Check this out:

I like books and I thought this one looked interesting. The "Romance" genre isn't one I've delved into but I'm up for about anything. If you read it when it comes out, feel free to comment. I plan on reviewing it.

I'm Back!

So, I was off for a month, focusing one something else. Fortunately, there aren't a ton of dedicated readers sending me a barrage of emails missing my posts. LOL That being said I must tell you about my latest find... an eco friendly, back friendly yoga mat from EcoWise Fitness. It's hands down the BEST mat I have EVER used. The mat helps you stabilize yourself while doing the more difficult moves... like Tree Pose. It came with a really cute carrying bag. The only problem with the bag is that it's difficult to fit a rolled up mat in it. I struggle getting it out and in.

I won mine from DoYourPart.com along with a super Giam yoga bag and some other goodies. You can visit them here:

http://doyourpart.com/
Or "like" them on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/doyourpart

Win an iPod Nano!

So, I'm going to do a giveaway... there is a catch though. If I can get at least 800 people to sign up with nomorerack.com using this link:



http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=15585

by February 7th, one of my readers will win an iPod Nano. You must sign up using the link, confirm it and then wait! That's all. you don't have to make a purchase. Plus, you get a $10 credit to your nomorerack account just by signing up! Simple! Please post here letting me know that you signed up!

The drawing will be held on February 7th at 5pm CST using random.com. The winner will have three days to respond to the congratulatory email or this site.

Good luck!

Did you know Aveda has a Birthday Club?

I love Aveda products. I don't love their price. If you sign up at http://www.Aveda.com you will receive valuable coupons and gifts throughout the year. I signed up and got a printable coupon for a hair smoothing trio. I simply take it to my nearest Aveda Salon (Charles Thomas in Farmington, Missouri) and redeem it. You also receive cards in the mail throughout the year for Pure-Fume, lotion samples and other goodies. Become a fan of Aveda on Facebook and you may get a nice treat in the mail!

http://www.facebook.com/Aveda

Why You Shouldn't be Taken in by "Team National"

Shortly after the election, a friend contacted me to "share" an opportunity. This required that she come to my house, have me listen to several phone calls and watch a DVD. It didn't pass my sniff test, so I told her that I wasn't interested in it. I haven't heard from her since.

Four weeks ago, one of my husbands co-workers asked him to watch a DVD. My husband brought it home and asked me to watch it with him. It was a DVD for "Team National". I told my hubby that I'd already seen it and thought it was a load of crap. For the last four weeks his co-worker has hounded him about coming to his house to hear about this great "opportunity". As reluctant as I was, I figured it would be great to put this to bed once and for all.

We went, heard the phone calls, watched the DVD and listened to the nice man try to sell the snake oil. My opinion isn't changed. Here's why:

"Team National" sells you a membership that allows you to take a 1%-30% discount with select companies. You must order online through your personal webpage. You are not provided an instant discount, but are sent a rebate check. If this sounds to you like eBates or Blastoff, it's because it's the same idea.... only eBates and Blastoff are free. Did I mention that a two-year membership costs roughly $795 and a lifetime membership is $2200? In fact, most of the stores on the "Big N Marketplace" through Team National, have coupons available for the same discount and many have them for higher discounts.

Here comes the fun part, you can SELL Team National and make a lot of money... according to the nice man giving the spiel. If you can sucker two people, then four more into buying a membership you can make $1500. Our host from last night has been hammering away at this for five weeks and has yet to complete this. While it is accomplish-able, do you really want the guilt of selling something to someone that they can readily get for free? It's a morality question, in my opinion. I have no desire to dedicate my life to annoying the hell out of people pestering them just so I can earn some payola.

In my opinion, this is a 100% legal pyramid scam. It's a MLM. Be careful what you attach your name to and be careful not to purchase something that is already free for the asking.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I haven't blogged here for a long time. I took a hiatus to run for public office, lost, and now I'm getting back into the swing of things. Today is a day for a new start. Today is the day I would have been sworn in had I won.

We're taking a new approach to this blog. I'm re-vamping it to help other S.A.Ms make the most of their monthly budget. I want to help you find the best deal on products you use every day. I want to offer reviews of products, honest reviews that actually tell you honestly about a product... not pander to the company who's product I'm reviewing. I hope you enjoy it.

Carrie

Two Posts In One Day?

Yeah, I had to come back to vent. Sometimes, I meet a person and from the get-go I want to slap them. It may be phone conversation or face to face... they need slapped. Such is the case with Liam. He's working on a project that I am working on. He's about fifty steps behind me and keeps telling me things that I knew months ago... like he's got an inside scoop. While I normally find people like this mildly annoying and a minor irritation (the Try Too Harders) he's just super annoying. I want to hit him. Hard. With a blunt (sic) object.

I don't have the time or energy to do Liam's job for him, nor do I want to. In fact, when I meet up with him for the first time this weekend, I may be so obnoxious and rude to him that it will cause him to cringe in a corner and cry at the mere mention of my name. To top it all off, I'm off the sauce. I quit coffee today and tomorrow, the first day of Lent, I'm giving up wine and rum. Seeing that those are the only two spirits I enjoy drinking, I'm in for a rough 40 days.