Fun Friday DIY Ornaments

The Christmas season is here and no matter how hectic everything gets, I always feel inclined to create. Here is a wonderful site with some gorgeous, simple and creative ornaments. Have some friends over, sip hot chocolate (or stronger if you are so inclined), munch on cookies and create to your heart's content. http://www.ivillage.com/easy-diy-christmas-ornaments/7-b-502807 Here's my favorite

Baby Sock Snowman Ornament Why we love it: This baby Frosty is so simple and just too cute! You can even use a sock your little one has outgrown to create a sentimental keepsake. What you need: White baby socks; cotton stuffing; pom-poms; rubber bands; google eyes; ribbon; and hot glue gun How to make it: Stuff cotton into the socks. Wrap a rubber band around the middle and around the top where the cuff of the sock starts. Fold down the cuff to make the hat. Add a dot of hot glue where his "ears" would be to hold it down. Tie a ribbon around his neck, and hot glue a ribbon loop at the top of his hat. Hot glue the google eyes and a pom-pom on top.

Single View View All 16 of 21 Paper Poinsettia Ornaments Why we love it: Simple, versatile and beautiful. These flowers can be hung on the tree, strung together to make a garland, or used instead of a bow on a gift or box of home baked goodies. They’re also a festive addition to a scrapbook cover or homemade card. What you need: For each flower you'll need 11 strips of paper 3/4 in wide and approximately 17 inches long; 3 gold beads; white glue; a quilling tool (or toothpick); and string (for hanging the ornaments) How to make it: Wind one strip of paper around your tooth pick or quilling tool and the allow it to unwind. You'll be left with a loosely coiled circle. Close the open end of the coil with a small amount of glue. Pinch the circle into a marquise (or eye) shape. Continue with the remaining strips of paper. Assemble your flower and decorate the center with gold colored beads. Attach a string if using as an ornament. Here's a few others sans directions

Thrifty Thursday

Win a Dream Receipt at Kohls. One winner picked daily through December 24th.

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/ourbrands/dreamreceipts.jsp?om_mid=_20121206_Biggest&om_rid=237390794

The Eyes Have It

Check out the new article under Beauty on how to makeup your eyes. Experiment and have fun.

Not Just for Sipping--Seltzer

I love a cold glass of seltzer topped with a slice of lemon or lime, but did you know this refreshing beverage has a multitude of uses? Check out the new post for Fun Friday.

Great "Timely" Gift

I've always loved Timex and here's a stylish giftbox from Kohls sure to please. A gift that's easy, stylish, and sure to please. Make gift giving a two-way street and treat yourself to a Timex® Weekender™ Gift Box when you pick one up for that special someone. You'll get a Timex Weekender timepiece and strap – PLUS 2 additional straps to match with multiple outfits. It's a great way to make a Weekender watch look fresh and different every time. Exclusively at Kohl's. $39.95 marked down from $75 Limited quantities available.

Jewel Pants

These jewel fashions are easy to have for your own. WhoWhatWear tells you how. The Inspiration After spotting Oscar de la Renta's Bijoux Faille Low Waist Skinny Pants ($1390) on the runway earlier this year, we couldn't get them out of our head. These were just the kind of trousers we needed to elevate our cold-weather wardrobe, as they're at once both elegant and playful. While we could style them with a chic cashmere sweater and ballet flats for more casual occasions, we can just as easily take them to night by adding a silky button-up and sleek stilettos. And the best part? No jewelry required—they enrich an ensemble on their own. Accordingly, you can imagine our excitement when D.I.Y. expert Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This said she could help us craft our very own inspired-by pair. The process was simple, requiring only a handful of ingredients and five easy-to-follow steps. An excellent option for holiday party season, this is one project you don't want to skip. Read on for all the important details.—Jessica Baker Ingredients -Flat-front pocketless pants ($13) -Oscar de la Renta Jewel Earrings (Note: if you're on a budget, Forever 21's Rhinestone Teardrop Earrings ($6) will do the trick too.) -Avery Dark T-Shirt Transfers ($20) -Iron Directions 1. Place the jewelry you want to feature on a flat surface and take photos of each piece with a digital camera or your phone. 2. Print the images onto a dark fabric transfer sheet. (Note: you may have to repeat the photo depending on how many pieces you use.) 3. Cut out the jewel transfers and place them on the pants to create a pattern. 4. Peel the backside of the jewel transfers and iron onto the pants as directed by the Avery Dark Fabric Transfers packet. Optional Step 5. The Oscar de la Renta pants feature the print on the backside too, so if you're feeling really adventurous and would like to do the same to your pair, repeat Steps 3-4 on the back. To avoid any awkward positioning, limit the jewel transfers to just the calves.

Ways to Make a Manicure Last

Step One Prep the surface. Swipe clean nails with a cotton bassl soaked in nail polish remover. Pure acetone removes the most residue but if to drying try nonacetone remover without hydrators like lanoline. Step Two Chose the Right Base. A base coat is sticky and soft so it can expand and contract with your nails and grab color. Step Three Pick a Pearly Polish. Shimmery polishes have the longest staying power. Pearlescent powers with fine mica particles are likelier to withstand wear . Apply two thin layers rather than one heavy layer to prevent chips and dings. Step Four Top it off. Quick dry topcoats are not as durable as slow drying ones. Step Five Oil your nails to keep them from peeling and chipping. A few drops on your nails before bed prolongs your manicure.

