Friday, August 29, 2014

Downy's Wrinkle Releaser Plus - Product Review



I recently had the opportunity to try Downy's Wrinkle Releaser Plus.  Since we were getting ready to travel to Germany for two weeks we decided to pack Downy's Wrinkle Releaser Plus TSA Approved Travel Size to the test.

The trip we won to Germany involved visiting five different cities and a whirl-wind sight seeing agenda.  There just wasn't any time built into our schedule to iron our clothes. 

We discovered Downy's Wrinkle Releaser Plus is an outstanding product for removing wrinkles and a MUST HAVE for travelers.  It's easy to use, simply pull out item with wrinkles, spray, smooth, and go. It also gives your clothes a light fresh scent.  I highly recommend for the person on the go!
The product comes in a variety of sizes including: 

*  1-liter bottle – $6.99
*  500ml bottle – $4.19
*  3-ounce bottle – $1.99

You can purchase Downy Wrinkle Releaser at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Kroger, Publix, among other grocery stores and other mass retailers. Be sure to download this $1.00">http://www.downywrinklereleaserplus.com/coupons-special-offers-wrinkle-spray/">$1.00 off coupon
before you head out the door.
Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received samples of Downy's Wrinkle Releaser Plus for review purposes from the people at P&G.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Mytrition From The Vitamin Shoppe - Product Review



I was recently given the opportunity to try Mytrition Women's Personal Dietary Supplements from the Vitamin Shoppe.

Each Personal Packs is designed to bring you the benefits of the most advanced nutritional science in a convenient once-daily dose. Each Personal Pack includes a precise combination of high-quality tablets capsules and softgels designed to provide you with a wide spectrum of supplements including vitamins and minerals, powerful antioxidants, targeted herbs, and essential fatty acids.

*  Multivitamins provides broad-spectrum support for your healthy, active lifeslyle. they help fill in gaps in nutrition and support total-body wellness. Provides a full daily serving or more of many essential vitamins and minerals.

*  Omega-3 Fish Oil provides high-levels of EPA (600 mg) and DHA (240 mg) to promote brain,eye, and cardiovacular health.

*  Coenzyme Q-10 100 mg for energy production and antioxidant support.

*  Green Tea Extract to promote a healthy metabolism and provide antioxidant support.

*  Cranberry to support urinary tract health.

*  Vitamin D3 2000 IU to support bone and immune health.

You can purchase MyTrition in Men's Formula, Women's Formula, Mytrition Brain Personal Pack, Mytrition Beauty Personal Pack, Mytrition Heart Personal Pack, Mytrition Joint Personal Pack, Mytrition Eye Personal Pack, Mytrition Women's 50+ Personal Packs, Mytrition Women's Sport Personal Pack, Mytrition Men's 50+ Personal Packs, and Mytrition Men's Sport Personal Pack at the Vitamin Shoppe.  

Legal Disclaimer
The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received Mytrition Women's Personal Dietary Supplement for review purposes from the people at the Vitamin Shoppe.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

The Melting Pot Hosting #MeltySelfieMonday Contests



They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but at The Melting Pot thinks a good selfie is worth a pot of fondue! Each Monday through Sept. 15, The Melting 
Pot will release a new #MeltySelfieMonday photo challenge on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/themeltingpotrestaurants and on Instagram @TheMeltingPo. The Melting Pot will award 10 great selfie-takers each week with $50 Melting Pot gift card.

From upside-down to group selfie themes, there are multiple chances to participate and win! So, don’t hold back. Showing us your cheesiest selfie could earn you a potof cheese fondue!  Stay connected with The Melting Pot on Facebook and Instagram to join the #MeltySelfieMonday fun!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

#SodaSelfie



This one couldn't get much simpler! Zevia is giving away oodles of soda simply for posting pics of yourself with your favorite soda (ahem) on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!  Everyone that shares wins soda and their weekly "Flavorite of the Week" gets a case of the winning flavor!

Check out the gallery and then get snapping!

Monday, August 25, 2014

What Makes You SHINE?! #ZeviaStyle!




Now through September 5th, Zevia is celebrating everything that makes you special! Are you the style icon of your social circle? Do your friends call you for parenting tips?  Is "kitchen wizard" your middle name?! We want to celebrate it!  Share your style pics on Instagram or Twitter, tag Zevia with the hashtag #ZeviaStyle and wait for the Good Soda Love to rain down! Be sure to head to the style gallery to see everyone in all their glory!

 Zevia is giving away one $100 Target gift card every single day! PLUS, they're giving free six packs to everyone who participates, so the only way you can lose is if you don't share your style pics!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Hershey's 2014 Summer S'Mores Grilling Instant Win Game



You could Instantly win a Hershey's S'mores Grilling Kit over one thousand will be given away!  

GAME began at 12:00:00 P.M. “EDT” on APRIL 21, 2014 and ends at AT 11:59:59 P.M. EDT on SEPTEMBER 6, 2014.

Open only to legal residents of the United States residing in the 50 United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of playing. Employees

There are two (2) ways to play. During the Game Period, you may play for a chance to win a prize in one of the following manners:

(a) Text Message: text HERSHEYSMORES to shortcode 87963

(b) Internet: Visit https://www.veranohersheys.com/en-US

Limit one (1) Play per person/mobile phone/e-mail address/household per day, regardless of method of Play.

One Thousand One Hundred Twelve (1,112) Prizes. Each winner will receive a prize pack consisting of one (1) grill basket, one (1) Apron, and one 12" Inch SS Tongs w/Bamboo. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $48.97 each prize pack.

Limit one (1) prize per person, address and/or household.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Lean Cuisine Share the Wealth Sweepstakes

Can you say 'Best Friends Forever'? This awesome prize package is perfectly designed for sharing!

