwork are available to symbolize and pay tribute to the life of a loved one or family pet. Engraved stones are offered in many shapes and sizes and they are sure to spread cheer throughout your family during the entire holiday season.

With the Holidays fast approaching, Perfect Memorials, the leading online retailer of premium quality memorial products has created a special Holiday Memorials category with more products, many of which are on sale. Click here to view these specially priced items.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

So much to be thankful for these days!

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and families all over the country are getting ready to sit down, break bread, and be thankful for each other. This year, my Thanksgiving will be small, just myself, my hubby without the license, and my not blood but no less important, sister. It will be the typical get stuffed on turkey and the trimmings, and watch a lot of football on television. I will miss my Scott family dinner with my brothers and sister and I will miss seeing my kids this year. This is hard for me, but they all understand. I have started a new job and I have to work Black Friday. In the retail business as most of you know, Black Friday is huge and I just didn't want to turn down the extra money.

As I was falling asleep last night, I started thinking about where I am in life, and how far I have come in the last six years. In June of 2009 I left my husband, and my adult children to start a new life. I left behind a lot of drama, fighting, addiction, and depression. The only thing I regretted was the fact that I left my children, but as I said they were adults at the time. My youngest had just turned 19 and the oldest was 25 so they were all well on their way to their own lives. I left to go live with a man I had met on the internet 6 months prior and I was frightened.

In the past 6 years I have gone through many changes, some good, and others not so good, but all leading to where I am now. My job, the only one that I have known since I was 19, gone in 2013. I worked my way up from customer service representative, to manager and ultimately owner for 9 years. The economy took it's financial toll on the business and in 2013 I closed it. I then had zero income for over 2 years. Luckily my hubby has social security and my sister has disability income so we survived. There were times though that the only way we made it month to month was to visit the pawn shop and drop off a bracelet, only to pick it back up when money came back in. We never starved, all utilities were paid, and basic necessities always were accounted for, but old back bills like dental and medical were piling up. It wasn't bad, not compared to when I lived with my ex husband ( that is another story), but it was stagnant and if there was a major emergency we would not have been able to handle it without help.

This year, October 1 to be exact, I became employed by a major retail store. The work is hard, there is a lot to do with a very skeleton crew, and I have much to learn. The main thing is I am employed again! I have money going into my social security account which at my age is very important. Plus I LOVE working, especially with people. Yes retail is hard, and yes sometimes the customers can be downright nasty, but the good ones far outweigh the bad. I love being able to lead someone down the aisle to what they are looking for, or saying hello to my regulars and see their smiles. This makes my aching legs and back all worthwhile at the end of the day.

So, now I get a paycheck every two weeks again. It isn't huge by any means but it is extra money. I am now able to start paying my accountant whom I owe money for from 2 years ago. I can pay on my dental bill and get my property taxes under control. We are even discussing saving up for a second used car which we really need. My credit which had been destroyed by my ex's spending habits and declaring bankruptcy has started improving. I got my first credit card since my divorce a few months ago and I am able to pay it off every month. My health is improving. I have lost 42 lbs this year so far of my goal of 50 and I will lose another 50 next year. Hopefully besides taking all that extra weight off my heart, my blood pressure will improve so I can get off my medicine.

I have a great relationship with my two daughters and I am so proud of them. My older girl is expressing interest in buying her first home, and the younger is finally in a decent relationship. Both of them are working hard and living in their own places. I miss having them around, but we talk almost on a daily basis so I don't feel like I miss much. My son, well he is in a dark place right now, and I pray every day that he will over come his demons so we can have a relationship again. I am his mother, and I love him with all my heart but he has to make the changes needed and I cannot enable him. That is the only hard part of my life right now.

I even have an amicable relationship with my ex husband now. He has given up his alcohol and has remarried. We both have grown and gone our ways but we will always have our children in common and a lot of memories. I wish him nothing but good in his new life.

So yes, this Thanksgiving I have much to be thankful for. I have my health, a new job, a wonderful family and good friends. I have this blog to review stuff on but also on occasion to share with all of you. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, good times and love. 

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Christmas Magic in 3D!

I received these Holiday 3D Specs at no cost for my review. All opinions stated are my own.

I was asked to review some Holiday 3D Specs by Paper Optics, an online company. I agreed because my curiosity was piqued. How could Christmas lights appear to be 3D? I honestly thought it was going to be a disappointment, but I was pleasantly surprised.

These glasses are entirely plastic. I received 2 pair, one green and the other white. They also came with a string of Christmas lights to test them on, but because I am a reviewer, I had ample light sets already unboxed that I could use. I chose to test the glasses on my Halloween wreath since I needed to take it off my mantle anyway. So my purple battery operated lights became my guinea pig.

