Angie – Page 945 – Luv Saving Money

Gimme Clips "Decorate Your Life" review/giveaway–ENDED 7/31/2011

WINNERS HAVE BEEN EMAILED. SEE RAFFLECOPTER FORM IN POST FOR WINNER NAMES. THANKS EVERYONE FOR ENTERING!

My hair is…complicated. My hair has a slight wave. I have thin hairs but I have a lot. My hair has never been able to hold a curl and most clips and barrettes just slide out of it. It got to the point that I just stopped trying to fix my hair because it would never stay. I’ve been lucky enough to find a few hair products lately thought that seem to stay in my stubborn hair.

I had the opportunity to try Gimme Clips. Gimme Clips are mom invented and mom driven. Gimme Clips was started in 2008 by a St. Louis mom of 3 girls. She started purchasing silk flowers at her local craft store and just started creating clips for her girls. Now Gimme Clips are sold nationwide at Walgreen’s and Target. You may have already seen the “Gimme Braids display” in some Walgreens.

Here is a video that shows one way to use Gimme Clip’s new Gimme Braids:

There are a few other how-to and idea videos on www.gimmeclips.com

I was sent an assortment of products. What I love about the products is the unique clips. They stay in my hair so well. BUT, Gimme clips are not just for your hair. You can use them as decorative accents on your clothes, handbags, shoes, and wherever else you might think of.

I tried to show the clip on this one. It’s a metal clip that easily pinches open like a clothespin of sorts.

This set here comes with the headband, flowers clip, and elastics. I like this set in particular because you can use each of the items separately or together. The Flower clips into a little ribbon on the side of the headband or you can clip the flower to an elastic in your hair. I did that for a wedding I attended just a couple weeks ago. The clip stayed the whole time through dancing and everything.

Here is a pic of how the flower clips to the headband.

There are tons of different types, styles, and sizes of clips. Just check out all the options available on Gimme Clips website. There are lots of gimme clips to match any outfit you or your little girl might have.

Like Gimme Clips on Facebook too to see photos of looks and stay updated on new Gimme Clip products.

Gimme Clips was very generous an sent a nice selection of products. They wanted me to share some with you. And thanks to Fabulous Finds by November Girl Blog for sending me a Rafflecopter invite it’s going to be super easy for you to enter.



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***I received an assortment of Gimme Clips products to try at no cost. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Any opinions expressed are my own.***

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If you have or need glasses, read this

This post brought to you by Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine.

In a recent TIME Magazine (July 4, 2011) , there was an article titled “Eyese on the Price”. In the article it was discussed that TIME editor Bill Saporito paid $1,000 for a pair of eyeglasses. Yikes, I really don’t understand why anyone would pay that amount of money for a pair of eyeglasses. Here is a link to the article:

Time magazine

One reader wrote in with this quote:

” Hey, Bill, Can You Read This?
Please tell me editor Bill Saporito is receiving mental-health treatment, because he is insane for spending $1,000 on a single pair of glasses. I buy glasses from Zenni Optical, an online site. It’s $20 for a complete set at my doorstep, shipping included. “

–Peter Minton, Winsted, Conn.

I have heard that eye glasses can be expensive. Especially if the person doesn’t have access to vision insurance. I’ve recently noticed that I’ve not been seeing as clear as I used to. I keep putting off getting an eye exam. I know I shouldn’t. I even have vision insurance . The insurance only covers 1 pair of glasses a year I believe it is. With 3 boys in the house, I’m thinking I’d have to replace them more times than that.

Then I fount out that Zenni Optical has reasonable eye glasses. I went to the site. I saw some cute styles. They have a price slider to hep you find a pair of glasses in your price range. The price slider only goes up to $49! I had to take my son to get his eyes examined a few months ago. His pediatrician thought he might need glasses. While we waited for the doctor, we looked over some glasses. Now there were reasonable ones but the cheapest ones he liked were $60. Then I knew if he needed them I’d have to get the special sports pair too because he’s involved in so many sports. Then I thought oh and I’m probably going to need to get a 2nd regular pair because I know he’ll lose or break them (he’s 7 and very active).