Prize: One (1) ”Share the Wealth” package consisting of two (2) Amazon® Kindle Fire™ tablets, two (2) $100 Amazon.com® Gift Cards, and two (2) $500 DSW® Gift Cards. ARV: $1,540.00.

How to Enter:  You must be a LEAN CUISINE DELICIOUS REWARDS member and meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in Section 5 (below) to participate in the Sweepstakes.

Membership is free. Log in to the leancuisine.com and follow the links and instructions to proceed to the DELICIOUS REWARDS Catalog (the “Catalog”). Once in the Catalog, there are three (3) Sweepstakes reward items ("Prize") available in the list of Rewards. You can enter for a chance to win them one (1) of the following two (2) ways:

a. Redeem Rewards Points:  Click on the Prize in the catalog and follow the links and instructions to redeem twenty (20) Rewards Points for which you will receive one (1) Sweepstakes entry toward Prize 1 or Prize 2, or redeem fifty (50) Rewards Points for which you will receive one (1) Sweepstakes entry toward Prize

b. Free Mail-in Method of Entry:  To enter without redeeming points, hand print your name, a valid mailing address (P.O. Boxes are not permitted), day and evening phone numbers and registered e-mail address on a 3" x 5" piece of paper and mail it in  an envelope (complete with proper postage) addressed to:

LEAN CUISINE DELICIOUS REWARDS
August Sweepstakes $1540 “Share the Wealth” Package
PO Box 5046
Department: 573055
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-5046

You will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes drawing for the Prize selected.  Limit: One (1) entry per envelope. All mail-in entries must be handwritten, no mechanical reproductions. All mail-in entries must be postmarked by September 2, 2014 and received by September 9, 2014.

The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry and member of the DELICIOUS REWARDS program.

The DELICIOUS REWARDS from LEAN CUISINE August Sweepstakes begins on August 1, 2014 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on September 2, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Promotion Period").

Friday, August 22, 2014

New SOFTSOAP Brand Decor Collection Liquid Hand Soap Line



I recently had the opportunity to try SOFTSOAP's Brand Decor Collection Liquid Hand Soap.  

Softsoap is a brand we've used at the Thrifty House for years so I'll admit I already had high expectations.  I certainly wasn't disappointed. 

The new Softsoap Décor Collection is available in three scents --Wild Basil and Lime, Orchid Petals and Mint Water and Peony and Plum. I feel pampered when I use them to wash my hands.
Small accents make all the difference when it comes to dressing up your sink and the decanters are delightful.

Treat yourself to an indulgent hand washing experience, with the enticing scents of Peony & Plum, Orchid Petals & Mint Water, and Wild Basil & Lime in a package you are proud to display.   Collect all three exquisite fragrances to beautify every sink in your home starting February 2014. 

You can purchase the new Softsoap Décor™ Collection liquid hand soap at leading retailers throughout the country at stores such as Target, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid and other large food stores. It is attractively priced at the suggested retail price of only $2.49 per 10 fluid ounce bottle.

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received samples of this product for review purposes from the people at Colgate-Palmolive.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Dr. King's 9-1-1 Stress Control - Product Review



I like to try out natural remedies and always have them around just in case. I generally find homeopathic remedies to be gentle and safe for my sensitive constitution and yet effective for me. When one doesn't give me the results desired, I simply choose a different remedy with different ingredients until I find what works for me at this time.

The Vitamin Shoppe recently sent me a sample of Dr. King's 9-1-1 Stress Control.

Dr. King, founded King Bio in 1989, is a dedicated practitioner, researcher, teacher, and author. His passion is empowering people with natural solutions for today's perplexing health issues.

Dr. King's 9-1-1 Stress Control claims to temporarily relieve symptoms due to mental, physical or emotional stress: tension, nervousness, apathy, irritability, fearfulness, body pains, over-sensitivity, sleeplessness.

Product Details:

• Safe and natural homeopathic formulas
• No alcohol, dairy, glutens, sugar or yeast
• Taste free, odor free, pure water base
• No known negative side effects or drug interactions
• USA based manufacturer and powerful triple potency strength physician tested formulas

Warnings:  If symptoms persist or worsen, or if pregnant or nursing, take only on advice of a healthcare professional. Keep out of reach of children.

Remember you can purchase Dr. King's 9-1-1 Stress Control - Product Review at the Vitamin Shoppe!

Legal Disclaimer
The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received samples of this product for review purposes from the people at The Vitamin Shoppe.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

It Appears The Gentle Giant Wasn't So Gentle



Darren Wilson, the officer whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown touched off more than a week of often violent demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo., suffered severe facial injuries — including an orbital blowout fracture to his eye-socket.  A blow-out fracture is a fracture of one or more of the bones surrounding the eye and is commonly referred to as an orbital floor fracture.

According to a well-placed source, the Assistant Police Chief took Wilson, who's face was swollen on one side, to the hospital

Obviously this is not information deemed to be newsworthy by the left leaning media and race-hustlers like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson  








Spry Chewing Gum - Product Review



I recently had the opportunity to try Sugarfree Spry Chewing Gum from Xlear the Xylitol experts.

If you know me then you KNOW how much I love to chew gum but unfortunately the sugar in chewing gum is not good for my teeth.  That's why I was happy to learn that I can now chew gum without the guilt all that sugar can cause.  That's because Spry chewing gum is 100% xylitol sweetened.

What is Xylitol?  Xylitol is an all-natural sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables, including raspberries and plums. It tastes and looks like sugar. Because it is all-natural, it differs substantially from artificially created chemical sweeteners like Splenda®, and aspartame. It is safe for people of all ages.

