Shopping Gadgets Review and Giveaway

I love to shop!  

Whether it be for clothing, shoes, household items, or groceries.  I even love to shop at thrift shops, and junk stores.  But the one thing I hate about shopping is trying to keep my coupons organized, and not waste any of my precious time while in the store.  And what to do with everything you need when you shop.  Then what to do with my coupons that I want to cash in and not forgetting about them.  What is a person supposed to do?

Well, I will tell you.

You need to check out Mom Concepts!    They have a Koala Pouch ($14.95 at www.momcepts.com) that is the perfect shopping organizer that you can take with you to the store, and attach it right to your shopping cart.

It has a great design with awesome features:

• a dedicated pocket with index cards to keep coupons and shopping list organized
• a roomy pocket on the front for easy access to your cell phone
• a zipper pocket on the back that includes two re-usable compact shopping bags, so you will never forget them again!
• a pen/pencil holder
• and enough space to carry all the items you need (List Caddy, Koalabiner, keys, money, debit/credit card) so that you can leave your purse at home or in the car

Then, there is a multi-use List Caddy ($1.99 at www.momcepts.com) that really comes in very handy.  It snaps right onto your shopping cart handle and holds your pen/pencil, along with shopping list.  Many times I have forgotten to use my coupons once I pulled them from my organizer because I had no designated place to put them, and they would end up in my pocket.  I would never remember them until it was too late (usually I would find them in the washer after doing laundry.)  Now I place them in the List Caddy clip until I get to the register.  And now I get to save those $$  from the coupons that I spent time clipping.

And if you check out the Momcepts.com website, you will find some fun and unique ways to you the List Caddy.  Hmmm, wonder if any of use can come up with some more unique ways to utilize this cool tool.  Oh, and the List Caddy comes in many fun colors too!  I have to get several of the purple ones.

And if you are like me, and like to have your purse with you when you shop, you need the Koalabiner Purse Hanger ($4.95 at www.momcepts.com).  Not only does my purse take up space in my shopping cart (I use a rather large purse), now my bread doesn't get smashed, and small items don't get lost below my purse.  Boy is that embarrassing when I have paid for all of  my items, grab my purse to leave and there before us are one or two small items sitting there in the cart.  YIKES!  I get the feeling that they think I am trying to steal them.  I am NOT!!!  No longer do I have to worry about that horrible feeling.

Now I can hang my purse from my shopping cart using the great Koalabiner.  My bread is never mashed from the weight of my purse, items don't get hidden below it, and no one can easily steal my purse.  Which has happened to my Niece.  So many of us plop our purses in the child seat area, and don't give it another thought while shopping.  We leave our carts for a second while grabbing something from a shelve.  But doing that makes it very easy for someone to grab our purses and run.  And if you have a diaper bag, because you have your child with you, the Koalabiner will hold it as well.

The Koalabiner is cute with its koala bear shape that I have even wore it as a bracelet until I got inside the store.  Or I store it on one of my purse handles, so that it is handy to use.  It also comes in handy to attach several bags of groceries (or other purchases) together so they don't spill out before you get home.  No longer do I have to tie each plastic bag shut and struggle to un-knot them or end up cutting them open.  The Koalabiner also comes in handy to use with a baby stroller, so you can attach your diaper bag or purse right to the handle.

ENTER TO WIN

WIN:  one Koalabiner and one List Caddy and one Koala Pouch

Mandatory entry:  Head to Momcepts.com and tell me which of the List Caddy colors you like the best.