Thrifty Thursday

Win an American Express Gift Card from LTD

http://sweeps.ltdcommodities.com/

Fun Friday

Here's a bit of humor for Banned Book Week Mark Twain said in reference to the challenges of Huckleberry Finn “Apparently, the Concord library has condemned Huck as ‘trash and only suitable for the slums.’ This will sell us another twenty-five thousand copies for sure!” Read some other savvy responses by authors to challenges of their books. http://www.flavorwire.com/333790/famous-authors-funniest-responses-to-their-books-being-banned?all=1

Fun Mouse Tricks

You use your mouse for just about everything: you drag, you drop, you highlight, you scroll. But even if you click your mouse a thousand times a day, I bet I've got a few secret mouse tricks you've never heard of. Click Tricks You surely know that double clicking highlights a word, and you might even know that triple clicking highlights a paragraph. But have you ever wanted to select a column of text in a Word document, without getting all the text to the left and right of it? Here's how you can: Hold down the alt and left mouse button (on a Mac, option-left mouse), and drag the cursor over the section you want to select. The coolest thing about this trick is that the text you are selecting does not even need to be formatted as a column for this to work. [Related: 8 Microsoft Word Shortcuts You Probably Don't Know] Scroll Tricks Most mice have a scroll wheel. Sure, it takes you up and down on a page, but in combination with other keys, it can do much more: Scroll sideways: In many versions of Excel, holding down the shift key while scrolling will take you sideways. That's super helpful in a big spreadsheet. Scroll wheel as back button: In most web browsers, if you hold the shift key while using the scroll wheel, it works like the back button: You can fly through all the sites you've recently visited. (Some mice have side buttons that work like back and forward buttons in your browser, too.) Scroll to zoom: Holding ctrl and scrolling lets you zoom in or out of the page you're viewing. Ctrl-scroll up zooms you in; ctrl-scroll down zooms you back out. On a Mac, this trick will zoom in and out your whole screen, not just the document you're in. Windows-Specific Tricks While most of the tricks I've listed so far work in either Windows or Mac OS, here are a few that are specific to Windows machines: To maximize a window: drag the title bar to the top. To minimize all windows except the active window: "Shake" the title bar. Then if you want to restore all the windows you just minimized with this shortcut, just click again on the title bar of the window in view. To view two windows in a 50-50 split: Drag the title bar of one document to the left edge of your screen, then drag a second document to the right edge; they will snap into position in a nifty side-by-side view. Bonus Sneaky Trick Suppose you want to walk away from your hyper-secure work computer for a few minutes and not have to re-log in when you get back. Sure, you could change the sleep settings, but this idea is much more clever: Set your mouse on top of your analog watch or a clock. The mouse tracks the second hand's movement and it tricks your computer into thinking you're still busy working. Of course, there are valid security reasons for NOT using this trick, but I still think it's cool that it works. Did we miss your favorite mouse trick? Like us on Facebook, and share your secret there. (yahoo.com)

Thrifty Thursday

LOFT Sunday Funday: Starting today we’re giving away one pair of our 7 MOST WANTED SHOES every day for 7 days. Today, try your luck at snagging a pair of our FABULOUS FLATS. Click here to enter for a chance to win: http://tinyurl.com/8a7opln *Please note, you will need to enter from a computer. You will not be able to open this link on a mobile device through the Facebook application. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Where's My Library School Class For This? (by Christie G.)

There are some days where everything they teach you in library school goes completely out the window, and does nothing to prepare you for how to handle things. There is no reader’s advisory class, no technical services semester, no reference or database class, no children’s and young adult literature class that can prepare you for when one of your kids (because really, they consider me theirs, so how can I not consider them my kids?) comes to you in tears because death sneaked into their lives somehow and stole something precious and irreplaceable- a friend, a neighbor, a relative, a parent. This happened to me this week. One of my kids came in to my office in tears looking for a safe place to break down. Someone special to them had been killed accidentally two days before, and they only learned about it earlier in the day, and needed somewhere quiet and safe to grieve and to try to make sense of something so senseless. There are no words that you can give that they haven’t heard from their parents/guardians, their teachers, or their guidance counselors. The old standbys of “Everything happens for a reason,” “They’re looking down at us from heaven,” “They’re in a better place,” “Soon you’ll remember all the happy times you had together,” don’t work and get thrown by the wayside. All you can do is to listen and to let them get things out, and be perhaps the one person in their life who doesn’t judge or give platitudes that have no meaning to a twelve year old whose encounter with death may in fact have been the first in their entire life. Nothing in library school can teach you this. There is no class. This is not a reference interview. There is no practicum. There is no thesis paper. This is the downside to being part of the beating heart of your community- in order to experience the magnificent highs, you have to share in the shattering lows. But the fact that I *am* a person my kids feel they can turn to when they have problems means that I am doing something valuable within this community. And that is worth the heartache.

Free E Books

You could check out Project Guttenberg ( http://www.gutenberg.org/ ) which has free classics. Also, Baen Free library has some free sci-fi/fantasy novels ( http://www.baen.com/library/ ). "Books on the knob" (http://blog.booksontheknob.org/) which is put together by a woman who lists all the temporarily free ebooks from Amazon, B&N, Apple, and publishers. If you get them while they are free, they are yours forever... Found here: http://duluth.lib.mn.us/Media/FreeEbooks.html and copied below. Free E-book Sites These sites do not require a library card to download books -Ask Sam -Aunt Lee's Obsessive Meta Search Engine For Free E-books -Baen - Science fiction and fantasy titles available from Baen Publishing -Bartleby -BookRags -FreeEbooks Google Books - through Google's Library Project. Books in the public domain - and therefore out of copyright - can be read online or downloaded to read offline. -Great Books -Horror -Inkmesh - e-book search engine that searches several websites for free e-books -ManyBooks - over 29,000 titles available in many formats and languages. Search by author, title, genre or language. -Munseys - collection of fiction titles available in several digital formats -Online Books -Perseus Library -Planetpdf -Project Gutenberg - offers over 38,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. -Public Literature -Read Easily -Scifi/Fantasy -UC Press Ebooks -Zero Dollar Books - download Kindle best-sellers for free 6/7/12

