Saturday, September 29, 2012

With A $1 Each We Can Help Turn A Life Around

I wanted to share this post, from a friend of mine, with everyone. If you all would hop over to her GoFundMe site, you can read more of her posts when you finish with this one, or you can visit her on her blog, The Fibro Frog. If we could help her out, even if it's just with $1 at a time and if you could all share her GoFundMe site or this post with your friends.

Trust me, this is not a scam or anything like that. Amy is a real person and is trying her hardest to get this thing going. I too have fibromyalgia and getting people educated is very important, trust me. So many people do not understand what we go through on a daily basis. Even to education the family members or care takers of those who suffer from chronic pain is very important. I have been diagnosed for approximately 3 to 4 years and I know that my family does not understand what pain I go through on a daily basis. I try to keep it to myself and not let them know and keep things normal but sometimes it's just not possible. Sometimes you just have to give up, stay home and do nothing because the pain wins over.

Updated posted by Amy Mullholand 6 days ago

If you'd look at me you'd...

If you'd look at me you'd think I looked fine. I'm not fine though, and neither is any one else that suffers from chronic pain and fatigue illnesses. Insomnia is the worst. Last "night" (today) I finally fell asleep close to 7am. Woke up this afternoon just as tired as when I went to sleep. I dropped my coffee scoop on the floor but was too stiff that I could not bend to pick it up. Head is killing me. Upper arm muscles are hurting. Knees are so bad lately that every time I go to stand up I have to use the arms of the chair and push myself up, then I holler out in pain. I "used" to be a photographer. This photo is one of mine. I still take photos but not like I used to. I can only take a few at a time because the weight of the camera hurts my neck, shoulders and arms too much. My back starts killing me standing there. I can't stoop or bend for certain shots. Photography was the ONE thing I absolutely loved in my life. We NEED to educate people about what it's really like to live with a chronic pain illness. We NEED to raise funds for research so that I cure may possible be found. That's not going to ever happen without change and change will never happen without education. If people don't really understand what we go through, and think we have a "trash can" diagnoses, then we'll never get the backing needed for research. I want a cure! Or at the very least, a concrete treatment plan that will help me. I want to take photos again. I want to jump in the car and spend an entire day taking photos like I used to! Please, help me to help all of us by presenting my chronic pain seminar. Education is key to anything in life, including this.

Crowdfunding

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Mediflow Waterbase Pillow Review & #Giveaway

Mediflow Waterbase Pillow Review & Giveaway

Brought to you by: The Fibro Frog

I'm so excited to bring you this review and giveaway compliments of Mediflow! If you're plagued by any type of neck or shoulder pain, then this is the pillow for YOU! Mediflow actually refers to the waterbase pillow as a sleep system, rather then "just" a pillow.

The way the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow works, is that under the plump, soft, polyester fill it has a waterbase on the bottom. The fill in the pillow, has a special finish on it to keep it plump and cloud-like and makes the pillow long-lasting and washable! The waterbase of the bottom of the pillow, gives your neck continuous support that you can't get with a traditional pillow. The great thing is, the user can adjust the amount of water for the unique support that their own body needs. After you get the amount of water adjusted, the system will support your neck and spine while you sleep, even as you're turning over or switching sides!

Now, if you're anything like me, you're probably wondering if trying to fill the pillow is a big hassle or not. The day my Mediflow Waterbase Pillow arrived I was so excited to try it out that night, but I was also a nervous wreck that I wouldn't be able to fill it and that I'd make a big mess trying to fill it. You can see in the photo above, that the pillow comes with a little funnel type thing. You stand the pillow upright on a chair, insert the funnel, and then poor in the amount of water that you've decided to try. Once you have the water in it, you run your hands down the pillow until you hit the water area, to push excess air out, then insert the cap to seal it shut. By doing this step, it keeps the pillow from making a "sloshing" sound when you turn over. If you hear the water, then you don't have all of the air out of it! That's it! Super easy! I studied the water chart and measured out the amount of water I thought I'd need, and then tried the pillow. It felt amazing to me, but I still needed just a bit more support. I just added a little bit more, and it was perfect!

