Money-Saving Apps for Frugal Living

Simple tools to help you cut costs and live better:

When money is tight, an expensive 2 or 3-year contract with your cell-phone provider can make you feel like you’re towing an anchor—but with the right apps, your smartphone can become an asset to help you save in other areas of your life. Here are a few of the best apps we’ve found to painlessly and effectively reduce your family’s expenses. Apps to Save on Gas GasBuddy (Android, iOS) This app provides a birds-eye view of the gas stations in your area, so you can instantly select the cheapest provider on your route. If you drive a family-size vehicle, those extra ten or fifteen cents per gallon can really make a difference. (Cost: free) greenMeter (iOS) If you drive aggressively, no car is going to get its optimum fuel economy. greenMeter uses your cell phone’s accelerometer to identify how much fuel your car is using based on your speed, acceleration, and environmental factors. It’s a great way to develop safer driving habits and save trips to the gas station. Unfortunately, this is the only app on our list that isn’t free, and it’s not cheap either. It’s a cool app, but you’ll have to decide for yourself if it’s worth the investment. (Cost: $5.99) Mileage (Android)

This app tracks all your gas receipts to show your car’s fuel economy over time, which can be a great way to discipline your driving and maintenance habits, as well as indicating car trouble so you can fix it before it becomes a costly overhaul. It’s nice to get a clear, visual indication of how your car’s performance improves with clean filters, regular oil changes, and properly-filled tires. (Cost: free) Apps to Save on Groceries RedLaser (Android, iOS) With this app, you can scan any product’s barcode and search for better deals on that item online or at nearby stores. If you’re out for a long errand run, this app can save you a great deal of time and money. You can also use it to check a book’s availability at your local library, which will save you a lot of money if you’re a voracious reader. (Cost: free) Supermarket (iOS) To save money, I always check the by-the-ounce prices at the supermarket, but sometimes the tags are missing or misleading, so I find myself trying to do the math in my head to find the best deal. Supermarket does the heavy lifting for you, simply by scanning the items’ barcodes. Especially f you have a large family, just knowing when to buy in bulk can cut a huge slice out of your monthly grocery bill. (Cost: free)

Other Big Money-savers Onavo (Android, iOS) If your data plan itself is a big drag on your finances, Onavo is a wonderfully innovative solution. Instead of the inefficient data streaming that your phone normally uses, Onavo routes all your phone’s data through their servers and compresses it, reducing your phone’s data usage dramatically. Our family uses mobile broadband from T-Mobile, and we cut our data plan usage by 40%, which is a nice chunk of change every month. All these other money-saving apps won’t do you much good if they’re causing overage fees on your data plan, so Onavo is definitely worth a look. (Cost: free) Groupon (Android, iOS) Groupon allows your family to enjoy outings that otherwise might get cut from your budget. They offer deals on restaurants, museums, theaters, and outdoor activities, routinely discounted at 30-60% off. You do have to pay for the deals you select in advance, but otherwise the app and service are free. It doesn’t hurt to have the app available, and check every couple days for activities your family would enjoy. (Cost: free) Julia 

Peterson is a writer for AndGeeks.com, a popular website that provides up-to-date news, detailed commentary, and unbiased reviews on cell phones and related topics. Julia resides in Galveston, Texas in a cozy little house in the country with her husband, young son, and their Labrador retriever, Darby.

New Winner Drawn

Congratulations to the new winner of the

ePool Smart System,

Lisa Lo!

(previous winner didn't respond to three emails)

Installing Paving Stones

Homeowners can certainly benefit from the quality of work offered by System Pavers. The company works very efficiently and will have the job completed within days, not weeks. The entire process is comprised of four steps; prepare, layer, fit and finish. In order to install paving stones, the ground must be cleared, graded and compacted. Some homes have existing concrete, sod or rocky topsoil that must come out before installing the pavers. After excavating the area, the ground is compacted. Then the base material, a crushed stone, is spread evenly over the area and that is layered with screed sand. Each layer is compacted before the pavers are installed.

Next is the stone artistry at work. This is where System Pavers precisely cuts and places the stones in contoured designs that custom fit the layout of the paved area. System Pavers enhances the quality of their installation with the use of a bond beam that locks the pavers together once in position over the area. Before the job is complete, the pavers are compacted with a plate vibrator that evens out any uneven pavers and settles them into the sand layer below. The pavers are then coated and swept with sand, compacted again and then washed to reveal the finished results. This company’s work and attention to detail for the longevity of their work offers the peace of mind homeowners are looking for in knowing their investment will last and they will have a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy for many years to come.

Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop

Hooray for the Weekend!

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Link up and hop around.

Check out my giveaways while you're here!

United Way for Greater Austin Cuts Funding

Fundraising has fallen and the United Way for Greater Austin has in turn had to cut funding to several local charities. Please consider donating directly if you can. Charities affected include:

AIDS Services of Austin

Austin Groups for the Elderly

Austin Habitat for Humanity

Any Baby Can

Bastrop County Food Pantry

BiG Austin

Capital IDEA

Care Communities

Family Eldercare

Frameworks

Foundation Communities

Goodwill

LifeWorks

Manos De Cristo

Meals on Wheels and More

People’s Community Clinic

PeopleFund

Project Transitions

SafePlace

Salvation Army

Volunteer Healthcare Clinic

Williamson Burnet County Opportunities

Tour De France - Bike Safety Tips for Families

The Tour de France is the single most important competition in the entire sport of cycling with billions of viewers each year, and more than 10 million spectators lining the roadway. Cycle Force Group is an importer of bicycles, parts, and accessories serving all facets of the cycling industry and produces TDF bicycling gear. Cycle Force Group is excited to share with you bike tips to keep you and your family safe and healthy this summer.

Road Safety

• Pump check: Before going for a ride, check your tires! Pump the tires with your pedals to make sure that it will be a safe ride.
• Get a headlight: For those that are bicycling at night do not forget to add a headlight. It not only is required by the law but will keep you safe.
• Wave: Always wave at the driver! It is easier for drivers to see arms indicating your direction instead of seeing a bicycle coming.
• Arm Signs: Learn the different arm signs that will let drivers know the direction you are turning.
• Road Rules: Stop at all stop signs and obey traffic lights.
• Direction flow: Ride in the direction of traffic so people can predict the movement and direction of a bicyclist. In some states such as Flordia, bicyclists can get a citation for not riding in the same direction as traffic.
• Keep Your Distance: Stay away from parked cars, for doors can open suddenly.
• Crossing An Interaction: When you arrive at an intersection, walk your bicycle across the crosswalk.
• Leader Of The Pack: If riding with a group of people, always ride behind one another to share the road with motorists.
• Avoid Noise: Avoid wearing listening to music while biking. Many bicycle accidents could have been prevented if riders were not distracted.

Choosing a Bicycle and Helmet For Your Child

• Maturity Level: The most important component of buying a bicycle is the child’s age and the environment they are going to be biking.
• Be Bold: Make sure that the bicycle is visible to drivers and other cyclists.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Each certified helmet will have a sticker that indicates that the helmet is a quality helmet.
• Check Your Helmet: Because they lose their ability to absorb shock, routinely check your helmet each season.
• Tight Fitting Helmet: Do not wear a hat underneath.
• Love Your Helmet: Do not throw your helmet around. A damaged helmet may be unable to protect you in the event of an accident.
• Spacing: There should be a space of 1-2 inches between your body and the top bar of a road bike, and 3 to 4 inches between your body and the top of a bike.

Caring For Your Bicycle

• Inflate Tires: The recommended pressure to inflate your tires is listed on the sidewall of the tire.
• Regular Maintence: Oil the bike chain regularly and remove any dirt.
• Adjust The height: Change the handlebars to appropriate height as children frequently have growth spurts.
• Complete A Break Check: Look for frayed cables and worn-out brake pads.
• Checking The Tread: Check your tread regularly. By letting the tread on your bicycle wear out you are setting yourself up for danger.

Health Benefits Of Bicycling

• Activation Of Muscles: The muscular system is made stronger and is able to function more efficiently through cycling.
• Balance: Cycling improves balance through the circulation of oxygen.
• Calorie Burning: Bicycling not only is good for the environment, but it also burns calories.
• Exercise Alternative: Bicycling is an alternative exercise for people who are unable to run.

Hydration and Nutrition

• Hydration: For each hour riding drink 20-24 ounces of water. By taking the time to rejuvenate your body you are helping to prevent Charlie Horses & muscle cramps.
• Weigh Yourself: If you have lost a significant amount of weight, such as a few pounds after a ride, it means that you are dehydrated.
• Nutrition: Take time to plan your meals to ensure that you are getting your daily need of vitamins to prove ample energy for your ride.
• Professional Advice: Seek advice from a nutritionist and your general practitioner to help with your training.