The Art of a Scarf

Libraries are the Beating Heart

I just came across this and wanted to share with all of you

 

Libraries are the Beating Heart

Six years ago on September 1st I was supposed to give birth to a baby, but that baby never came.  He, or she, left my body way back in February of that year, leaving an emptiness that threatened to consume me.  So I turned to the books in my library to help me.  I read every book in my library about miscarriage and pregnancy loss and dealing with grief.  And then, when I had read everything that sat on my library's shelves, I borrowed from other libraries.  And with each book I read, I made connections with the words that helped to fill that emptiness in me.  With each story shared there were new strands of life that wove me back into the fabric of life because I knew that I was not alone but a part of a bigger tapestry; My loss became a communal experience through story.

Three and a half years ago I gave birth to a little girl and from the get go, it was obvious she was tormented by a pain we couldn't identify or understand.  We went to doctors and then we went to more doctors and we stayed up all night with a weeping, wailing child.  But somehow, by some stroke of luck, I found one needle in a haystack of research that led me to another haystack until needle by needle, question by question, we were able to start putting the pieces together to try and help her.  That little girl, she cried 24/7 the first 9 months of her life.  She was in so much pain she looked like she was having seizures.  She stopped breathing and turned blue.  But it was the library that helped us save her.

Several weeks ago The Mr. started having health problems.  And as we went to see doctors and asked questions it appeared that maybe some of the little problems that you ignore over the years can actually mean something.  This time I turn to my library not for research, but for comfort.  I turn the pages of books and try to escape the crushing pain of fear and uncertainty.  I enter into the magical woods of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and allow myself to hope for magic.  I open the pages of Ask the Passengers by A. S. King and remind myself to love.  I read Guitar Notes by Mary Amato and remember to make music.  I read Unwholly by Neal Shusterman and think about the politics of the day.  I jump into body after body in Every Day by David Levithan and remember that there are people living lives every day that are full of strife and anguish and uncertainty and once again, I am not alone.  My story is uniquely my own, but a part of the whole.  We are all bound together by our stories.


You see, libraries are the beating heart of our communities.  They are places for us to find answers and ask the questions we didn't even know we should be asking.  They are the places where we meet and share our stories while we allow others to share with us.  They are the places where we remember to think and hope and dream.  They are the places where we remember to be more and do more and love more.  They are the places where the jobless come hoping to turn their lives around.  They are the places where new parents come to learn how to feed their child, or get them to sleep through the night, or even something as simple as how to play little games with them.  We are the places where generations comes to share their childhood favorites with the next generation and weave their stories together.

Libraries are the places where we throw parties and celebrate the accomplishment of learning how to read, where we fight for the right to read what we want, and where we open unknown doors and sneak into new places and allow their inhabitants to change us.

You can say that I work with teens, but the truth is that I work with lovers and dreamers; I work with our here and now and I work with our future . . . When communities have thriving libraries with strong beating hearts, those communities thrive.  It sends a strong message: we value education, we value innovation and dreaming, we value you. 

There is a connectedness that you feel when you walk into the library.  Here in one building lies our past, our present and our future.  In here we find our hopes, our dreams, and yes, our failures.  Here, in one building, are both the answers and the questions and the freedom to decide what they mean for ourselves.

For 19 years I had the distinct honor of living in Ohio communities with thriving libraries that beat loudly as the heart of their communities.  And now I live in a community without one (I commute 45 minutes to work).  There is no magic in the air here, just commerce and industry and asphalt.  There is no smell of leather and paper.  Dreams and magic don't waft in the air.  Children don't sing and shake eggs as their parents sit together and participate in community.  Everywhere you turn it seems we are running out of money; but what happens when we stop our beating heart from beating?  What happens to our communities when we shut the doors on the past and put out the flames of the future?  What happens when we get rid of our librarians who teach our children to sing and dance and shake an egg and love a good story?  What happens when we forget to think and dream, to ask and to answer questions?

For the longest time I worked the Reference desk and wondered why all these people were coming in and asking about diseases and diagnoses that they had just received at the doctors office.  I remember once a woman called and asked what the life expectancy of a certain disease was.  I looked it up and my breath caught - the book said two years.  I tried to get her that day to go back and see her doctor, I could not be the one to deliver the answer to this reference question.  But in the end, I read her exactly what it said over the phone and she thanked me; she thanked me for doing exactly what she had asked me to do.  In time, with my own story, I learned the importance of digging deeper and why these patrons kept coming and asking those questions.  I have helped an adopted child learn about the whereabouts of her birth mother after Hurricane Katrina.  I have helped bruised women asking for books about fixing relationships learn how to contact the local shelter.  I have helped families celebrate and mourn, name their children, and save their children's lives - including my own.

I love being a librarian.  I love walking in the doors of a library.  I love opening the pages of a book.  I am honored every day to be a part of the beating heart of a community.  Support your libraries just as you would take care of your heart.  Healthy libraries are the same as healthy hearts, and without them our communities die.

What Do You Think?

I'm trying a new layout.  Each day will have its own tab.

Does this work for you?

When I do a new post in one of these tabs, does it still alert you as it does when
you subscribe.

Comment--Do you like it as an improvement or annoyance.

Feel free to share.  Have a great Thursday, stay safe.

Celebrity Wednesday

Normally, I try to show a celebrity whose style has surpassed her age.
But, I feel Kate Middleton's style is ageless.