You don't have to take my word for it though, nor do you have to just take Mediflow's word. John Hopkins Hospital conducted a neck pain and quality of sleep study, and the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow ranked the best out of all pillows tested! The Mediflow pillow helped to reduce pain patients felt upon waking, it increased their pain relief, and it also improved their quality of sleep! As a person who suffers from a severe case of Fibromyalgia, I can attest how hard it is to get quality sleep when you do sleep. Insomnia is a horrible beast of Fibromyalgia that plagues me. It's also been proven that people with Fibromyalgia never get into a good sleep cycle. In my honest opinion this pillow is worth it's weight in gold! I'll never ever own another pillow again. After just one night of sleeping on the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow, I knew that they'd convinced me! Therefore, I'm excited to bring a giveaway to you all, so that you'll have a chance to win your own Mediflow Waterbase Pillow!

Giveaway will run from 12:01am September 27, 2012 - 11:59pm October 11, 2012. Giveaway open to US residents. This blog is not responsible for shipping the prize. Prize will be shipped directly from Mediflow. Winner will be listed on the Raffle Copter form when contest ends, and I will email the winner. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond to me with their shipping info, or a new winner will be selected.

*I did not receive any cash compensation for hosting this review and giveaway, but I did receive one of the pillows to try out, and give my honest opinion of. All opinions expressed are my own without any influence from Mediflow.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 24, 2012

Quick.Smart.Go Stroller #Giveaway ($280 Value)

Welcome to the QUICK.SMART.GO Amazing Stroller Giveaway!

Retail Value $280.00

Technology keeps getting better for making strollers user friendly!!

We have found the BEST one YET!

No Assembly required
Folds in 2 easy/natural steps
Lightweight 15.4lbs.
Extremely Compact
Weathershield
Carry Bag
Award Winning
Comfort:Extra tall parent push bar and 2 position baby backrest

Quick.Smart.Go. has a totally new designed Stroller Concept, folding up amazingly compact for the ON THE GO PARENT!!

Hosted By:

Mommy and Baby Reviews, Mom Does Reviews, Emptynester Reviews

Co-Hosted By:

Parsimonious Pash & Sister’s Saving Cents

along with a crew of amazing other Bloggers!!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below

must be 18+ Years of age to enter

open to US only

ends 10/8

Quick.Smart.Go is responsible for shipping of prize to winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

My Visit to Amish County Gets Me Two Awesome Things!!

This past Saturday, my sister in law and I ventured up to Berlin, Ohio to meet Wanda Brunstetter at one of her many book signings. Wanda has got to be my all time favorite Author and it was wonderful getting to meet her and having her sign one of her books for me.

The books she writes usually get me into a bit of a mess because I can never seem to put them down and chores seem to get a bit behind but the books are well worth it. She writes mainly about the Amish but she does have books about other things also. I highly recommend her work to everyone. She even writes chapter books for kids. As a matter of fact, one of my daycare kids loves to read her books also, so I have going to have to make sure that I start buying all of her kids books for her to read.

If you would like to check out some of the reviews that I have done of some of her books, you can do that here.

Along with Wanda Brunstetter being there for a book signing, a lady named Dawn Stoltzfus was there doing a signing for her cookbook, A Farmer's Daughter: Recipes from a Mennonite Kitchen. I had never heard of her before and while were standing in line waiting for Wanda, Dawn's husband was asking if we would like to look at Dawn's book and also told us that we could go around the line and sample a couple of things that were in her cookbook, one was a Summer Bounty Salad and the other thing was a Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake. I hoped around and grabbed one of each for my sister in law and myself, giving her the cheesecake because I am not a fan.

Well, let me just say that after I tasted the Summer Bounty Salad, I purchased a cookbook and had it signed by Dawn. I could not wait to get home and make myself some of that salad because it was delicious. Now, because I am such a nice person I am going to share it with you all. No, really I am sharing it with you all because it is just too darn delicious to keep to my self! Just as a note, when I was talking with Dawn as she was signing my book, she said that this salad would be great with some roasted chicken. I think it is great to eat with anything. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

Summer Bounty Salad

This recipe is from the book A Farmer’s Daughter: Recipes from a Mennonite Kitchen by Dawn Stoltzfus

Ingredients

1/3 c Olive oil

¼ c Balsamic Vinegar

1 TBS Chili Powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp fresh cracked pepper

2 TBS fresh Basil, minced

1 cup cucumber, peeled and diced

2 cup tomatoes

1 green bell pepper, diced

½ cup red onion, diced

1-15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1-16 oz can of corn

1 cup feta cheese

Directions

1. Mix together olive oil, vinegar, chili powder, salt and pepper and set aside.

2. Place basil, cucumber, green peppers, onion, tomatoes, black beans, corn, feta cheese in a bowl. Pour dressing over top. Serves 6 – 8.