**You MUST do the mandatory Entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!**

*BONUS ENTRIES*

{Leave separate comments for each bonus entry}

1. Follow me on twitter {1 entry}
2. Tweet the following {1 entry - can be done once daily}

WIN -  3 Shopping Gadgets -   RT @prpldy - GIVEAWAY Ends June 30th - #giveaway
 http://j.mp/9iN1Am

3. Subscribe to my blog {1 entries}

4. Grab my button (on the left) and leave the URL where it's at {1 entry}

5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a direct link to the post {3 entries - leave 3 separate comments}

6. Add my blog to your blog roll {1 entry}
7.  Become a public GFC follower - right side {1 entry}
8.  Comment on any non-giveaway post, telling me which one {1 entry for each comment}

**RULES**

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Open to the US and Canada
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Giveaway ends June 30, 2010 at 12(noon) CST
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Winners will be chosen via Random.Org., and contacted by email
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email, or another winner will be chosen

I was not compensated for this review, though  I did receive samples of the products to conduct my review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever had a snake.....

in your house?  I have!  Stayed tuned for more on that and Sweeney's Snake Repellent. 

Nutrition At Your Fingertips

I recently read a book (most of it for now, more about that in a moment), Nutrition At Your Fingertips, by Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN.  Oh my!  If you want to learn about the food values of various food items (protein, calories, other vitamins or minerals), or learn how to read your food labels and understand what they mean.  Or manage your weight, then this is the book you need in your library.

I was totally amazed at the amount of information that was in this book, and how easy it was to navigate and how organized the book is.  It has a very easy Flip and Find structure which makes it simple to find the information you need right now, and doesn't require you to learn everything there is to know about nutrition right at this moment.  (That's why I didn't read the book from cover to cover .... yet)  You can learn along the way, at your own pace and what you want to learn.  The book allows you to search for the information you want now, and pinpoint it, quickly and efficiently.

If you want to find the dietary sources of something such as vitamin C, the book will tell you what they are.  Or if you want to know how many calories you would burn doing various activities, there is a chart for that as well.   There is an appendix with useful resources such as other books to read, websites to visit and organizations to help you.

I know many people who have a gluten sensitivity and there is a sub-chapter pertaining to just that information.  It recommends ingredients to avoid and talks about Celiac Disease and it's symptoms (which we thought my Niece had, but doesn't... thankfully),

The chapters in the book are as follows:

1. Carbohydrates
2. Fats
3. Protiens
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals
6. Creating A Daily Meal Plan
7. Weight Management
8. Eat To Beat Disease
9. Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivties
10. Healthy Food Shopping
11. Healthy Eatting Tips
12. Foodborne Illnesses and Food Safety

Each chapter has many subcategories within them.  I am no expert, I can not tell you if this book has all of the information a person needs to know about nutrition.  I can tell you that it has one heck of a lot of information and that I was truly amazed at how much this book of 405 pages actually contains.  I learned many things that I did not already know.  And am thrilled that I now have this book in my library for reference.  Now, with this book at my side, maybe I will be able to take off the weight that I have been wanting to lose for a long time now.

How the book is organized (taken directly from the book):

Nutrition at Your Fingertips is organized like this.  First, the key nutrients your body needs and that are found in the diet, including carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals, are covered.  Then I show you how to determine your daily calorie needs and create your own daily eating plan no matter your age or stage of life.  Whether you are trying to manage your weight, a diet-related medical condition, or a food allergy or sensitivity, you'll find how-to nutrition strategies throughout the book.  The book also includes information to help you navigate the aisles of your local grocery store in a more informed way, read and understand food labels, and ultimately fill your cart with the most delicious and healthful items from the basic food categories.

Elisa Zied is a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.  She also co-wrote the books:  Feed Your Family Right! and So What Can I eat?

This book was published by Penguin Group which is part of ALPHA BOOKS.  They also have a series of "At Your Fingertips" books on various subjects because time is the scarcest commodity of all!  Some of the book in that series are:  Wine, eBay Business, Spanish, and The Internet

Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice Review and Giveaway

We eat a lot of rice in my house.  And I am always trying to find ways of getting the boys to eat healthier.  It's not always easy to do.  My Mom (rest her soul) used to make a lot of rice dishes, and now when I want to make myself feel better, fell closer to her, I follow her recipes.  One of my favorites, is her Cinnamon Rice which is easy to make and taste great.  We love it for breakfast or as a snack.