According to the literature I received from Xlear, clinical studies have shown that incorporating 8 to 10 grams of xylitol, found in Xlear's xylitol-rich products, into your daily routine may reduce the risk of tooth decay, inhibit the formation of plaque and improve overall oral health.

Spry chewing gum is available in Cinnamon, Fresh Fruit, Green Tea, Peppermint, and Spearmint flavors.  My favorite was the Cinnamon.  It was the best cinnamon gum I've ever tried. The flavor lasts and lasts.  The fact that its actually good for your teeth is an added bonus!

Spry Chewing Gum is available at the Vitamin Shoppe.

Be sure to learn more about these other Spry Dental Defense products by visiting them online at www.xlearinc.com/spry

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received samples of this product for review purposes from the people at The Vitamin Shoppe.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Spry Oral Rinse - Product Review



The GREAT folks at The Vitamin Shoppe recently sent me a sample of Spry Oral Rinse for review It came just at the right moment because I just had my teeth cleaned at the dentist and I want to maintain good dental health.

Cool, refreshing Spry® Oral Rinse with all-natural Xylitol- a great-tasting natural sweetener with unique dental benefits. It is quick and easy to use! A 60-second rinse with Spry® Cool Mint or new Spearmint and Wintergreen reaches parts of the mouth that may be missed by brushing alone. Used daily, this mouth wash helps wash away bacteria and keeps your mouth clean and leaves you with great tasting breath.

What is Xylitol?  Xylitol is an all-natural sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables, including raspberries and plums. It tastes and looks like sugar. Because it is all-natural, it differs substantially from artificially created chemical sweeteners like Splenda®, and aspartame. It is safe for people of all ages.

According to the literature I received from Xlear, clinical studies have shown that incorporating 8 to 10 grams of xylitol, found in Xlear's xylitol-rich products, into your daily routine may reduce the risk of tooth decay, inhibit the formation of plaque and improve overall oral health.

Spry Oral rinse is a great tasting rinse designed to help keep the mouth and teeth refreshingly clean. In combination with proper brushing and flossing, it helps eliminate the build-up of bacterial biofilm - that slimy film that collects on health teeth.  I really like that Spry® Oral Rinse doesn't burn and it leaves your breath fresh and not smelling over powering or medication mouth.

Be sure to pick up Spry Oral Rinse at the Vitamin Shoppe!

You can learn more about these other Spry Dental Defense products by visiting them online at www.xlearinc.com/spry

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  I received samples of this product for review purposes from the people at The Vitamin Shoppe.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Monday, August 18, 2014

No Justice! No Peace!



Let me begin this post by saying that I truly believe ALL Life has value.  GOD created each person in his own image and NO ONE under any circumstances can claim for himself the right to destroy the life of an innocent person.

The ten commandments spells this out clearly when it states "THOU SHALL NOT KILL". This commandment proclaims the Lord denounces murderous anger and proclaims hatred as immoral.

While the glaring hot spotlight of the media shines on the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, I wonder where the calls for justice are for these victims of violence.

On August 16th a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot on Chicago's South Side.

Police say that the girl was standing outside around 12:45 a.m. with a man when a car drove by and someone inside fired shots.  She was shot in the head and was unresponsive at the scene.

In Philadelphia death of a 3-year-old sitting on a front porch was decried as senseless violence with one family friend saying, "No baby deserves to die like that."  

Police identified the girl as Tynirah Borum.  She was shot in the chest by a stray bullet while getting her hair braided about 9:40 p.m. in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia.

In Baltimore a 3-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet after gun fire erupted in her neighborhood.  The child died in the hospital after police said.

Police in Prince George's County, (Md) say that, Knijah Amore Bib, 3-year-old is dead after being struck by gunfire.  

Shamiya Adams was sitting on a bedroom floor in her best friend's home making s'mores during a sleep-over with her friends when a shot ripped through the Garfield Park home.  Shamiya was pronounced dead at 7:33 am the next morning.  

Sixteen month old Drew Jackson was killed while sleeping with his family at their Brookfield Village home.  Someone fired shots into the bedroom from outside the home.  

Hiram Lawrence Jr, 23 months old, was with his father as he left a West Okland liquor store about 6 PM.  Three men fired into a crowd in the parking lot and a bullet struck the child leaving him in a coma for eleven days.  He was taken off life support and succumbed to his injuries.  

The list goes on and on.

My heart cries out for the death of these children but apparently the sensationalism of a cop-shooting does not seem to capture the interest of the media.  Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson just can't seem to be bothered by these senseless murders not when they can garner more fame by showing up at incidents like Ferguson.

Where are the nightly chants for "No Justice!  No Peace!"?  

Looting and bedlam does NOT engender sympathy for a cause.  Instead these actions do more to help perpetrate the misconception that African-Americans are violent people.  Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall understood the power of a picture and it's important for those involved in the rioting and looting to understand also.
























Sunday, August 17, 2014

Is It A Cover-Up?



When news of the strong armed robbery was released the other day, many people asked why this bit of information had been withheld.  Some felt that this was a cover-up and that the police were working backward to fabricate a justification for the murder.

I'll admit that I too wondered why the police would have withheld this information.  Yesterday I finally got the answer.

It turns out that the Justice Department had warned the police that releasing the video could inflame racial tension. This means that the same Justice Department that is doing a review of this case is also offering guidance about how to frame the incident to the public at large.

Is it just me or don't you think that transparency would have helped lessen the tension in Ferguson.

Next we come to this video on YouTube.  As my former students would say "Dah-yum"  If you listen to the video beginning at 06:28 you will hear one of the witnesses telling the person making the video that when Officer Wilson tries to get out of his vehicle the "gentle giant" and his friend slam his car door shut violently.  Then the officer exits the car.