About Cycle Force Group
Cycle Force Group is an importer of bicycles, parts, and accessories serving all facets of the cycling industry including independent bicycle dealers, sporting goods retailers, e-commerce customers, premium and incentive companies and OEM customers worldwide. Cycle Force Group’s Premium and Incentive Division also offers custom designed products for promotional and incentive needs. Le Tour de France is a Registered Trademark of, and used under license from Amaury Sport Organization. About Tour de France
The Tour de France is an amazing event that has extraordinary deliverables as an annual global event. The Tour de France is the single most important competition in the entire sport of cycling with billions of viewers each year. With more than 10 million spectators lining the roadway the inherent brand media exposure for Le Tour de France far exceeds the media footprint of all other bicycle brands combined.

TourdeFranceCycles.com

Facebook.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Twitter.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Pinterest/TourdeFranceCyc

YouTube.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Win this Tour De France Prize Pack!
Includes water bottle, gloves and bike seat. To enter just fill in the Rafflecopter below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US. This giveaway ends on July 31 at midnight ET. Good luck!

Manage Your Money

Fun with finances. You start on Payoff by sharing your dreams and setting up goals that motivate you (like paying off a credit card or saving for a trip). Then link your accounts to track your finances and see where you're spending. As you make progress you’ll earn badges and even win cash sur-prizes. To help you reach your goals faster we offer handpicked tools and blog posts along the way. It’s social, simple and fun!

Kabana Organic Skin Care - Review

Whatever you put onto your skin permeates into the rest of your body. Erik Kreider is a dermatological biochemist and pharmaceutical developer and his vision with Kabana Organic Skin Care is to create products that include ingredients our bodies use naturally. The Green Screen organic sunscreen is safe for kids and adults. It comes in original or in two different tints (nude or bronze) so you can choose the one that best compliments your skin. The original has SPF 20 or 35, and the tinted have SPF 22. I've been using the original SPF 20 for the past two weeks and am thrilled with the results. It applies creamy and spreads well, protects my skin from the sun and leaves my skin soft. I definitely recommend the Green Screen products.

I also received the Kabana Magnesium Creme, an organic pain reliever and I've used it several times with great success. I banged my knee into the corner of my desk and the Magnesium Creme really helped reduce the pain around my knee for a few days while it healed. I also used it on my upper back to relieve pain that I get from sitting too long in front of my computer. I love this product!

I've also been using the DE'A + Q10 SUPER antioxidant organic eye serum from Kabana. I've got some wrinkles around my eyes and I've been using the Kabana eye serum for about two weeks. I've seen a bit of improvement but I want to use it for a longer period of time. After all, it took me 45 years to get the wrinkles and I'm sure it'll take more than two weeks to try and reduce them. So far, I like it. Here's my before picture, taken on July 8. I'll get back to you with results in about four weeks. Find out more information on their website at http://www.kabanaskincare.com/.
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Kidz Bop 22 - Just Released

Let's face it, dancing is FUN. It's also great exercise for adults and children. It allows us to let our bodies go and let our minds go. It feels great to wiggle out stress and shake out problems. Kidz Bop 22 has just been released and my preschoolers were thrilled to help me try it out.

Sixteen of today's biggest hits are on Kidz Bop 22, sung BY kids and FOR kids. It was so cute to hear one of the kids say - "Hey I already know this song! I have it at my house!" They were so excited to have some great popular dance music instead of our normal nursery rhyme music. I was happy to see them release some energy and I enjoyed listening too. Those preschoolers really do have some moves!

The new Kidz Bop 22 features Stronger, Call Me Maybe, Starships, Domino, Payphone, Wild Ones, Glad You Came, Drive By, Part of Me, What Makes You Beautiful, Dance Again, Boyfriend, Feel So Close, Somebody That I Used to Know, Tonight is the Night, and Set Fire to the Rain. The Kidz Bop Kids are a group of youngsters selected to perform these popular hits and they are great singers.

Find out more information at www.kidzbop.com and check out all the great features on their website. There are videos, games, and much more. They are also seeking budding artists for their Kidz Star USA 2012 Talent Search!

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

12 Days of Christmas in July Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas in July Giveaway Hop 
hosted by GoingCrazy!! WannaGo??!! and Planet Weidknecht!! 
This giveaway hop is open from July 20th to 31st.