Cinnamon Rice:

2 cups cooked white rice
1 cup milk
1 Tlbs butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
sugar and cinnamon to taste

Mix above ingredients together and enjoy.  Told you it was easy.

And now with the New Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice, it is not only tasty (the boys could not tell the difference, nor could I) but a much healthier option for us.  With 4 grams of fiber per serving, and the taste and texture of white rice, it's the perfect addition to any shopping list.

I know I will be using the Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice on a regular basis now.  And it will replace my standard white rice on my shopping list.

You can find many great recipes at Uncle Ben's, and if you sign up at Uncle Ben's you can get a .75 cents off coupon right now.

My Grade:  A+

About:

New UNCLE BEN'S Whole Grain White Rice is made with natural ingredients and low in fat.  Whole Grain White Rice combines the familiar taste, texture, and cooking time of white rice with the goodness of whole grains.

Nutritional Claims & Product Benefits

• Good Source of Fiber
• 45g Whole Grains per Serving*
• Low Fat
• No Saturated Fat
• 0g Trans Fat
• Cholesterol Free
• Made with Natural Ingredients
• No Preservatives
• No Artificial Colors
• Vegetarian
• No MSG
• Supports a Healthy Heart†

†As part of a diet low in saturated fat & cholesterol.
*The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming 48g (or 3-oz. equivalents) of whole grains per day.

ENTER TO WIN

I received a few boxes of the rice along with some aprons to share from Uncle Ben's via Mom Central to share with friends and family.  Below you can enter for your chance to win one of two aprons.

Mandatory entry:  Tell me the name of one recipe you could use this New UNCLE BEN'S Whole Grain White Rice in?

**You MUST do the mandatory Entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!**

*BONUS ENTRIES*

{Leave separate comments for each bonus entry}

1. Follow me on twitter {1 entry}
2. Tweet the following {1 entry}

RT @prpldy - GIVEAWAY -  1 of 2 Aprons -  Ends June 4th -Your chance to win -  http://j.mp/c4JcZx  #UncleBens

3. Subscribe to my blog {1 entries}

4. Follow me on google friend connect {1 entry}

5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a direct link to the post {1 entry}

6. Add my blog to your blog roll {1 entry}

**RULES**

• 
  
  
  Open to the US
• 
  
  
  Giveaway ends June 4, 2010 at 12(noon) CST
• 
  
  
  Winners will be chosen via Random.Org., and contacted by email
• 
  
  
  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email, or another winner will be chosen

I was not compensated for this review, I did receive a box of rice and an apron (to conduct the review), with others to giveaway. All opinions are my own.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben’s and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

So much coming your way!

I am so excited!

I have some great reviews and giveaways coming real soon.  Some are for food items.  Others will be for leisure time.  A few very useful items.  And one to help keep a terrible pest away.  I am really excited about that one. 

my newly remodeled kitchen

The other day I received my Carolina Pad prize pack that I won from Erin's blog:  Mrs. Cox Slice O'Heaven.  It's just like the one Erin received (picture below) but my laptop sleeve is lime green and white dots just like my kitchen, where my desk is.  Everything matches so well.  When my Sister stopped by and I was showing her the items, she said "How did they know your colors!"  It was funny... guess you had to be here.  But she was right, it's like they knew what to send me

Hope you have a great day and don't forget to come back, one giveaway starts tomorrow.

BrendaLea

I Love ZeroWater!

I love water!  I especially love ZeroWater, it took all of the contaminants out of my tap water!  I am so  tickled to tell you about the ZeroWater Ion Exchange Filtration System.   I love a good tasting glass of water, especially in the Summer when it is hot. And I believe we all know how important water is to our bodies.

Each ZeroWater Ion Exchange Filtration System comes with a TDS meter so that you are able to compare the amount of dissolved particles in your tap water as well as the water from the ZeroWater Pitcher.