And then what happens?  According to this witness Michael bum-rushes the officer and shoves him back into his vehicle then punches the officer in the face.  At that point the officer grabs for his gun.  Brown also grabs for the gun and the gun goes off.

Brown then takes off and the officer pursues him.  The officer yells for Michael to "FREEZE"!  Michael then taunts the police officer.  (NO by the way taunting does NOT give you the right to fire upon an unarmed citizen or for that matter an armed citizen)

According to the witness Brown then charged the officer and the officer began firing.  Brown continued to come forward.

This sort of eye-witness statement is known as an "excited utterance."  For those of you not familiar with this term, an excited utterance is a statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant (the person making the statement) is under the stress or excitement that is caused.

Was Michael Brown really on his knees with his hands in the air as his friend has declared?  Did Michael Brown actually run up on the cop as this witness claims?  How did the policeman sustain an injury to his face?  How many shots were fired?  How many times was Michael Brown actually shot?  Sadly there is no dash-cam to release so that some of these questions can be answered.






Saturday, August 16, 2014

African-American Males Are Murdered At A Rate 6 Times Higher Than For Whites



I have always found it interesting that Liberals proclaim that by the virtue of their incredibly high IQ's and scientific acuity THEY alone can make rational decisions based upon reason and not emotion.
Recently the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri has the talking heads in an uproar about young black males being targeted for murder.
I would concur that they are. As a matter of fact statistics bear this out with the odds that an African-American male will be murdered about 6 times higher than for whites according to Bureau of Justice Statistics.
The vast majority of murders are intra-racial.  This means that generally whites kill white and blacks kill blacks.  As a matter of fact according to government statistics 93% of all murders committed by whites are against white victims, and 83% of all murders committed by African-American are against black victims.  
Having said all this, I was deeply concerned when I learned about the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed youth by a uniformed police officer in Ferguson.  It was and is  a tragedy when anyone is murdered.  
My heart cries out for the murder victims in Chicago where the death toll surpassed the number of Americans killed in Afghanistan.  Could it be that there are no shouts of "No Justice. No Peace" in Chicago because these these murders are primarily intra-racial?  Do these murders not have the talking heads demanding something be done because 79% of the murder victims in Chicago have prior records?  Do Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson not feel that these lives also had value or is a victim's only value the race of the perpetrator?
Big Mike, the "Gentle Giant" was portrayed as a young man eager to begin college before being gunned down in the street for no other reason other than he was a "Black Man Walking".  
Since then we have seen photos of this gentle soul committing a strong armed robbery of a local convenience store.  
Does this mean that Michael Brown should be shot for stealing a little less than $50 worth of merchandise?  No.  Is that what happened.  I don't know.  I am waiting to hear what the autopsy says about where he was shot and how many times he was shot.  Then again, I have the luxury of waiting because Big Mike was not my son.  My sons were not shot to death.  I can understand that the family wants answers NOW!
My problem is that the talking heads on TV seem quick to jump on board and hype stories that portray the narrative that black youths are endangered by white men who seek to kill them at every opportunity for no other reason than their race.  
These same "journalists"  ignore black on white crime and for that matter black on black crime.  There were no nightly updates about the brutal Shannon Christian and Christian Newman murders.  Have you even heard of the Witchita Massacre which prosecutors refused to treat as a race crime?  
I suppose those really smart journalists choose to ignore the fact that the according to Bureau of Justice Statistics that when inter-racial crime is committed it is more likely to be black on white than the opposite.
Let's take a look at what the Bureau of Justice statistics has to say:
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/[i]pdf/cvus06.pdf Table 42, Violent Crime Rates by Race:

-The Black-on-White rate was 35 times more than White-on-Black.
-Black-on-White rape rate was 84; White-on-Black rape was statistically insignificant and listed as zero.
“Criminal Victimization in the United States” DOJ Table 48, race of “multiple offender” (gangs) and their victim/s involved in violent crimes:
-In 2005 Blacks committed 70 times more such crimes against Whites than Whites committed against Blacks.
-In 2008 Blacks committed 147,749 such crimes against Whites; Whites committed ten against Blacks.
-The DOJ stopped identifying the race of gang crime offenders in 2008. I can’t imagine why.
Note: The DOJ lists Blacks as the victims of “hate crimes” 30% MORE than Whites (NCJ244409, Characteristics of Violent Hate Crime Victims).
The point I am trying to make is this, let us be outraged at the deaths of young African-American males in this country.  Let us not get wrapped up in the media hype and take a good look at the statistics as well as studies that give us insight as to what can be done to turn this all around.

Fernbank Declares August Dinosaur Month



Fernbank Museum of Natural History (FernbankMuseum.org) has declared August Dinosaur Month. Of course no Fernbank celebration is complete without events, crafts, throwbacks and some exciting ways to learn.

Throughout the month, Fernbank will be posting throwback photos on social media channels honoring the many places visitors can encounter dinosaurs throughout the Museum. Fernbank will also offer dinosaur-themed editions of the popular story-time program, Tadpole Tales, on August 16 and 17, and of the family-friendly Weekend Wonders program every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month.

On Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Fernbank will host its annual Dinosaur Birthday Bash to celebrate the anniversary of the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit. The exhibition was the first time the world saw the full skeletons of the world’s largest dinosaurs—the 123-foot-long Argentinosaurus and the 47-foot-long Giganotosaurus.