Here is a cute outfit she wore to the olympics.

I actually purchased a similar outfit at TJ Maxx.

Sweater was $16.99

Pants $19.99 and shoes at Target were $19.99

Here's a cute alternative for those who don't like "high" shoes
They are from QVC

ISSACMIZRAHILIV Leather Peep Toe Low Wedge Shoe

Retail Value: $99.00

QVC Price: $88.00

Clearance Price:

$54.48

Shipping & Handling: $7.72

Sunscreen--How Much Do You Know?

With the hot weather comes thoughts of sunscreen. Worried about wrinkles (aargh) and the big C, many of us use it year round. Because my desk borders on a huge window, I make sure it is a makeup staple. Here is the Sunscreen Guide published by the Environmental Working Group.

This year's guide rates over 1,800 sunscreens (for both adults and kids), lip balms, and moisturizers and cosmetics with SPF. The leading cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and, according to the National Cancer Institute, over one million people are diagnosed a year.



Often people grab whatever sunscreen is labeled with the highest SPF and assume it's the best. The EWG guide warns shoppers that choosing a safe product isn't just about the numbers. Their research spotlights potential health hazards:

Dangerous ingredients. Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A) may cause tumors and lesions to develop more quickly when skin is exposed to the sun. Nneka Leiba, Senior Research Analyst and the guide's lead author, tells Shine, "The FDA and National Toxicology both say it may heighten risk of skin damage and cancer." Oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and can cause allergic reactions. EWG recommends choosing products with one of these ingredients instead: zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, or Mexoryl S.

Sprays or powders. These formulations can fill the air with tiny particles that EWG says are dangerous to inhale. They can cause lung inflammation and may be carcinogenic.

SPF values above 50+. The FDA says these labels are misleading and may encourage people to stay out in the sun for too long. Since SPF is based only on UVB protection (which prevents sunburn but does not guard against premature aging and deeper tissue damage), users of super high SPF products often have a false sense of security.

EWG's list of worst sunscreens

The EWG recommends avoiding these sunscreens because they are spays or powders, have SPF values above 50+, and contain retinyl palmitate and/or oxybenzone.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock, SPF 70

Banana Boat Sport Performance Active MAX Protect Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 110

Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray Active, SPF 70

Wegmans Sheer Sunscreen Body Mist, SPF 55

Rite Aid Extreme Sport Continuous Spray, SPF 70+

CVS Sheer Mist Sunscreen, SPF 70

Walgreens Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

Coppertone Sport Clear Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 90

Best affordable sunscreens

Based on its analysis of over 800 beach and sport sunscreens, the EWG provided Yahoo! Shine with its 15 most affordable, recommended products:

Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

BabyGanics Cover Up Baby Sunscreen for Face & Body, Fragrance Free, SPF 50+

Sunbow Dora the Explorer Sunscreen, Pink, SPF 30

Purple Prairie Botanicals SunStuff Mineral Lotion, SPF 30

Nature's Gate Aqua Block Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

Solbar Shield Sunscreen, SPF 40

Caribbean Solutions Sol Kid Kare Biodegradable Sunscreen, SPF 25

Tropical Sands Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 30

KidsUV Natural Sunscreen, Blue, SPF 30

Color Me Pink Baby UV/ Kids UV 100% Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30

Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunblock, Kids Mineral Protection, SPF 30

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Face, SPF 30+

Healing-Scents Live Long Mineral-Based Sunscreen, SPF 25

Hara Body Care Hara Sport Sunscreen, SPF 30

Vanicream Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35

All of the above meet the following criteria:

• Good, stable sun protection

• Fewest ingredients with toxicity concerns. Do not contain the worst offenders: retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone.

• No sprays or powders

• No SPF values above 50+

Applying sunscreen correctly

It is important to be aware that sunscreen isn't going provide you with proper protection if you don't apply it correctly, and only about one in five people actually do so on a daily basis.

"Adults need to apply a palmful [an ounce] of sunscreen every two hours," Leiba tells Shine. "Don't slather it on once and stay out all day." Leiba also recommends that you avoid the sun completely from 10AM to 2PM and use a hat, clothing, and sunglasses as your primary protection.

shine.yahoo.com

Friday, June 1st Free Donut Day

Buy any size beverage at Dunkin Donuts June lst and get a free donut!!

Happy Memorial Day

Check out all the deals from the comfort of your home!!

Shop It To Me and ABC New share some of the best deals for the weekend!! Enjoy :)

Ann Taylor

Extra 40 percent off women's clothing styles during Ann Taylor's Summer Kick-off Sale. Ends Monday.

Bloomingdale's

Take an extra 20 percent off select sale and clearance items with code SALE20 online at department store Bloomingdale's Big Brown Bag Sale. Exclusions apply, see site for details. Ends Monday.

Club Monaco

Free shipping over $175 on all online orders for men and women. Ends Tuesday.

Dealery.com

Deals site Dealery.com features Memorial Day weekend deals, including $59 for four pounds of large shrimp, including taxes and shipping from Nature's Prime Organics, normally $145. The site also features a $25 deal for two AMC movie tickets plus a $50 Restaurant.com gift card, a $50 value.

Endless by Amazon

Get up to 50 percent off select styles, including Frye, Sperry Top-Sider, Seychelles and other brands at Endless, Amazon's independent shoes and accessories online store which launched in 2007. Ends Monday.

Gap

Shop the Memorial Day Sale at Gap.com and save up to 40 percent off select styles. Ends Monday.

Histoire.com

Get 30 percent off and free shipping with code WEEKEND at Histoire, an online retailer of socially conscious goods, which means "story" in French. Sale items include hand-woven Linen Square Pillows for 65 percent off, an antique glass candle stick for $9.80 and a T-light holder for $6.30. Ends Tuesday.