This is water my tap water registered:  153

And this is what the water from the ZeroWater Pitcher register after

using it for 4 weeks:  000

The Zero Water was the BEST tasting water I have ever tried.  The water taste clean, crisp, and oh so fresh!  Now I am a person that does not like warm water.  I have to drink my water extremely cold.  Well I used to have to drink it extremely cold.  I can tell you that with the Zero Water System, I am now able to drink water that is at room temperature if I need to.  Such as when I have a bottle of water in my car that has gotten warm.  No longer do I need to worry about how to keep my water cold when I am away from home.  And because the water taste so refreshing I know I will drink even more water than I used to.

ZeroWater has also become a "green" company as they have initiated a recycling program for the water filters.  An incentive for participating in the recycling program, ZeroWater® will offer a discount on replacement filters to offset the cost of shipping. And who doesn't like a company that thinks "green".

If ever I loved a product, then this is one that I love.  And I have tried multiple types of water filtration systems because I have never liked the taste of our city water.  None of the other systems I have tried holds a candle to the ZeroWater System.

about:

The revolutionary ion exchange filter by Zero Technologies, LLC is the only gravity fed filtration system that meets the FDA standard for purified bottled water*.  For the first time ever, by filtering tap water through
the ZeroWater® system, users can confidently replace bottled water with water that meets a higher standard than any other gravity fed water they are currently drinking.  This new technology far surpasses current gravity feed technology of the leaders in this market, removing virtually all measureable TDS in drinking water.

The ZeroWater® filtration system is available in the convenient ZeroWater® Pitcher and the jug-style ZeroWater® Filter Bottle. The pitcher has a ½ gallon capacity, requires one ZeroWater® filter and features an easy-fit lid with a pour spout for customer convenience, along with an exclusive in-fridge push button
dispenser.

The company is so confident in its guarantee that the filtered water will measure ZERO that it provides an independently manufactured total dissolved solids (TDS) meter so people can test water for themselves.

The TDS meter also offers users peace of mind that the ZeroWater® filter cartridges are working properly. When the tester reaches “006” it is time to change the filter. The life of a ZeroWater® filter is based on the amount of dissolved solids in local water and the amount of water consumed in a given time frame.

*Filtered potable tap water tested by an independent lab (not the FDA). Compared to water produced by leading gravity fed filters.

Happy Earth Day

How is this Earth Day treating you all?  It's the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.  Have you change anything you normally do, to make the Earth a bit greener for you and your family?

• Have you started recycling items you didn't before?  
• Have you put out a garden for the first time?
• Are you trying to save on your water usage or collecting rain water?
• Have you even given Earth Day a second thought?
• Have you started carpooling or combining multiple trips into one?

On to another topic.....  I want to say that I am very sorry to all of my winners (of my recent 29 Days of Giveaways), that I have not gotten your prize packages in the mail yet.  I ran into some financial problems and ran out of money very early this month.  But rest assured, your packages will go out the very first week of May.  I promise!

And speaking of sending out your prizes....

I have a wonderful giveaway planned for next week, along with an easy and very yummy recipe to share with you.  So I hope that you will return to see what is in store.

BrendaLea

Giveaway Day 17 - Music For Your Ears

Who likes Music? If you do: Raise Your Hands High Up In The Air! Mine are there. I love music of all genre. At one point in my life I didn't care for the Classics, and was stuck on Country. But today I LOVE any kind of music. The more music in my life the better.

I recently had a chance to review a wonderful new CD titled: Rhythm & Blues and you can win your very own copy.

I jumped at the chance because I love music, and I knew I had this set of giveaways to come and wanted more than just art supplies, books, and pieces of art made by me to giveaway. And I am so glad that I did. I love this album! And will be listening to it on a regular basis.

This Cd is exactly what you think of when you think Rhythm & Blues. It is up beat and reminds you of the 60's and 70's when The Four Tops, Otis Redding and The Supremes, among others, became a global phenomenon and has inspired a new generation of artists who are reviving the classic soul sound. The album features first generation soul legends and rising stars of the retro R&B revival. It was released on February 9, 2010. This is the the label’s first album exclusively dedicated to the genre.

This album can be purchased at the Putumayo website for $14.98, where you can also sample the music. It can also be found at Amazon.com.

