Thursday, October 29, 2009

Quaker Oatmeal Deal at Walgreens until Oct. 31


Walgreens has Quaker Quick Oats advertised BOGO at $3.19 with a weekly coupon. Buy four of the oatmeal canisters and use 2 coupons for $1.25 off 2 from the 8/30 Red Plum inserts. Your cost is $3.88 out of pocket. And, because you purchased $10 worth of Quaker products, you get a $5 register reward good toward your next Walgreen's purchase. You actually make money buying oatmeal.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Botox Revolt


Take a look at celebrities and politicians. Notice something different about their faces? Fewer lines and wrinkles. Celebrities that are in their sixties and seventies look 25. All of their furrows and creases have been erased by Botox.

If you haven't heard, Botox is made from dead botulism. You know, the Black Plague. Not something I would willing place into my body. Yet, people from all walks of life are hosting Botox parties with health professionals injecting the substance into their bodies. And they get paid upwards of $175 from each person attending the "party".

Something is wrong here. First, Botox was first used on stroke victims. These patients had the concoction injected into paralyzed facial tissue. Botox relaxed the muscles and returned function and appearance to individuals. Sounds great, until some medical professionals decided to use it on their patients. Patients with deep pockets. Celebrities and Politicians were perfect candidates for the serum. They depend on their looks to get them through life. Problem is, once they get one injection, they want to get rid of all their wrinkles. Suddenly, they don't look like themselves anymore. Brow furrows they have had since the age of 10 are gone. Vanished. Their faces may look young, but take a look at their hands. They have age spots and knotted veins and alligator skin. You can hide all the ravages of time from every part of your body.

Not all medical professionals tout the praises of Botox. Most will steer you away from the stuff. Beware of those pushing it as a cure-all. They are just lining their vaults and buying Porsche's based on our vanity. Botox only lasts so long and then the wrinkles return. So you get six maybe eight weeks of smoother skin.

Let's go back to these celebrities that promote organic foods and a healthy lifestyle only to get Botox injections. These are probably the same people that refuse to get an H1N1 flu vaccine because of safety issues. How healthy is Botox? What are the long term effects?

Best prevention? Eat right, exercise, drink lots of water and be happy. And develop lots of interests and cultivate lots of friends with different points of view. People will love you for who you are and not the fact you don't have laugh lines. I adore the furrows in George Clooney's forehead and Ty Pennington's deep smile. I hope they decide to show their age. And I adore shar pei's. I wouldn't want a wrinkle-free puppy - would you?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

SMART Bus - a Great Value!


I have been very busy lately volunteering with the Macomb Conservation District's tree and flowering bulb sale as well as with Habitat for Humanity. October is one of those month's that just zips along. It's almost Halloween. Pretty soon it will be Christmas.

Christmas is filled with gift-giving and people want to splurge on their loved ones during the holiday. Money is tight and it seems everyone is looking for ways to save more than ever. Consider riding the bus. Yes, the bus!

In southeast Michigan, we have a wonderful transportation system known as the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). For $66 you can get a $2.00 pass that's valid for 31 days. That means you save wear and tear on your vehicle, use less gasoline, save on parking lot fees and let someone else deal with the crazy drivers. You can organize your day on the way to work and get to your desk feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Think about it - fewer oil changes ($20- $30 savings), less fuel purchased (for a compact car that gets 29 MPG in the city, that's $60 a month in the pocket), less tire wear, better insurance rates, no parking lot or parking meter fees. Over the course of a year, you could save $1000 or more.

Some employers are even helping employee's pay for the cost of commuting when they use a SMART bus. That equals even more dinero in your pocket. And with the holiday season approaching, who couldn't use more pocket money.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Rochester Ladies Night



Hundreds of women got together to experience the semi-annual Ladies Night in Rochester, Michigan. And I joined in this fall's festivities. It was great fun with the local merchants handing out gifts, ice cream, chocolates and more to participants. In between filling out registrations for gift baskets and gift cards, I enjoyed a wonderful flat bread red pepper pizza at Mind, Body and Spirits eatery. Try the cupcakes at the Home Bakery - to die for. When you became too tired to walk main street looking for deals, a limo with handsome men in tuxedos was available to whisk you away.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Traverse Necklace




Trying to work with materials I have and design a new necklace. I had some white feathers, black waxed cotton cord, turquoise beads and copper. With those materials I created the Traverse necklace - a flirty, young design that's great with a t-shirt, jeans and hoodie.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Linen Bench at Kmart


A must have for anyone looking for additional space is a bench. And Kmart has a delightful linen bench with brass nail heads that fits with almost any decor. The best part is it's $129.99 and there is a coupon for $20 off any in-store purchase of $100 or more available on-line at kmart.com.

Stylish Furniture from Sears


What a find! Modern, stylish furniture at Sears.com. These acrylic chairs look just like the "ghost chairs" by Phillipe Starck featured in modern furniture magazines at a fraction of the cost. I have seen similar items listed on-line for slightly less money. But, I know Sears will back up the product and I can return it if not satisfied. Wonder if Sears association with Extreme Home Makeover has something to do with this plunge into designer-like styles.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Wendy Ring


I went to school with Native American people. I never gave it a second thought. I grew up with people from Korea, Japan, Iran, Turkey and all sorts of cultural backgrounds. I thought everyone had friends from different cultures. This copper ring is my salute to my friend Wendy - a Native American from one of the local tribes with an amazing sense of style.