Home Depot

Home improvement retailer, Home Depot, launched its Memorial Day weekend sale on Thursday. Its national advertisement features sales on everything from paint ($5 off a gallon and $20 off five gallons), barbecue grills ($199 for a $399 Nexgrill gas grill), briquettes ($5.88 for Kingsford 2-pack ), drill kits ($99 Ryobi One+ Lithium-Ion) and more.

JCPenney

Retailer JCPenney begins offering its best prices on the first and third Friday each month until they are sold out. Its best-priced items offered on Friday include $17 dresses, normally $35 to $40, and $12 for men's Arizona jeans. JCPenney.com offers free shipping over $50 and free shipping to stores with no minimum. Code: JCPSHIP.

J.Crew

Get an extra 30 percent off spring sale items with code LOVEIT at JCrew.com for men, women and children. Ends Monday.

LOFT (Ann Taylor)

Ann Taylor's LOFT is featuring an "Everything under the sun $29 and under" event for women. Ends Monday.

Lucky

Lucky brand is offering an extra 30 percent off sale jeans, no code needed. Ends Monday.

Macy's

Retailer Macy's is offering buy one get one free pillows, dresses for 25 to 50 percent off, men's suits for 50 percent off and more. Online shoppers can use MEMDAY for further discounts. Macy's Memorial Day sale kicked off Thursday and ends Monday in store and online.

Madewell

Get an extra 20 percent off sale, plus free shipping on all orders with code WEEKENDER. Some exclusions apply. Ends Monday.

Maidenform

Get 25 percent off site wide at the women's intimates retailer's online store. Discount applied at checkout. Ends Monday.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom's biggest sale of the season, its Half-Yearly Sale for women and kids, is online and in stores. Ends Sunday.

Ralph Lauren

Enjoy 25 percent off select men's & women's styles, plus free shipping with code MAYFS12. Ends Tuesday.

Rugby by Ralph Lauren

Get 25 percent off polos, shorts and swimwear, plus an extra 25 percent off already-reduced styles, no code needed. Ends Tuesday.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Receive $50 off your $250 sunglasses purchase with code SUN2012 (valid for all women's sunglasses). Ends Saturday.

Steve Madden

Spend $75 and get 20 percent off with code STOCK20. Spend $100 and get 25 percent off with code STOCK25. Ends Tuesday.

Target

The Shops at Target includes five design partnerships for men, women and girls which launched May 6. The collections aren't having Memorial Day sales but shoppers can snag deals like on the clothing boutique collection by The Webster. Actress Jessica Alba's daughter, Honor, was spotted on Thursday wearing The Webster at Target girl's tie smocked dress in palm print which is $16.99.

Fun Friday--Blog to Book

What a cool idea. Use your blog to write, get feedback and then turn it into a book.

Blog2Print from SharedBook turns your blog into a soft cover or hard cover book. You pick the cover, add an optional dedication, then preview and you're done. Prices start at $14.95

Check out 6 successful authors!!!

Feeling Lucky Thursday

Win a $250 shopping spree--check out Beso.com



Play for your chance to win a trip for two
to the U.S. Premiere of The Bourne Legacy
Whether you're a seasoned traveler or an agent on the run, you know how important it is to pack appropriately for any destination. Show us your packing skills, and you'll be entered for a chance to win a trip to attend the U.S. Premiere of The Bourne Legacy or a bag packed with travel essentials, including a $500 American Airlines Gift Card. After you register,
book a ticket on AA.com and you'll earn another entry.https://secure.fly.aa.com/mission/?cc=2

Perfect At Any Age??--Tattoos for the Over 50 Set

I have a friend whose style I always admire, so I was fascinated one day when she visited and said she had been thinking of having a tattoo for many years and finally took the plunge. It definitely completes her style and was done with a sense of taste and charm. What do you think? Comment with your thoughts!!


For those of you toying with the idea here are some things to consider from http://www.vibrantnation.com/




Avoid fly-by-night tattoo operations.
Jancee Dunn Jancee: I didn’t want my mother to get a tattoo at some fly-by-night, unsafe place, of which there are many. I had also seen some very crude designs out there, and I was afraid of what she might end up with. If you’re concerned about safety, consider mall-based tattoo parlors. There’s one called Tattoo Nation. It’s in a mall in New Jersey, and it’s for people who are a bit older and don’t necessarily want to go to, say, Avenue D in New York City.

Do your homework.
Jancee Dunn Jancee: I highly recommend spending as many hours as you’re able on researching the right tattoo artist. Or, if you’re fortunate enough to have someone you trust, let her do your due diligence for you. My mother really put herself in my hands. I made calls to tattoo artists throughout the city and found the best one–but he happened to charge thousands of dollars and had a six-month waiting list. My mom didn’t want to be on a waiting list, so I kept looking. I searched the Internet for days and eventually found Chris.

Interview the tattoo artist beforehand.
Judy Dunn Judy: Even though Jancee had scoured the Internet for days to find the best possible tattoo artist, it was still important to meet Chris personally and make sure that he that we were comfortable with him. In fact, Chris himself insisted that we do an interview with him before he would do my tattoo. When I asked why, Chris said, “I just want to be sure that this is really what you want to do, because having it removed is quite a job. I just want to be sure you know what you’re doing.” I thought that was very clever.

My husband and I both went in for the interview. Chris had quite a number of tattoos, but they were all well done, and Chris himself was charming and kind. We loved him, and he did a really great job on my tattoo.