My giveaway is sponsored by

Pacific Pillows

and we're giving away one standard size

Pillowtex Triple Core White Duck Down and Feather Pillow

a $50.00 value!!!!

Pacific Pillows is the choice of many of the best hotels, including Hilton, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Waldorf Astoria and many others. After sleeping on the Pillowtex Triple Core White Duck Down and Feather Pillow for the last week, I can attest to why so many hotels choose Pacific Pillows. This pillow is so comfortable and supported my head and neck properly, allowing me to wake up rested and pain-free.

The inner chamber is filled with 95% duck feather and 5% duck down, surrounded by an outer chamber of 75% duck feather and 25% duck down, covered by a double layer of 230 thread count 100% cotton to make sure all the feathers stay inside the pillow. All the edges are double-stitched for the greatest comfort and quality. I absolutely love this pillow! You can purchase this pillow and many other wonderful bedding products at www.pacificpillows.com. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

To enter to win, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US to be eligible to win. Good luck!

Back to School Sidekix Review

Starting a new school year always made me a bit nervous. Would I make any friends? What if no one liked me? What if I was picked last for a game? What if no one talked to me at recess? This year, give your child an instant comfort friend, cool enough for boys or girls. Sidekix is just the side-kick your child needs this year!

This awesome little friend comes in its own secret zipper pouch and can clip onto a backpack, a jacket pull, a lunchbox, or even slip into a pocket. This Sidekix is named Inferno and his secret pouch looks like a flaming ball of fire.

To release the Sidekix friend, just unzip the pouch and turn it inside out. It's easy enough for a three year old to do, but cool enough for a teenager to carry! Inferno is a bright red dragon with glittering wings and horns. From the tiny fangs in his mouth to the shiny toe claws, Inferno is ready to help your child be confident this school year.

Sidekix friends will be great conversation starters as your child tempts others to guess what's inside. Everyone will be delighted by a dragon that fits in their hands! Once the Sidekix is fully released from the pouch, it can be zipped up with the clip inside or outside the zipper.

Also available are the Sidekix Zebra, Dog, Chick, and Panda so that your child can choose the friend best suited to their tastes. These friends are also a great way to help younger kids easily identify which backpack or lunchbox belongs to them.

Soft and safe for ages 3 and up, a Sidekix pal is also appropriate for children with sensory issues, providing them something quiet and friendly during classroom times. Surprise your child with this mythical little creature for back to school this year.

   

Find your child a new friend at sidekix.com. Be sure to link up with them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest too! Plus you can enter to win one below in our Back to School Sidekix Event. After you enter my giveaway, be sure to visit the other participating blogs. The more blog giveaways you enter, the better your chances of winning!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

To enter my giveaway, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US. Only one Sidekix may be won per household. Sidekix reserves the right to substitute if the one the winner selects is not available. Giveaway begins at 12:01a.m. ET on July 20, 2012 and ends at 11:59p.m. ET on August 10, 2012. Good luck!

Breakfast Coupons to Print

offer expired

Current Giveaways

• New Sprouts Fix It! Tool Set - Ends July 21
• Dana Classic Fragrances - Two Winners - Ends July 21
• $20 Gift Certificate to Liane Fried Studio - Ends July 21
• Scandle Eco-Shave and Shower Foam - Ends July 22
• Beyond Sugar Shock by Connie Bennett - Ends July 22
• Tantex Leather Conditioner - Ends July 22
• Love Your Breed FouFou Dog Prize Pack - Ends July 22
• $80 Paypal Cash - Ends July 23
• Twisted Orchid Handbag and If You Can't Stand the Heat Cookbook - Ends July 27
• Tangerine Sky Productions Art and Book - Ends July 29

Super ACE Giveaway

This is not a Planet Weidknecht giveaway. I'm posting it in exchange for a link on the giveaway form.

Mommy and Baby Reviews, Powered By Mom, Mom Does Reviews and

Nighttime Helper has teamed up with Independent Ace Associate (Director), Junetta Sparks, and her amazing team

to bring our readers the Super ACE Giveaway!

That's Right ONE winner will take home ALL of the following Prizes!

New Martha Speaks Episodes in July

In "Dog Daze," when Carolina chastises Martha for her doggish mannerisms, Martha wishes Carolina could just see things from her point of view. That night, Carolina goes to sleep only to awake as...a dog! What will happen when she's forced to take on a furry, four-legged perspective?