This exciting day will feature DJ Willy Wow, who will entertain guests with festive music, dancing and interactive activities. The day will also include a hands-on opportunity to dig for dinosaurs in a mock dinosaur dig led by Fernbank’s experienced educators. “Giggy A. Dinosaur,” the Museum’s popular mascot, will be in attendance. Visitors can also come face-to-face with an additional Gigonotosaurus skull, offering a rare opportunity to investigate the massive six-foot-long skull up close. Dinosaur Birthday Bash will also feature the Georgia Bubbleman, fun games and dinosaur temporary tattoos. No birthday party is complete without birthday wishes, and to ensure a festive party, guests are invited to craft their own birthday hat and join in on a happy birthday sing-along with “Giggy.”

Throughout August, the entire Museum will get into the dinosaur spirit by providing photo opportunities, dinosaur craft tutorials on the Fernbank blog, fossil FUN carts, giveaways and scavenger hunts.

All Dinosaur Month activities, including the Dinosaur Birthday Bash, are included with Museum admission, which is $18 for adults, $17 for students and seniors, $16 for children ages 3-12 and free for children aged 2 and under. Value Pass tickets, which include museum admission and one IMAX film, are $26 for adults, $24 for students and seniors, $22 for children ages 3-12, free for children aged 2 and under and $8 for members. The Museum is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Parking is free. For tickets, call 404.929.6400 or visit www.fernbankmuseum.org.

About Fernbank

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, inspires life-long learning of natural history through immersive programming and unmatched experiences to encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its inhabitants. The Museum is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Parking is free. For tickets, call 404.929.6400 or visit www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Police Released Name of Officer in Fatal Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri




Police have announced Darren Wilson as the name of the officer who shot and killed an unarmed teen in Ferguson, Missouri.  Officer Wilson is a six-year police veteran.

It is being reported that officials have moved the officer and his family from the town as a safety precaution.

Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said that Officer Wilson was on a routine patrol when he encountered Brown and a friend walking in the street. Brown and his friend matched the description of a possible suspect in a strong arm robbery of a QuickTrip convenience store which was broadcasted over the police radio.

Authorities have said that a scuffle ensued after the officer asked the teens to move to the side. Witnesses have said Brown’s hands were raised when he was shot multiple times.

The primary witness to the shooting, Dorian Johnson, confirmed that he and Michael Brown had robbed the store

Officer Wilson was treated for injuries at the scene and has been on administrative leave since the incident.

We should ALL be concerned when we learn that an unarmed person is shot by the police.  Personally I am still curious as to why so many shots were fired at an unarmed man.










Thursday, August 14, 2014

Unrest Still Continues in Ferguson



While protesters in Ferguson are still very angry at the police after the shooting of Michael Brown, they appear to be pissed at Obama and Al Sharpton too.

One protester said: “Obama, you have done nothing! We need you! You haven’t changed anything! Fuck y’all!” There were also chants of Fuck Sharpton.

Perhaps the people of Ferguson are a bit upset that while Ferguson burns Obama's Twitter feed announces that a "good time was had by all" at a big Shin-dig Obama attended with wealthy donors.



How's that for hopey and changey? 

Despite the Michael Brown's family's urging for calm, some protesters lobbed Molotov cocktails and other objects at police last night. The police responded with smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In all of this chaos and violence let us not forget that an unarmed young man was shot by a police officer. He was a HUMAN BEING. His race does not matter. What doe matter is that this young man was shot MULTIPLE TIMES by a police officer and that warrants an independent and thorough investigation to learn why this happened.

I am appalled by the race bating, the violence, the militarization of the police department, the destruction, and the looting. The death of Michael Brown is a tragedy. None of these things does anything to bring justice or peace to a family that lost their son.








Hey Look Me Over


Looking over my progress in my fitness plan since the Texas heat drove me back inside the gym I realize that I am not doing the same amount of aerobic work I had been doing previously.  I was running about 3 miles a day before the weather drove me back inside.  Now I am only doing about a mile or so on either the treadmill or the elliptical.  Admittedly when I run I do not do weights so I suppose it all equals out in the end.

I desperately want to look slender and "good for my age" when we visit my son in Germany.  Having said this I was certainly surprised about an incident that happened later in the day.

I had to stop by Target for a few things and while I was there I stopped by the in-store Starbucks for a Green Tea Frappe for tomorrow.

While I was waiting for my drink a woman and two men stepped up to the counter.  One of the men, a very large man, asked me if I had already ordered.  I smiled at him and his companions and said that I had.  Right at that moment, the other gentlemen smiled a big smile and his eyes looked me up and down in a way that was threatening or offensive but more like he was admiring me.

WHAT?  This guy was much younger than me.  I wager to say that he was younger than my husband but here he was his eyes lit up like a kid a Christmas smiling that goofy smile that men sometimes will when they see something they like.

WEIRD. When I was younger men did look.  They often smiled at me, or whistled, or beeped their car horns, etc. but I never really felt comfortable with it.  I never saw myself as very pretty even though I'd had more than a few men tell me that in my youth.

Do I think I'm movie-star or cover-girl pretty after this interaction?  No. I will let you in on a little secret though, even at my age its still nice to be desirable.





Wednesday, August 13, 2014

A New Win Comes My Way


When I arrived home from the gym I was greeted by my favorite sight, a WIN.  I won a Mountain Dew Soccer ball from the Mountain Dew Soccer TV Sweepstakes at La Michoacana.  Looks like another gift for the prize closet.

Speaking of special deliveries, I received the novel  Ride Around Shining that i won as well!

The tip I've resolved to put to the test this week is to maximize my chances of winning by entering often. The more you enter the better your chances of winning.  I have always used the My Sweeps function on Online-Sweepstakes.  This allows me to save sweepstakes I'm particularly interested in so that I can enter them every day.