TIP: Print recipe on cardstock for durability.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Glade Expressions Collections - What's your scent?

I love to have my home smelling of something good all the time so when I was sent coupons to purchase Glade Expressions Collections Oil Diffuser and Fragrance Mist for free, I jumped at the chance.

I love the scent of Lavender & Juniper Berry but I love the scent Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice more. It smells like I am baking. Me baking, that is funny!

You can get get $2 off the Fragrance Mist and $4 off the Oil Diffuser, HERE.

I received these products for free to try in exchange for my honest opinion, therefor I am a BzzAgent.

PEDIGREE "Stay Clean and Fresh" Gift Pack #Giveaway

With two dogs in our house and one being diabetic, smelly breath is an issue with our dogs, especially with our Lab/Newfoundland mix named Shadow. So when I was contacted to review Pedigree's Dentastix, I jumped at the chance. Below you will see a picture of my Cocker Spaniel Sophie, eating her Dentastix mini. She absolutely loved them, and they did make her breath smell much better also. They worked really good on Shadow also but he just eats things so fast that I just could not get a picture of him doing anything but what looked like him snarling his teeth. I have given them these for a couple days before I made my decision on whether they worked or not and they do. Now, I can stand for Shadow to come over and breathe in my face to be petted. Thanks Pedigree!!

Have you ever wondered how the Dentastix works at cleaning your dogs teeth? Well in this video, you will see how that happens.

While you are over visiting Pedigree's website, check out the Denture Your Dog page and upload a picture of you dog and have fun with it.

This is what all came in my Gift Pack to review.

THE GIVEAWAY

"Stay Clean and Fresh" gift pack for one lucky reader.

Each giveaway package includes:

* Dentastix Fresh Samples

* Two (2) packs Dentastix Coupons (Dentastix or Dentastix Fresh)

* NEW "Dogs rule" Gear

* Doggie Toothbrush and Toothpaste (brand to provide)

* Oral care tips for your four-legged friend

Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received the same gift pack in exchange for my honest review and giveaway. My opinion expressed are mine and mine alone (with the help of my 2 dogs on this one). I was not monitarily compensated in any way.

Monday, September 10, 2012

FREE Blogger Op ~ Pedigree Stay Clean and Fresh Gift Pack

I am hosting a review and giveaway for PEDIGREE "Stay Clean and Fresh" Gift Pack and I am looking for five bloggers to help me out in promoting this for me.

In exchange for helping me promote my review/giveaway once per day, you will receive two links of your choice to be added to the rafflecopter.

Each "Stay Clean and Fresh" giveaway package includes:

* Dentastix Fresh Samples

* Two (2) packs Dentastix Coupons (Dentastix or Dentastix Fresh)

* NEW "Dogs rule" Gear

* Doggie Toothbrush and Toothpaste (brand to provide)

* Oral care tips for your four-legged friend

Giveaway date: September 13th at 12:01am to Sept 23 at 12:01am

Open to US only

COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and Pressed Powder Review

You know what I love the most about being a BzzAgent?

I love getting to try new things and letting you all know what I honestly think about them, especially the ones that I fall in love with! There have been a few things that I have not so loved and that is why I love being a BzzAgent because I get to use my word of mouth to let you all know what I think of products that are sent to me to give a try.

So you want to know what I think??

This product I just love! COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation has became my new one and only foundation. I have literally went and thrown out my other two foundations that I had in my makeup drawer. This is just so light but still has that great coverage. I do not like a foundation that you can "feel" on your face so I actually stopped wearing makeup unless hubby and I go out on a special occasion. I have been putting this on just to see if I can feel it and, nope!! It's like it is not even there! I am totally amazed.

I was also sent the COVERGIRL & Olay Pressed Powder and I have never been a pressed powder user but I am now. I have always felt that the foundation was heavy enough that I didn't want to add any more to my face but this is great because I unfortunately I sweat around my eyes and my makeup goes everywhere. I do love this powder and now it has a home in my purse and a home in the makeup drawer. Yes, I purchased a second one.

I was so amazed that with the BzzAgent campaigns we are given coupons to hand out to our friends as we tell them about the product, I was thinking to myself "How many of these will I need before they expire?" No, really I kept two for myself (one for each product) and passed the others along to my friends and others that I talked to.

Have you tried these? If so let me know what you think?

I received these products to try in exchange for my honest opinion, therefor I am a BzzAgent.