Also airing that day is the brand-new "Monkeyshines Martha." In this episode, Helen's hefty schoolwork load leaves her with little time left to spend with Martha. At loose ends, Martha finds a friend in Professor Monkey, whose wacky inventions propel Martha into a world of new adventures.

Tune in for these new Martha Speaks adventures airing Monday, July 23 on PBS KIDS (check your local listings).

Oxfam GROW Method Helps Fight Hunger

Oxfam’s GROW Method emphasizes the power women have to catalyze change and suggests five simple steps for feeding their families healthy, delicious meals that will put the global food system on the road to recovery:

Eat less meat: Access to water is essential to food security and more than 1.6 billion people live in areas facing water scarcity. Meat production soaks up 8 percent of the world’s water supply. If American moms were to feed their families lentils or other beans instead of beef once per week they would save 6,000 liters of water each meal. That’s the equivalent of seventeen bathtubs of fresh water filled to the brim and then some every week, or twelve and a half Olympic sized swimming pools per family over the course of one year.

Reduce food waste: About a third of all food produced for people’s plates goes to waste. In the six countries surveyed one in six apples ends up in the garbage- that’s 5.3 billion apples every year. Lined up side by side those apples would stretch more than nine times around the Earth. The greenhouse gases produced in the growth, trade and decomposition of these apples is equivalent to the burning of 10 million barrels of oil every day, more than the US imports. Only buying the apples we need and storing them in the refrigerator would help cut down on this waste.

Support small-scale and sustainable food producers: If consumers in Brazil, UK, USA and Spain ensure two of the chocolate bars they buy each month are Fair Trade it would add up to over 12.5 billion chocolate bars a year - this action alone could help transform the lives of people who live and work on 90,000 small scale cocoa farms across the globe.

Cook smarter: Simple changes in how we prepare food such as putting a lid on a pan when cooking, using the right amount of water to cook vegetables and reducing the heat as soon as water starts to boil - can cut the amount of energy we use in cooking by up to 70 percent and to help prevent climate impacts from hurting poor farmers. If women in the 6 surveyed countries took simple steps like this it would be the equivalent of planting 540 million tree seedlings and letting them grow for a decade.

Buy Seasonal: A lot of energy is wasted growing food in the wrong place at the wrong time of year. We can save enormous amounts of energy and cut greenhouse emissions just by eating more of what’s in season near us.

For more information, visit the Oxfam America Facebook page and Pinterest page.

LaVida Massage, Cedar Park, TX - Review

Are you part of the 70% of Americans who have never experienced a therapeutic massage? It is one of the most wonderfully healing things you can do for yourself. Relax your mind and your body at the brand new LaVida Massage, located in 20 states. I had the pleasure of visiting the Cedar Park, Texas, location owned by Abhay and Suparna Salunke.

As I entered LaVida Massage, I was greeted by a smiling face and a cup of water. The beautiful decor immediately calms the soul, with a combination of greens and browns, stone and wood. It also smells wonderful and the seating area is warm and inviting. With just a single page registration, I was ready to relax.

My massage therapist led me to a private massage room and stepped out while I disrobed and settled onto the table under the covers. My one-hour Swedish massage was heavenly, professional, and very beneficial. I really appreciated that they use an unscented massage oil (because lavender and I don't get along at all). I highly recommend LaVida Massage in Cedar Park.

They offer a number of services and products specifically designed to meet the needs of both men and women in the area, including a variety of massage therapy options, such as: relaxation, deep tissue, couples massage, hot stone, Swedish, pre-natal and even oncological therapies, all performed by licensed, expertly trained massage therapists. They also offer aesthetic services including facials and waxing, and products by GlyMed Plus, a recognized industry leader in the development of professional skin care products.

They have limited-time opening specials that include a $39.95 custom massage. They are open from 9 - 9 Monday through Friday, 9 - 8 on Saturday, and 10 - 6 on Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged by calling 512-528-5691 or booking online at cedarpark.tx.lavidamassage.com. Be sure to follow them on Facebook too!
Disclosure: I received services at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Nutrisystem Week 35 #NSNation

I can't believe I've been on Nutrisystem for 35 weeks.

I lost another pound in the the last week,

for a total of 28 pounds lost on Nutrisystem.