What I'm doing differently is making certain that I enter social media and texting sweepstakes as often as the rules allow.  I will let you know how this affects my winning.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Violence Erupts in Post Racist MO



Protesters in Ferguson attacked police cars and looted and burned a QuickTrip to the ground early Sunday morning..

Protesters also  looted a tire store on Chambers road and stole hair extensions from a Hollywood Beauty store.  There were reports that the violence and looting spread into the neighboring area of Dellwood where AutoZone, Taco Bell, and other businesses were vandalized.

In one instance an officer said his home was "kicked-in" and he had a shoot-out with the looters.

The aftermath of the rioting thirty-two people were arrested and two officers injured.


.  

Last night the violence continued as people began rioting and looting in the Galleria mall in St. Louis.   Several stores were evacuated and the mall was closed shortly after 6 PM.

Police also had to shut down a section of Interstate 270 in North St. Louis County because rioters were throwing bricks onto the highway.



What triggered all this violence?  Michael Brown, an unarmed young man who was supposed to begin college on Monday was shot ten times by police on Saturday.

According to the St. Louis County Police Chief, the officer who fired upon Michael Brown tried to leave his vehicle just before the shooting.  Brown pushed the officer back into the car "where he physically assaulted the police officer and struggled over the officer's weapon. There is a claim that a shot had been fired inside the police car.

According to the police version of the incident,Michael Brown was allegedly shot as he attempted to flee.

Brown's friend Dorian Johnson tells a different story about the incident saying that he and Brown had been confronted by the officer when they ignored his order to get out of the street.

According to Johnson the officer reached his arm out of the window and grabbed Brown by the neck in an attempt to pull him into the squad car.

Johnson claims that when Brown was shot he turned around and put his hands in the air.  The officer, however continued to approach with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots at Brown.

This case has launched its own investigation into the case which is separate than the one that has been launched by the St. Louis County Police.

The officer's identity will be revealed within today around 2 PM.

UPDATE!!!!

Police say that they won't be releasing the name of the officer who shot and killed the unarmed teen, Michael Brown.  Due to death threats that were called in to the police department and posted on social media.























Monday, August 11, 2014

Turn The Beat Around



It appears my efforts are beginning to pay off.  Yesterday as I was leaving to work out at the gym I almost stepped on a padded envelope that had been left on my doorstep.  Inside was a CD from a group called R5.  Admittedly I have never heard of this group before I was certainly glad that it had arrived at my house.  It will go immediately into the prize closet and wind up as a birthday or Christmas gift for a relative.

Later in the day I was going through my text entries when low and behold I won a $25 Gift Card from Buffalo Wild Wings.  How great is that?

I wound up having a birthday do-over yesterday because Darryl wound up not being called into work.  I checked my morning email to see if there were any last-minute birthday freebies.  I was delighted to see that Denny's hadn't forgotten my birthday.

Denny's sent me a coupon for a FREE Grand Slam.  What is a Grand Slam?  Well a Denny's Original Grand Slam breakfast has 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausages, and 2 slices of bacon.

If you'd like you could build your own Slam.  Simply pick any FOUR items and make it your own.  Items include:  bacon strips, buttermilk biscuit, buttermilk pancakes, eggs, English muffin, grits, hash browns, oatmeal, sausage links, slices of toast, turkey bacon strips, chicken sausage patty, egg whites, hearty wheat pancakes.  

I decided to go for the Fit Slam which contains less than 550 calories.  The fit slam included egg whites with spinach, turkey bacon, seasonal fruit and English muffins leaving me plenty of room for birthday cake later in the day.

How can you get your own birthday FREEBIE from Denny's?  Simply sign up for the Denny's Reward Program and you will receive a FREE Grand Slam on your birthday with a valid ID.  The coupon is not valid with any other coupon or promotional offer.  Taxes and gratuity extra.  Not valid for alcohol.  Available at participating restaurants.

The unexpected birthday FREEBIE came from the most unexpected of places.  I received an email from Marlboro which said they had a special gift for me.  I thought it might be a printable coupon.  Instead I discovered they sent me TWO Hollywood Movies tickets to see any movie I wanted to see.

Normally I don't really care to see a movie in the theater but I really wanted to see Dinesh D'Souza's new movie "America Imagine the World Without Her."  The movie has become the Number 6 political documentary of all time surpassing Michael Moore's movie, "Capitalism:  A Love Story."  America is only the 17th non-fiction film of any kind to pass the $14 million mark.

Thankfully the movie was still playing at our local theater.  I found the movie to be exceptional.  D'Souza presented all of the current anti-American narratives out there and then systematically disproves them.

My favorite part of the movie dealt with Madam C J Walker (Sarah Breedlove)  Walker was an African-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who became the FIRST FEMALE self-made millionaire in America.  I have always admired her and made sure I covered Madam Walker in my  Business Management Class.









 

Sunday, August 10, 2014

A Very Merry UnBirthday...




Darryl informed me earlier this week that we would be celebrating my birthday a day early.  I was not opposed with that for two reasons.  The first reason was that I was still young enough to celebrate my 55th birthday since I was only 54.  (lol)  The second reason it didn't bother me was because throughout my childhood my father's work schedule required us to sometimes celebrate holidays and/or birthdays either pre- or post the actual event.

After I worked out at the gym and got changed we set out to cross off the do's on our to do list and then commence the most important part of the birthday process, the ceremonial cake eating.

We would up eating at Applebees although that was not the original plan.  Darryl had planned to take me on a brewery tour in Dallas but we got such a late start that we never made the tour.

With visions of sugary birthday cake dancing in my head I ordered a weight watches meal from the menu.  The Applebees Savory Plank Salmon meal was only 520 calories.  My only complaint was that they should have used a smaller plate to make the portions seem bigger.  An old dieting trick that fools my tummy most of the time.