His eye exam ended up being ok and he didn’t need to get glasses but it’s good to know that if when I go in for my exam, if they say I need glasses at least the high expenses will be one less worry for me.

Some tips for making life easier on the go prompted by Seattle’s Best Coffee

We are definitely a family on the go. My two oldest boys are involved in just about everything. My toddler loves being outside. I work outside my home as well as do volunteer work and seek out active and fun activies for my kids. My hubby gets dragged along usually when he’s not working.

For us a plan is a must to make coming home from school, wolfing down dinner, running out the door to wrestling/soccer/football/boy scouts an easy transition.

My first tip and making this easier with a toddler.

1. Keep the diaper bag stocked. I don’t mean just diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes. I mean healthy snacks that will keep. Preferably in a reclosable container P.S. I keep them for the older boys too just don’t tell their friends I keep them in the diaper bag. Ex: boxes of raisins, those nice puree fruit pouches with the little twist-on cap).

2. Keep a few band aids and a plastic bag in your car or diaper bag just in case.

3. Keep a full sippy cup with you. You never know when you might need it with a toddler.

We’re planning our first family vaca in August. We’re driving and it’s going to be a 10 hr drive. For long trips:

4. Plan on taking a reusable shopping back with things like pretzels, beef jerky, and hard candies to keep everyone happy and reduce spending, impulse stops, and whining lol

5. A small cooler tote with a drink for each person and maybe some string cheese, grapes, apples, whatever you like.

6. Keep some plastic bags in the car for things like: diaper changes, um car sickness emergency (but hopefully not) and garbage collection at rest stops. That is also a good tip for every day trips.

7. Pre-charge all your devices your taking that need charged: ipods, DSs, cell phones whatever. This will hopefully save you from that “mom i’m bored are we there yet?” Anything take batteries?

8. Print out directions, map your route, or set destinations in your GPS ahead of time. Some of your destinations may even have a website with suggestions on where to go.

9. If your hotel/resort brochure or website doesn’t specifically say if they offer something you might need: IE. a crib, hair dryer, etc, call them. You may not need to drag the pack and play, hair dryer, etc with you.

We’re planning on getting up early to start this trip. I’m thinking coffee for and the hubs. Seattle’s Best Coffee has convenient new grab and go Iced Lattes. Socialmoms.com had this link to a $1.50 off coupon Save $1.50 on a 4 pack today!
So I’m thinking this might be a great idea for the trip too.

10. Last tip, and this applies to all trips. Take your time and be careful. It’s better to be 15 minutes late than to not get there at all.

What tips do you have for making life easier on the go?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seattle’s Best Coffee blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here

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Got my Zaggora HotPants today, let the test begin!

I am a HotPants ambassador. I’ve been waiting anxiously for my Zaggora HotPants to get here. What are HotPants? Well HotPants are type of pants/shorts that can be worn alone of under clothes daily or during work outs. They are have a specially designed Cellu-lite technology that helps to burn fat faster and decrease visible cellulite. They make you sweat up to 80% more during workouts or everyday activities. They are supposed to help you lose up to 2 jean sizes in 2 weeks by only doing 3 – 30 minute workouts a week while wearing the HotPants. The 30 minute workout in the HotPants are supposed to be equal to doing a 60 minute workout each time.

When I got home from work and saw my HotPants package sitting on my desk, I raced upstairs to try them on. Through normal observation they look like a pair of black bicycle shorts. The material is slightly thicker however and feel a little different. To me it sort of feels like a foam sensation when I run my hands over it. They zipper up the side and have a yellow HotPants logo on the left hip. The pant are a high waist. For me, the legs of the shorts end about 4 inches above my my knee cap when I stand. (I’m 5′ 4″ if that helps you). I had my boys help me out and take a few pics for me. I want to make sure I do this as detailed as possible for you.

This first pic is me trying on the HotPants.