FEATURED ARTISTS include:
Lavelle White • James Hunter • Cracked Ice • The Quantic Soul Orchestra featuring Kabir • The Emotions • Sam Moore, Keb’ Mo’ and Angie Stone • Catherine Russell • Ruthie Foster • Snooks Eaglin • Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings • Rockie Charles • Irma Thomas with Henry Butler

ABOUT THE ALBUM:
Rhythm & Blues features songs by other contemporary artists including British musician James Hunter, who blends intricate guitar licks with an Otis Redding-like wail on “’Til Your Fool Comes Home.” On “100 Days, 100 Nights,” Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings deliver a deeply stirring performance that reflects the pain of the lyrics. The Quantic Soul Orchestra mixes rhythm and blues with elements of reggae and Latin jazz in their cover of the Marion Black classic “Who Knows.” Jazz and blues vocalist Catherine Russell and New York collective Cracked Ice round out this collection of rhythm and blues that is “guaranteed to make you feel good.”

About The Company:
The Putumayo label grew out of Putumayo clothing company, founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. Co-founder Michael Kraus joined Storper to help launch Putumayo World Music in 1993. In the past 17 years, the label has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music characterized by the company's motto: “guaranteed to make you feel good!”

Putumayo’s CD covers feature the distinctive art of Nicola Heindl, whose colorful, folkloric style represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary.

Dan Storper’s vision of establishing a global company and lifestyle brand is being furthered by CD distribution in more than 100 countries. The opening of Putumayo Europe, in Hilversum, Holland in 2000 enabled the company to connect with the European music and retail scene. As of March 2008, the Putumayo Europe office was re-located to Weesp, Holland, near Amsterdam. The expansion of Putumayo International has also extended the label’s presence in South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The company now has offices in 15 countries around the world.

**Mandatory Entry**

Post a comment to my question:

What is your favorite kind (genre) of music?
Do you also have a favorite artist you would like to share?

My Answer:
As I mentioned earlier, I love all kinds of music. One of my all time favorite music artist is Brenda Lee (I was named after her), but I have way too many to list.

**You MUST do the mandatory Entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!**

*BONUS ENTRIES*

{Leave separate comments for each bonus entry}

1. Follow me on twitter {1 entry}
2. Tweet the following {2 entries}

RT @prpldy Day 17 GIVEAWAY -Music For Your Ears! Ends March 23rd - Enter to win. http://j.mp/cGI7KT #giveaway

3. Subscribe to my blog {2 entries}

4. Follow me on google friend connect {1 entry}

5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a direct link to the post {2 entries} {Leave separate comments}

6. Add my blog to your blog roll {1 entry}

That's a total of 9 extra entries if you so chose to do them!!! Wow!!!

**RULES**

• This one is open World Wide
  
• Giveaway ends March 23, 2010 at 12(noon) CST
• Winners will be chosen via Random.Org., and contacted by email
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email, or another winner will be chosen
• I will post winners weekly instead of daily

(While a complimentary CD was provided to The Purple Lady for review courtesy of Putumayo World Music and E1 Music Canada, no other compensation was given. All remarks are the personal and honest opinions of The Purple Lady)

Neti Rinse - update (review)

The other day I wrote an entry on the Neti Rinse that I reviewed. I wasn't feeling the best and there was more things I wanted to say about the Neti Rinse.

1. The first time you use a sinus rinse, it feels a bit weird or strange. You have to remember to keep your mouth open and breath through your mouth. But the next time, it's not a problem.

2. Even though you may not see much gunk come out, it still makes a huge difference in being able to breath through your nose.

3, After using the rinse, you will need to blow your nose to remove the remaining saline solution. It usually takes me several tissues.

4. The Neti Rinse comes with the syringe and 50 packets of the saline solution that you mix with warm (not hot) distilled water - I heat mine in the microwave for 30 seconds, and complete instruction on how to use the Neti Rinse.