Review the tattoo artist’s portfolio.
Judy Dunn Judy: When interviewing a prospective tattoo artist, have him show you a number of things that he’s done. You really have to know who you’re dealing with, and this will give you a better sense of that, and a better sense of what his work is like.
Personalize your design.
Judy Dunn Judy: A tattoo artist can provide you with a catalog of designs to choose from, but I researched my own. I went on the Internet, found a number of flying raven images I liked, and printed them out. Then Chris and I both picked one together. When I came in for the actual tattoo, Chris had done the drawing, and it was perfect. It was just perfect.
Be prepared to wait to discover your tattoo’s symbolic meaning.
Judy Dunn Judy: I knew a raven was the right tattoo for me, but I admitted to Chris that I didn’t really know why that image called to me. Chris said he thought that, at some point, I would start to find meaning in it. Jancee thinks it was a really good observation and very profound, to think that my tattoo’s meaning may come to me later.

Do you have a tattoo? Share your own tips

Feeling Lucky? Happy Mother's Day Ladies

Enter to win a hand picked accessory from The Budget Babe and Starbucks.
Pick your favorite look!

http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/4768-Starbucks-Frappuccino-Signature-Style-Series-+-Sweepstakes.html#.T6xroehAbJI


Or leave a comment and your email to enter to win this crinkly hot pink scarf for
Mother's Day.

Here are some other Freebies for Mom on Mother's Day!
1. Take Mom for breakfast at McDonald’s: Participating McDonald’s restaurants will be offering a free Breakfast Extra Value Meal for Moms on Mother’s Day Make sure the McDonald’s in your area is participating by giving them a call ahead of time
2. Get a full plate at IKEA Restaurants: IKEA is inviting Momsfor a free breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes and a cup of coffee—good until 11a, one per family.
3. Go out for yogurt at TCBY: Again, participating locations only, so check in your local area, but those locations that do participate will be giving Mom a free 5-oz. serving of The Country’s Best Yogurt.
4. Get a free cookbook at Ruby Tuesday: Well, no free food at Ruby Tuesday's, but they will give Mom a free Ruby Tuesday Simply Fresh cookbook if you bring her by on Mother’s Day.
5. Send Mom a card and a movie: Redbox is offering a free card and movie promo code for “everyone who is a mom or has a mom.” Just check out their Facebook page for details.
6. Free Bath & Body Works goodies: Send a Mother’s Day card through the Bath & Body Works Facebook page, and not only will she get a free travel size Signature Collection item, you’ll get one, too, for participating.
7. It’s National Public Gardens Day!: Well, okay, actually you’ll have to take Mom to this one on Friday, May 11, but it’s still a great one. Sign up on the Better Homes and Gardens website to get free admission to a garden near you.
8. Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport, Ct. Free Admission for Mom's at Beardsley Zoo
When: Sunday, May 13th
9. Mom’s Ride Free Mom's Ride Free at Danbury Railway Museum
Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury, CT
When: Sunday, May 13th
10. Not Free but Fun: Strawberry Bliss!
Where: Haight-Brown Vineyard, Litchfield, CT
When: Sunday, May 13th, 11am

Thursday Freebies

L'Oreal Gold Rewards!
This offer is back again!

Register for L'Oreal Gold Rewards! Enroll for FREE hair color products, limited-time offers and more from L'Oreal!
The first Monday of every month they have “FREE Perk offers”. Last month, L’Oreal offered FREE Loreal EverPure Color Care Samples for their L’Oreal Gold Rewards Members!
So make sure you sign up so you can get the next freebie offer!


FREE Garnier Shampoo & Conditioner Sample Today, April 26th, at Noon EST, if you have a facebook account, then you can score a FREE Garnier Shampoo and Conditioner Sample ! at their Facebook page

Celebrity Wednesday--Bernadette Peters

(1948) Bernadette Peters attributes her look of the “new 60” to good healthy living and good genes.
Good healthy living and good genes. Bernadette is an example of the new 60! Eating right, exercising and no smoking helps us look good without surgery.

Bernadette is notorious for staying out of the sun to help preserve her perfect cream-colored complexion. As she has always been busty, she probably wears a supportive bra regularly. Also, she has no children, which helps as pregnancy and breast-feeding cause changes and sagging in the bosom.

Bernadette Peters looks fantastic for 60, or any age for that matter, and her youth assures her many more years on the stage or screen.

“ I think a lot of Bernadette's youthfulness has to do with her outlook on life and her attitude. She's a very positive person, a very refelctive/deep thinking person, has a lot of enthusiasm and passion for life and a person with a lot of compassion and love for others so I think that definitely comes across in her looks.”

So make sure you’re doing all that you can to enjoy not only a much longer life but a higher quality one as well. Use these YOU tips to get started. "

1. Feed Your Heart
2. Shower Your Insides
3. Train Your Vagus
4. Get the Aspirin Advantage
5. Map Your Mind
6. Fab Food Combo
7. Get Your Clothes Wet
8. Take 10 . . . and Breathe
9. Chew While You Drive
10. Find Your Balance
http://www.realage.com/StayingYoung/MajorAgers.aspx

So, watch out! You're going to be seeing a lot of us 60s looking so good you will wonder if it's good plastic surgery or good genes!

Sources: http://www.makemeheal.com/news/bernadette-peters-plastic-surgery/445

Add an Accessory and Look 10 Years Younger

To instantly freshen your look without spending a bundle, add a lightweight long scarf.
Wear it loosely wrapped twice around your neck with both ends hanging down in front. It will frame your face, highlight your best features and help hide any flaws. For a great assortment at a budget price check out Happy Scarf.com

Girlfriends Are Healthy

I received this the other day and I'm sorry I can't credit the author because it is so true.