Now let me tell you I ordered a small. The small states it is for US sizes 6-10. Depending on the clothing brand I fluctuate anywhere between a 6 or 10 so I figured this was perfect. Though 6s are a rarity and are usually pretty snug if I can get in them. Usually if I buy an 8 I’m pretty good. I had to suck it in a bit to get in these and they are definitely snug. I’m guessing they should be given the nature of what the HotPants are supposed to do. They also helped tuck everything in so I don’t think I’d mind so much wearing these out of the house. They’re actually rather flattering as far as a tight workout pants go.

The next thing I did was weigh myself. I wanted to know what my starting point was to track progress. I really don’t know how comfortable i am putting my starting weight down. I mostly want to trim down and tone in my abs (or lack there of), butt, and thighs. Those are the areas that are keeping me from getting into my favorite pair of jeans right now. My goal in all this is to lose just 1 jean size. I have a pair of Blue Cult designer jeans that I scored a few years ago for like $30 (org retail for $100). I think i can do it.

The next was to take measurements. Oy, I’m gonna post them here. I’m a bit uncomfortable doing this but I want to show real results (or no results but hopefully not) and I want to be able to prove it . I figured this was the only way to show an honest starting point and ending point once the two weeks are up. So here it goes:

Ok first my pale belly lol. I peeled down the HotPants to get a for real measurement since the hot pants are slimming. Also this is gonna be what’s hanging out of my bikini I reviewed for Vivacious Swim. I think this pic and my bikini for our family vaca in August will be motivation. Around the largest area of my belly I’m looking at about 34 ” and 1/10. Let me tell you, I did feel a littler warmer in the HotPants but I really didn’t think I was sweating at all. I’m not typically one that perspires a lot. Even during workouts. I had the pants on for about 45 minutes before i peeled them down. I was definitely starting to sweat. My skin on my belly was moist and the inside of the pants were slightly damp too. I couldn’t believe i was sweating. All I did before that was sweep and mop the kitchen floor!

Ok then there’s my bum. The thing my jeans have to get up over. Now I know I said the hot pants are trimming. But I wasn’t really sure the best way to take the measurement without maybe putting on the bikini bottoms. If you can see, the measurement around the largest part of my bum in the HotPants is about 40″.

Last but not least I measured my right thing in the largest area. The pants do a good job of hiding it but both my thighs on the outer sides have that kind of violin look to them. The measurement on the tape measure for my right thing in the HotPants is 24 ” exactly.

Ok and two last pics. I tried on the jeans i want to get into. I was able to get them over my thighs and had to do a mini-workout to get them over my bum but I was not able to get them buttoned. Even with them unbuttoned when I tried to go back upstairs to change back into my HotPants, it was difficult for me to step up onto the next step because of how tight they were.

I do have a little, what I like to call, kangaroo pouch left from having my 3rd son 2 years ago. I wasn’t able to make it go away like I did after the first two. They are low rise jeans. I used to be able to pull them up over my bum completely and wear a belt with them. I’d show you the back view to show you that they don’t cover my bum but no body wants to see the top of my plumbers crack. And then there’s the front view.

I was looking for the size on these jeans. Blue Cult jeans go by the waist line sizes. I believe these were a 29 though.

So I think this is a manageable goal. The bikini motivation is there too.

If you wanna get your own HotPants use my code: ANGIEBEE to get 10% off and save yourself some money:

I will be documenting my progress over the next few weeks so check back and see if these pants really work.

***I was given a pair of Zaggora HotPants at no cost to document my progress. I will also get a small percentage of any sales made from my coupon code.***

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3 of my readers will get a 1 yr supply of Secret Clinical Strength waterproof deodorant

I have a @Klout score of 56 currently. Klout scores help to give definition to how influential a person is on the web and exactly what they’re influencing. Klout Perks is a program through klout for influential people on the internet.

Three of you can sign up through my link to get yourself a 1 yr supply of Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof protection deodorant!

Click HERE on my personal Klout link and be one of the first 3 FFCM readers to claim your one years supply!

That’ll save you a few bucks with your grocery bill.

I’d love to know who got in on this so please feel free to let me know.
If you have time, stop by my Klout profile and give me some +k’s to help me with my score and hopefully be able to offer more great deals to you. I’d be happy to return the favor if you let me know.

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