I hope that I have finally included everything that I wanted to say about the wonderful product that really helps my sinuses.

Do you suffer with sinus problems or nasal allergies? (review)

I know that I do on a daily basis (have sinus problems). And because of this my doctor gave me a Neti Pot and I was told to use the pot daily. Problem is, even though it worked, I was not fond of how it worked. It took forever, it seemed, for the gravity to pull the solution through my sinus cavity. So needless to say, I did not use it daily as I was instructed to do. Therefore I dealt with stuffed/clogged sinuses and allergy problems on a daily basis.

That is until I received the Acu Life Neti Rinse to review. I love the way this antibacterial nasal rinse works. It uses a syringe, and you can control the duration and pressure of the rinse. The fluted walls of the antibacterial tip produces a gentle swirl of the saline rinse solution. The syringe is comfortable and easy to use. And works better at cleaning out my sinuses than anything else I have ever tried.

From the box:

• relief from nasal congestion, allergies, & sinus symptoms
• for post nasal drip, cold & flu, nasal dryness or irritation
• easily control duration & pressure of rinse

I am so happy with this Neti Rinse and my sinuses have never felt better. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone that has a cold, sinuses that are clogged, or nasal allergies. And hope that the4y have the same wonderful benefits that I have had.

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review. The only payment I received was one package of the product.
Thank you to ACU-LIFE and the FuelMyBlog for the opportunity to review this product.


saline rinse solution, nasal allergy, antibacterial nasal rinse

Have you ever wanted to feel better?

Did you know that if you lost some weight ... those of us that have a few too many extra pounds, can actually feel better if you loose some weight. Well it's true! Not only do your clothes fit better, you look better, it's better for your internal organs, and just over all y0u feel better.

I recently had the opportunity to try Slim Shots and boy was I surprised at how well it worked at curbing my appetite.

I received the chocolate flavor (it also comes in a vanilla flavor) to try. It tasted more like hazel nuts to me, which I enjoyed. Slim Shots come in a small container similar to the flavored coffee creamer shots. They are easy to use and my package had an added bonus of a hard plastic storage container for one Slim Shot. Which is very handy for carrying a Slim Shot with you when you are away from home. I thought it tasted even better cold, s0 I kept my box in the fridge.

I never thought it would curb my appetite as well as said it would. But it did! It also worked really quickly at curbing my appetite, every time I used one and it would last between 3 and 5 hours. I used it the way it suggested. For the first week, one at breakfast and one at lunch time. And then just one a day thereafter. I was telling a friend of mine about the Slim Shots, and she wanted to try one. She was also amazed at how quickly it curbed her appetite too! I lost a total of 6 pounds, and boy am I tickled. I have been trying to loose a few pounds and I finally succeeded.

(my photo, sorry it's not better)

from the Slim Shots website:

How does it work?

• SlimShots has been proven to increase the feeling to satiety [i.e., being full].
• Satiety is the long term effect of a meal—how long it takes to become hungry again and how much food is consumed at the next meal.
• General Explanation: SlimShots™ triggers the body’s natural appetite control mechanism, the ileal brake, satisfying users for long periods of time and in turn, allowing them to eat less, without sacrifice and without depriving them of their favorite foods.

How do I use SlimShots? For optimal effectiveness; take two shots per day the 1st week; one shot [9.3 ml container] at breakfast and one shot at lunch. Thereafter, one shot at breakfast should be sufficient. However, response rates can vary for individuals depending on different factors like body weight. SlimShots comes in mini shots [i.e., about the site of a coffee creamer], which can be kept at work, in the kitchen or in your purse. SlimShots can be taken as a shot or added to coffee, yogurt, cereal or shakes.

Who can take it?

• Anyone who wishes to manage their appetite and moderate their food intake.
• It’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
• It’s an ideal compliment to weight loss products except Alli.
• If taking any kind of medication, you should consult your doctor before taking SlimShots as a precaution.

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review. The only payment I received was one package of the product.
Thank you to Slim Shots and the FuelMyBlog for the opportunity to review this product.