After lunch the plan was to rent a FREE movie from Red Box and head home to answer the siren's call of that birthday cake.  Wouldn't you know it.  The movie I wanted to see, "God is Not Dead" was all rented out so I held off renting a movie for one more day.

Once home I knew there was reason to cheer because there may be 364 unbirthdays a year this one would be celebrated with cake from Barbara's Bakery.

So what's so great about Barbara's Bakery?  To start with Barbara.  She is so effervescent that she will steal your heart away.  "Try this she beckons"  "This just came out of the oven.  You'll love it!"

Barbara's Bakery is a Mom & Pop bakery that bakes everything by hand on location.  I was not surprised to learn that they have won awards for her goodies.  If it wasn't for those dreaded calories I'd eat there every day!!!!

Saturday, August 9, 2014

A Day In The Life Of A Sweeper



So what is a sweeper's day really like?

Your day begins by checking your mail for ANY winning emails.  This means that you have to make a quick look-see in your spam box to prevent deleting a potential big WIN.

The next thing I do is begin entering sweeps on my go-to sweepstakes site, Online-Sweepstakes.  As a Premium member I have more sweepstakes available to enter than folks who only access the site as a freebie.  This is not to say that you still can't win things even if you are not a premium member.  It simply means that you have more opportunities to win.

As you know I have been making a concentrated effort to enter more sweepstakes in more mediums than I have been lately.  I will admit I had become complacent and lazy but I'm working to turn that around.  So today I traveled with a cut out of Charlie the Tuna to snap photos to show where Starkist and I have been.

I took Charlie to the mall and took some snapshots at this piece of local art they have on the mall concourse.   I felt it would make for good background.

Imagine for a second you are at the mall shopping the back-to-school sales and you notice some woman snapping photos of a cut out of Charlie the tuna that she has laid out on various locations of the mall sculpture.  I did get some looks but I am not one to let that deter me.  I snapped my photos and put Charlie away for his next photo op.

So what will I win for my strange behavior?  The Grand Prize Winner in the Charlie on The Go Sweepstakes will win a Sorry Charlie T-shirt, pair of StarKist ear buds, Starkist baseball cap, Wi-Fi enabled camera, selfie stick, online photo printing service gift certificate and two product vouchers for free Starkist Pouch products (ARV $600)

If I don't win the grand prize there are daily prizes which include:   Sorry Charlie T-shirt, pair of StarKist ear buds, Starkist baseball cap, and d two product vouchers for free Starkist Pouch products. (ARV $50)

I'd be happy winning either prize honestly. Who wouldn't want a Sorry Charlie T-shirt!

After stopping at the mall I headed over to Dunkin' Donuts.  They loved me enough to give me a FREE medium drink for my birthday.  I had decided to claim my gift a couple of days early.  Of course I had to take a couple of selfie there as though I was a teenager because Dunkin' Donuts seems to have a lot of Instagram and Twitter contests.  Although I don't know of any going on right now I take them and file them away for later.

When I arrived home I had to take another photo for my #CokeGrabSummer Instagram contest.  Today's entry was a photo of a letter of encouragement left for a friend.  I typed one up for my hubby and for extra points I made sure that my McDonald's Cup of Coke was displayed prominently in the photo.

Before you say something about how cheesy you might feel receiving a letter that I used in a sweepstakes, know this, my husband married into this.  He has enjoyed the fruit of my wins often enough to make it easy for him to overlook the commercialization of the note.  Nothing personal was in the note.  It contained a message of encouragement I had sent to all my Twitter followers today on my Friday shout-outs.  So no he is not upset at all.

Is it all worth it?  Perhaps.  I will tell you that I enjoy receiving winning emails and surprise visits from the UPS guy.  Like today when I arrived home from my errands to discover a box filled with Balance Bars S'mores.  It was kind of like an early birthday gift.  So I would say that for me sweeping is worth it.




Friday, August 8, 2014

Crack Is Wack



I spend most of the morning yesterday shopping for my trip to Germany.  I thought I was ready, but a quick evaluation of my closet I realized I needed a few more things. To that end, I purchased a pair of shorts and four short sleeve blouses.

Such a busy morning and I was able to squeeze in some pizza moment at Target.  With the first bite I heard a cracking sound. This couldn't be a good sign I thought as my teeth continued their downward moment.  That's when I felt something that didn't feel like personal pan pizza.  It turns out my temporary cap wasn't cemented in well enough and was now in my bite of pizza.  How "wack" is that?

I removed the tooth from my mouth with as much class as I could muster and headed straight for my dentist.  The fix was quick and the dental assistant assured me that these things happen and if it happens again I should let them know.

I received an email yesterday letting me know that I won a copy of the book, Ride Around Shining.  The books is about  a young white chauffeur and his wealthy black employer, an NBA player.  It seems as though I'm more likely win a book than anything else but since I love to read I'm not complaining.

I found two more text sweeps and promptly entered each one one.  The first one requires you to text DDRocks to 30364.  Five people  will win a trip for two to a Live Nation concert.  Additionally 25,000 music downloads will be given away, along with 50,000 limited-edition digital prints from Rock Paper Photo, the online fine art photography gallery.  Another 2,500 people will win $25 in Live Nation Concert Cash.

The second text sweep was for the Mars Game Day Satisfaction Sweepstakes.  Forty people will each win a Microsoft Xbox One Entertainment System and EA SPORTS Madden NFL 15 Game.  Second place is an EA SPORTS Madden NFL 15 Game.  Third Place is a one-month Xbox Live Gold Membership.  To enter you need to text Snickers to 78787.