Evidently, they Teach it at Stanford In an evening class at Stanford the last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious. Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality "girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely. Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym. There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged-not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo. let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good for our health. Forward this to all your girlfriends - and stay in touch!



Recently, I reconnected with a best friend from elementary school. In many ways, it seemed as if we were back in grammar school walking down the country road sharing our innermost feelings. There is something comfortable about sharing a history. We reminisced about life gone by, and there was a peacefulness from all of the years passed, but a tinge of sadness from all the things lost. It was so nice to be able to pick up where we left off and yes, share a glass of wine, laughter, gal talk and a bit of our heart.

Then, last week I celebrated one of my favorite friends 88th birthday with a group of gal pals. Again, what a treasure She is a special lady, who I met at work several years ago and we have remained friends . I love the group this brings together and the fun and wisdom which we all take away.

Sooo, I am toasting the friendship with all my friends--and what we share and the support we give each other.

Earth Day Freebies

Win a $100 gift card from Kohls

http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/4731-Win-Cool-Stuff-Kohls-100-Gift-Card-Giveaway.html






Visit a National Park free between the 21st and 29th of April.






Kelloggs is giving away free reusable totes. Check out their website
http://www.earthday.kelloggs.com/reusable-bags.aspx






Visit Target this Sunday and receive a free tote






Origins will give you a free moisturizer if you visit with an empty cosmetic package.
http://www.origins.com






Take your reusable mug to Starbucks on 4/22
& get a FREE drink!

Lindsay-phillips Switchables

I have never been into flipflops, but I know a lot of people are. I've admired them on other people and have to admit, they are very comfy. As a matter of fact, one of my co-workers loves switchables, which tend to be rather pricey. So imagine my surprise, when I found Lindsay Phillips Switchables at Ocean State Job Lot for $10 and $15 for the shoes and $3 for the switchable fabric. An inexpensive way to match any of your summer outfits.

Nomorerack

Sign up for tons of deals


http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=7487575

Thursday Freebies

Ahhh, the true freebie! Not the buy twenty and get a half one free or the free except for postage and handling (equal to the cost of the product) but the true, true freebie.

IKEA

No, unfortunately, they won't redo your kitchen for free but sometimes will give away a free breakfast. Of course, I feel their food is almost free anyway and often comfort food to boot.

The usual price of that breakfast is only $1.78 (99 cents for the breakfast and 75 cents for the coffee), so it's not as if you're making out like a bandit here. To keep up on all the free food offers from IKEA in the future, bookmark the retailer's special offers page.

Panda Express Not sure where the closest one is in my neck of the woods but evidently every time Panda Express launches a new product it offers up a coupon to get a free serving of the new menu item. And while it has received complaints in the past for the tiny portions it serves for these promotions, you can't really complain about something you got for free. To keep up with all these offers, follow Panda Express on Facebook.

Kmart

Kmart's website has what may be a freebie fiend's dream come true: The SampleCenter. Every week the retailer links to a number of manufacturers currently offering samples of their products

Amazon's Kindle Store

Thousands of e-books that you can have for free and watch on your Kindle, computer or other device with a Kindle reading app. There are a few ways to navigate the loads of free books there, but the best way might be to visit the bestsellers list, which includes the top 100 best-selling free e-books. You can also sort by genre so you can see, for instance, the top 100 free e-books on cooking and get loads of free recipes.

While you're there, make sure you check out the Amazon Appstore. Every day, users of Android devices are presented with a different paid app for free.

Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works, noting that the fragrance and soap shop tends to give away a free sample on its Facebook page whenever it launches a new product.
follow Bath & Body Works on Facebook.

Sears Outlet

Huffstetler also reminded us of a recurring freebie we found last month: Every Tuesday, Sears Outlets give a coupon for one free item of clothing. To get the deal you'll need to be a Shop Your Way Rewards member, and since it's good in stores only, you'll probably need to live near a Sears Outlet to take advantage on a regular basis. Also note that while the original program was something of a free-for-all (no pun intended), there are now extensive terms: The coupon is only good for clearance items (denoted as such by a green or yellow tag), and you can't get outerwear, leather coats, dresses or Levi's merchandise for free.

Still, that's a free article of clothing for free every week. To get the coupons, follow Sears Outlet Stores on Facebook.

Giveaway of the Day

If a weekly freebie isn't good enough for you, how about a daily freebie? That's what you'll get at Giveaway of the Day, a daily deal site that presents you with a free software download every day.

Simple software tools such as PDF converters or a program that can easily turn a video file into a DVD. Many of them might be of no interest to you, perhaps because you already have a similar program on your computer. But it's worth putting in your bookmarks to see what they have to offer you.

Wal-Mart

You can always count on free sample tables at Walmart. And if you're a serious freebie hunter, you can coordinate your Walmart run to fall on a day when your favorite food maker or other company has set up shop there. The retail giant has a special page on its website that lists which events are taking place in Wal-Mart stores in the foreseeable future.
Target
Target regularly lists free samples on its website, and you don't actually need to set foot in the store. Just visit the Target "Sample Spot," click on any samples you'd like to receive, then answer the applicable survey questions and punch in your address for home delivery. Just make sure you check the page on a regular basis -- the samples sell out fast.

Want to know which retailers have the best samples in stores? Check out MainStreet's roundup of the best retailers for free samples.

Victoria's Secret
And this one I know first hand as my sister always takes advantage-- subscribers to the Victoria's Secret catalog get coupons for free panties throughout the year. Play your cards right, and you'll never pay for underwear again!

While we're on the topic, it's worth noting that Victoria's Secret frequently throws in a freebie with select purchases.