I have really enjoyed all the aspects of their program,

from the delicious foods, to the company support,

to the online interaction with others.

I have gained back so much confidence and I believe

that I will reach my weight loss goal.

I've learned that eating healthy foods in the right portions

is the biggest key to losing weight.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? 

Join Nutrisystem today by calling 1-888-853-4689 

or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Join the Dew Crew

Click HERE to join the Dew Crew!
Join the DEW® CREW, a group of #88 Diet DEW® Chevy driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans on Facebook who help call the shots for the #88 team and have access to awesome Dale Jr. and #88 team content.

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew.

Silkies Insider 50% Off Capris

Signup to receive exclusive offers, new product announcements and more. Signup today and take 50%* off Capris. Plus receive FREE Shipping on your order. 50% discount is valid for one-time use at Silkies.com. Excludes multi-packs, taxes and shipping and handling. Enter promo code at checkout. Offer is void after expiration. Free Shipping on all orders of $40 or more (excluding discounts and taxes) is applicable to standard shipping only and is available for a limited time.

Smart Strip Surge Protector - Review

Your electronics drain electricity even when you're not using them. When you take your cell phone off the charger for the day and leave the charger plugged in, your electricity and your money are draining away. Bits Limited has the solution! Their new Smart Strip Surge Protector is rated by environmental groups, universities and utility companies as one of the top five ways to save energy and help the environment.

The Smart Strip works by unplugging devices attached to your computer or television when they are not being used. You can also use it in your workshop or a busy kitchen to make shutdown and start-up of multiple devices fast, easy and complete. The blue outlet is for the control device, like a computer or television.

The red section of the power strip is for things you don't want to turn off, like a fax machine, a DVR cable box, or your satellite receiver. The green section is the part that helps you BE green and SAVE green! Here, you plug in the devices you want to save energy and money on, such as your printer, your monitor, your DVD, your game console, or your home theater. These three light bulbs help demonstrate how the blue and red sections stay on with power running, while the green section is off. This particular model is the SCG3E. Bits Limited also has several other options of surge protectors including a child safe one!

I've been using this power strip in my office area and it's been working fantastic for me. My computer is my control device, with my clock and landline phone in the red section. The green section is powering (when needed) my digital camera charger, my printer, and my dvd player. Check out all their fabulous products at http://www.bitsltd.net/ and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more money-saving ideas and tips!
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Karina Dresses - Review

Karina Cousineau is a genius! Her vision to create dresses that ALL women look fabulous and feel beautiful has turned into a thriving New York based fashion business. Regardless of your shape or size, Karina Dresses will make you love the way you look in a dress. Karina chooses limited edition fabrics to create looks that are both fashion-forward and classic. She somehow manages to capture the inner beauty of a woman and enable it to shine through her dresses.

My body is far from perfect, but this dress from Karina just absolutely made my day when I put it on. The fabric is luxurious without being pretentious, the fit is comfortable and natural, and I wish I owned a hundred of these! The style I chose is called Carmen, one of many different styles. It's so easy to wear that I could easily wear it every single day. It looks great with sandals, pumps and high-heeled boots.

Best of all, caring for this dress is EASY! I can throw it in the washing machine in cool water and hang it up to dry. It never needs ironing! I absolutely love my new Karina Dress and even my husband adores the way I look in it. I truly feel authentically beautiful in it.

You can see this amazing collection at http://karinadresses.com. You can use this special discount code PLANETW30 to save $30 off any full price dress in the Karina web store! Be sure to follow Karina Dresses on Facebook and Twitter too, so you can be first to hear about new designs and fabric choices. I wholehearted recommend Karina Dresses! I can't wait to see YOU in one of her fashions!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Makenzie Caine Take This Town - CD Review

Looking for music that's family-friendly? Makenzie Caine's Take This Town is a CD the entire family can enjoy together! Her music is perfect to pop in the CD player in the car when you're driving around with your kids. The music is great background music or turn it up and sing along! Her voice is beautiful, like an angel's.

My group of preschoolers and I listened to the Take This Town CD together. Their favorite songs were Butterfly and Moonshadow. I especially enjoyed Sweet Baby and Young Marine. The kids have requested to hear her songs again and again. It's a refreshing change from nursery rhyme songs!

You can take a listen to the songs, watch a video and get more information about Makenzie Caine at http://makenziecainemusic.com/. Enjoy!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.