I put my green pair on 3D glasses on my face and turned on the wreath. Immediately I busted out laughing because the lights transformed into these purple Santa Claus heads. The lights went into a blink mode and I had Santa's blinking on and off in front of my face. I switched to the white pair of glasses and Rudolph took Santa's place on the lights. I couldn't stop giggling over them. I was really impressed that they had the technology to do this.

I tried to video tape these lights through the glasses but I am not sure exactly how well it transfers to digital media. I am hoping by viewing this you can get an idea of  how fun they are. I think they will make a great stocking stuffer for little ones. Or if you have a goofy family like I do, you will be the hit of the annual gathering if you bring a few pair of these along with you. There are four different glasses that transform lights into different Christmas icons. You can get Santa, a reindeer, a snowman or a snowflake. They are available online from Paper Optics at www.holidayspecs.com  or at www.3dglassesonline.com

Thursday, November 12, 2015

5 Common Skin Sins to Avoid!

5 Common Skin Sins to Avoid by TrophySkin.com

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

If you barely have any wrinkles (lucky you), now is the time to start preventing. If you are showing any signs of aging, now is the time to help repair and restructure your skin. Fortunately there are multiple ways to tackle wrinkles without having to go under the knife. Continue reading to find out what those tactics are and you'll already be on the road to younger-looking, smoother skin.
Avoid the Wrong Cleanser
Don't underestimate the power of a face wash. Using the wrong kind can wreak havoc on the skin. This principle also applies to bar soap- that is one of the worst things you can do to your facial skin. Bar soap is designed for the body, not the face because it can damage your facial skin's natural moisture and lipid barrier, leaving it dry, tight and pH un-balanced. Choose a cleanser that is right for your skin type (whether you're dry, oily or combo/normal).
Don't Overlook Breakthrough Ingredients
If you want to see a real improvement in your skin, you must invest in skin care products that deliver changes in the skin. Those products are formulated with innovative ingredients that work synergistically to 'communicate' with the skin cells to look and act younger as well as ingredients that encourage hydration and free-radical protection. Those ingredients include: peptides, antioxidants (especially Vitamins A, C & E), botanical stem cells, hyaluronic acid and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's).
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Did you know that exfoliation is one of the key components to a smoother, youthful-looking complexion? The proper method of exfoliation combined with the proper frequency can result in astounding results. There are basically two ways to exfoliate: mechanically and chemically (or enzymatically). Mechanical exfoliation simply means you are physically exfoliating your skin to remove dead skin cells with a grainy product such as a face scrub, or a facial cleansing brush or even a wash cloth. Mechanical exfoliation is an effective method, but you have to be careful with the product you're using because there are a number of face scrubs on the market that are too abrasive and can actually damage the skin overtime.
The most powerful and effective means of mechanical exfoliation is microdermabrasion. Most reputable spas and dermatologist offices offer microdermabrasion as a standalone treatment or as part of a facial. However, you can save yourself a bundle of money by avoiding routine in-office microderm treatments and invest in an at-home system like MicrodermMD Home Microdermabrasion Machine you can use by yourself. It's fairly simple to use and will impart the same results as what an Esthetician would do for you in the treatment room. Stick to exfoliating once or twice a week if your skin is on the dry side, or two to three times a week if your skin leans toward oily.
Get High-Tech With Your Skin
Non-invasive technology has really taken the skin care industry by storm. From microcurrent to galvanic and laser therapy, they can do wonders for our skin without the knife and scalpel. These treatments at the derm or spa can be costly, but luckily, Trophy Skin has created an at-home anti-aging superstar device that yields the same results as the derm's office, but at a fraction of the cost! The RejuvaliteMD Red Light is pain-free, fool-proof and can be used as often as several times a week. It improves the skin's laxity, firmness, texture, skin tone and wrinkles. It also helps to improve sun damage and age spots! That's why it's our go-to anti-aging gem.
Avoid the 3 S's: Sun, Smoking & Sugar
It is common knowledge that the sun and smoking are two top culprits behind premature aging and wrinkling, but let's re-cap: although the sun cannot be avoided completely, that is why it is imperative to wear sunscreen (in other words, a moisturizer with a built-in broad-spectrum SPF) all year round, rain or shine. Smoking destroys the skin, leaving it looking dull, sallow and wrinkly. Because smoking depletes the body's oxygen levels, it asphyxiates the skin, which gives it that lifeless complexion.
Sugar is another culprit behind wrinkles that many people are unaware of. The consumption of refined sugar causes a process called glycation in the skin- which means that sugar molecules attach to collagen fibers, causing them to cross-link, resulting in the breakdown of collagen, and thereby causing wrinkles.
Practice these anti-wrinkle skin care secrets, and you'll begin to notice years taken away from your complexion. Check out all the amazing skin care solutions at TrophySkin.com.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Cricut Explore Air DISCOUNTED just in time for the holiday season.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Want to be able to easily make pretty décor, personalized gifts, and fun cards for upcoming holidays? Then you need to treat yourself to a Cricut Explore Air™ — Cricut's very popular electronic cutting machine. It's the best DIY crafting tool to be developed since the sewing machine!