Enjoy and let me know what you find--we can all be Savvy and Sixty--maybe for free!!

Celebrity Wednesday Phylizia Rashad

photo mediaoutrage.com

When Rashad, 62 gained a few pounds and became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, she said The biggest trick, is to eat four to five small meals a day, to keep her metabolism going. She also touts the wisdom of hitting the gym on a regular basis. Like her look?
Find a beautiful flowered scarf and pair it with the jewelry from Chicos shown below.

Buy one and get the second one half price.

Like many of us, I am always on the hunt for a bargain. I ran into e.l.f. cosmetics recently and decided to give them a try. E.l.f. is a makeup company that sells cosmetics in local chains and drug stores. Many of their products are in the dollar range. I had bought a more expensive makeup base and was dissatisfied with the color, so I decided to give e.l.f. a try.

I bought their tinted moisturizer for less than $3 and use it as a foundation. I love the look. It is sheer and makes your complexion appear smooth and even. The quality is just as nice as more expensive brands.



From the site "e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

This lightweight and hydrating formula is breathable and provides anti-aging sun protection with UVA/UVB SPF 20. Achieve even skin tone and naturally radiant skin with this moisturizing sheer tint of color. The smooth formula enhances your complexion with the nourishing key ingredients Aloe, Cucumber and Vitamins A, C & E. "

I intend to try out more of their products.



Here's a deal from Groupon for these cosmetics


Before the invention of mineral makeup, the only way to get essential minerals to the face was to peel it off and soak it in a reduction of pennies and fish oil each night. Nourish your face the easy, attractive way with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of studio or mineral makeup online from e.l.f. Cosmetics.

Fashion magazines regularly applaud e.l.f. for its no-nonsense approach to creating choice cosmetics for beautiful, budget-minded fashionistas. Their studio collection arms clients with professional-grade cosmetics and makeup, each parceled in sleek, compact packaging. An Ultimate eye-shadow palette ($15) presents 144 different shades and an endless rainbow of possibilities to anyone with a pro-tested brush set ($30), which safeguards 11 high-quality brushes within a waterproof case. Aloe vera–infused cleansing cloths ($3 each) easily wipe face-canvases free of makeup, dirt, and stubborn sharpie mustaches.

The mineral collection eschews parabens, preservatives, and chemical dyes in favor of natural, mineral-based ingredients that blend in easily with the skin's natural tones. Light-as-a-feather mineral foundations ($5+) come packed with SPF 15 to shield the face and its feelings from the sun's harsh gaze and its even harsher laser pointer, and are available in a quintet of shades, ranging from fair to deep. Lip gloss ($3) and eye shadow ($3+) contain vital vitamins known to hydrate and minimize fine lines, and bronzers ($8) can help achieve one's preferred pigment hue. Those who want it all can pick up the mineral starter kit ($20), which includes foundation, concealer, blush, and two brushes, all wrapped up in a canvas case.

Thursday Freebies Again!!

For a few minutes of your time, it is fun to sign up for these freebies.
Someone has to win--right?


Shopping Spree
Thank you for coming back! Sign into your account today, tomorrow, and the next for a
chance to win (awarded every Monday!).

http://www.beso.com

Thursday Freebies

$250 IKEA gift card http://www.hometalk.com/giveaway/50?se=c876


If you don't know what The Hunger Games is, you are dating yourself as much as if you always choose a practical
and safe black pocketbook.
Like fantasy twitting on real life? Enjoy March 23rd's Hunger Games premier?
Lionsgate announces 24 advance screenings for 'Hunger Games'
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/showbiz/movies/hunger-games-advance-screenings/index.html?hpt=hp_bn4

Stephanie Powers

"When the make-up comes off you still have to go home and face your life; make sure it is as satisfying as the one you left at the dressing table.' I think I have." -
Stefanie Powers http://www.stefaniepowersonline.com

Stephanie Powers--still amazing looking. One of her favorite tips is that you take care of the whole person. She believes in wholesome food and takes gingko biloba. She says it adds to both her energy level and positive outlook.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/343096_celebrity-beauty-secrets#ixzz1npFRurmE

Photo from http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Free Cookie at Subway

Restaurant chain Subway is getting involved with the Leap Day fun, and participating locations are handing out free cookies to their customers.

The cookies will be given away with any purchase for the entire day of Wednesday, Feb. 29. It can vary with each individual eatery, but the choices are usually chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamian.

Who Was Your Favorite Oscar?

Comment and let me know your favorite star and her look. I spent the perfect evening at an Oscar Party. The table was decorated beautifully, white tablecloth, red runner and gold sparkles sprinkled about. The food was yummy--homemade fried mozzarella balls, roasted cashews, delicious smoked salmon bisque, cauliflower penne and fresh bread. This was topped off with an elegant drink combination of pomegranate juice and champagne.

Check out the styles and leave a comment here
http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/2012-oscars-red-carpet-report-card-slideshow/angelina-jolie-photo-1330316029.html

Here is one of my favorites looks by Penelope Cruz.


How regal!!



















Or how about one of my favorite "over 60's" Glen Close

Thursday Freebees

The Butterfly Clues, by Kate Ellison, is a gritty contemporary novel with a big mystery and more than a little romance. Book Chic calls it “one hell of a debut!” and we were drawn in by the author herself.

In addition to penning her first Young Adult novel, Kate Ellison (née Kate Weinberg) is also an artist and jewelry-maker. We love a Renaissance woman. So one lucky I Heart Daily reader will win a copy of Kate’s book, plus a pair of her handmade pretty leaf earrings in your choice of colors.

http://iheartdaily.com/2012/02/win-the-butterfly-clues-and-handmade-earrings/