It's been awhile since I've entered any Pinterest Contests because it seems like I've fallen behind on everything with the trip to Branson, etc.  In keeping my resolution to enter more sweepstakes in different forms I entered Brilliant Earth's Celebrate Summer Love Sweepstakes which has a Grand Prize of a $1,000 GC to their store.










Thursday, August 7, 2014

I Was A Bad, Bad, Girl



Note to self, taking photos for Instagram contests only count as entries if you actually post them.  For the past several days, I've had a few photos to enter into the #MyCokeRewards Beta contest but like a big dummy those photos have been sitting in my DropBox for several days without actually posting them.  This obviously does not further move my goal of winning more prizes. As any sweeper knows, "You've Gotta Play to WIN!"

The Grand Prize for the #MyCokeRewards Instagram Challenges is a trip for 4 to the Bahamas.  There are also weekly prizes and this week's prize is a gift card that may be used to purchase headphones.

Another example of good intentions gone bad happened when I went to pick up one of my birthday freebies.  I had been receiving birthday freebies all week and one of them was from Cold Stone Creamery.  I had never been there before but with the promise of a freebie I convinced Darryl to come with me to see why some folks really love the place.

My original plan was to get my ice cream, stick it in the freezer and eat a bit at a time.  I've been very good at doing this for awhile.  I was pretty sure I could follow through with this practice as I stepped through the door.

Once I walked through the door I became enthralled the theater that is Cold Stone Creamery. I ordered the Birthday Cake Remix which consists of cake batter ice cream, with rainbow sprinkles, brownie, and fudge.  Oh My!  I was amazed as they flung my ice cream down to the ice cream artist in preparation of the transformation.  One visit to Cold Stone Creamery and you'll be hooked for life!

Darryl wanted to dig right in but I was still determined not to have any until the next day.  This resolution was thwarted when the heat of the day was causing some of my ice cream to melt over the side of the cup.

Darryl encouraged me to eat the ice cream down below the top so that it wouldn't melt all over me and the car.  While this might seem to be good advice it was also the end of my promise to save it for later as I began to spoon each creamy bite into my mouth promising just one more bite after devouring yet another bite.  So much for resolutions.

The ice cream was so good and very creamy.  You can taste the quality.Service is friendly and the portions are great.  I simply loved this place and I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer:  In keeping with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255 I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.











Wednesday, August 6, 2014

One Down ...



In keeping with my vow to try to change up my sweep entries to increase the pries I win I am trying to get caught up on getting my text entries scheduled.  Last night I finished texting my entries ton win an Apple Ipod Shuffle from SPK Gum.  If I win I plan to give this prize to my granddaughter for her birthday!

I have been entering the Examiner Giveaways for awhile.  I did win once but haven't won it since then.  When we were in Branson I didn't send off any entries for a week before we left.  I got lazy and didn't enter when we came back I didn't enter either.   I made up for that and entered Giveaways 31, 30, and 29.

For the last couple of months I have been making good use of my day planner to make sure everything gets done.  I've learned writing down my schedule shames me into trying to accomplish those things that are staring back at me in black and white.

This being said I couldn't just beg off working out.  It was on my list which means it had to get done. This is not to say I don't still try to beg out citing the many other tasks that are on my to do list it simply means I o hurry to get my workout done so I can accomplish everything else I have on my list.

Today I worked out on the elliptical for 15 minutes and then I worked my chest, abs, and arms.  This is not to say that I am anywhere near being a perfect specimen of womanhood but it does mean I don't have to feel guilty as I drink my Starbucks Green Tea Frappaccino.

I dropped off my audio books at the library and checked out a "PlayAway" book.  A PlayAway is a prerecorded audio player that stores up to 80 hours of audio.  I've never tried one before but they seem pretty easy to use.  Just plug in your earbuds, turn it on, and listen to your audiobook.  I decided to check out Ann Coulter's book Mugged.

  

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

I Got Capped


Yesterday was very busy.  It all began with a trip to the dentist to have a root canal.  Who wouldn't want to start their day that way?  The whole procedure took about 90 minutes including adding a temporary cap.  On the positive side, I was able to finish the book "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.

After the dentist I be ran my errands with the first stop being Walgreens.  I found a great coupon for a $1 off a bottle of Starbucks Iced Coffee.  Right now you can buy two for $3 at Walgreens.  With two coupons I was able to purchase each one for a quarter a piece.  While I personally don't like coffee Darryl does so I will surprise him when he comes home.

Next stop was Harbor Freight for yet another freebie.  They've been having some great freebies lately without purchase and I got him the six (6) piece screw driver set.

It was on to the mall from there, where I headed over to Cinnabon for a FREE Mocholatta that I received because my birthday is coming up.  As I stated earlier I am not a coffee fan so this is another freebie that will wind up in Darryl's hands.

Still in hot pursuit of my next "BIG WIN" I completed the survey at the bottom of the receipt.  I think it's because I've never known anyone who has won this I am always leery about entering them feeling that I am only wasting my time.  This is my time to experiment by entering in ways I normally don't enter I am sticking by my commitment to do just that and completed the online survey for a chance to win $3,000.

I also entered the survey on the bottom of the Kroger receipt also.  They give away 100 - $100 gift cards and on person wins a $5,000 gift card  grand prize.  I've entered this one in the past a number of times and never won anything but in the spirit of adventure I'm trying again.

I also took advantage of the My Coke Rewards Back 2 School Edition Sweepstakes which gives me a free entry into the sweepstakes for entering the codes from my multi-pack zero calorie coke packs.  One of those sweeps was for a $500 visa card.  I also entered to win a  Microsoft Surface 2 Tablet.