The Cricut Explore Air is versatile, easy to use, and allows for very precise cuts. It's also incredibly affordable, especially since Cricut generously discounted the cost by up to $200 on the machine and bundles — just in time for the holiday crafting season!

With the Cricut Explore Air™, you can cut over 60 different types of material, including paper, fabric, plastic and vinyl to name a few. The Explore Air also features Cut Smart™ technology, which allows you to cut a wide range of shapes and sizes with exceptional precision, from ¼" tall up to 11½" wide x 23½" tall.

This Cricut Explore machine is called the Air because it has built-in Bluetooth® capability. This means you can use Cricut’s free iPad app and design anything you want from your iPad, just like you would on your home computer, but with the convenience of being able to take your projects with you anywhere. Then, you can just wirelessly send your project from your iPad to your Explore Air to bring it to life.

While the Cricut Explore Air is impressive on its own, purchasing it with one of Cricut's bundle offerings makes it even more valuable. Each bundle comes with different accessories that allow you to expand your creativity and make your crafting projects even more simple and fun to create. Plus, by purchasing your Explore Air with a bundle, you're able to save a bundle in the process!

Go to Cricut.com and check out the savings Cricut is offering on their Cricut Explore Air™ and bundles today so you can get your very own in time to make this holiday season your most creative one yet!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

I am so excited at how my photograph turned into wall art!

This is a sponsored post. I received an 11 x17 metal print in exchange for my honest review however all opinions stated in my blog are my own.

I love to take photographs when I go places. I mean even the most mundane of road trips can provide interesting subject matter if one is inclined to look through a camera lens. Personally, I find nature the most fascinating of subjects, but pretty much anything can be brilliant in the proper light and at the proper time.

I am no professional photographer and a lot of my images are hit and miss. Mostly miss if I am going to be completely honest with you all but I enjoy being a shutterbug. One of the best trips I made was about 6 years ago. I had just left my husband and took a trip to the great outdoors to cleanse my soul and heal my spirit. We went to Yosemite which is gorgeous beyond belief, a few other local parks and old gold towns, and Bodie.

Bodie is an old abandoned ghost town. They made it a state park and have left it, as it is, for others to enjoy. They do not replace or repair any of the buildings or any of the furnishings inside them. It is exactly as the last inhabitants left it on their way to other adventures. To me, it looks surreal, like something you see in those old John Wayne westerns.For information on Bodie you can visit here http://www.bodie.com

So  Adoramapix invited me to review a metal print for them and I jumped at the chance. I have worked with them before and they always provide high quality products. The last one I received was a gorgeous photo book which I filled with some wedding photos. This time as I said it was the 11X17 metal print. I really didn't want a large photo of myself and I had several of my kids already so I decided to create a piece of wall art. So I went through all my nature and scenic photos to see what I could come up with.

At first I was going to do a Yosemite waterfall, but after thinking about it, I decided against it. The reason being that Yosemite Falls are fairly common and I wanted something different. I live in gold country now and I thought it might be nice to have a little representation of that on my wall. I remembered the Bodie photos and went through them til I found the one I wanted to use.
I went to the site and found the metal print section. There are many different sizes and shapes to choose from. I chose the 11 X 17 white metal finish one. I uploaded my photo easily and then submitted my order.
It took a little more than a week from the time I ordered my print to the time it was delivered. I was absolutely shocked when it arrived because it is so beautiful. Not to pat myself on the back or anything but this photo looks like something I would see in a gallery. The metal finish gave the colors a life and shine that a plain canvas or print couldn't do. Everyone that I have shown this print to loves it and can't believe that I took the photo.
The prints come in basic rectangle, oval, or this kind of a shield type which is the one I chose. I love that it is a bit different than the standard shapes and it took out a lot of the background. This way I focused more on the actual buildings and the colored grasses in the forefront. As I said, the shine of the metal finish seems to make the colors more vibrant and the image come alive. I am very very happy with the way Adoramapix printed my photograph.

I heartily endorse Adoramapix. Their customer service is exceptional and their quality is unsurpassed. Holiday Season is right around the corner and their products make wonderful gifts. They have many different photographic gifts to choose from. Holiday cards, calendars, and metal prints are only the beginning and they will make your pictures look their best. You can find them at adoramapix.com,



Join Julep and get the Jingle Bells Welcome Box FREE ($50 value)

This is a sponsored posting and I will be compensated for your sign up. This is a monthly subscription beauty box program.
 
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