Just Another New Blog

I got my love for scarves from my mom. When I was a kid, she had a passion for silk scarves, and wore one almost every day. Her scarves complemented perfectly the right outfit, and gave the impression of certain effortless elegance.

Scarves Dot Net has a great selection of affordable scarves - from silk and cotton to cashmere and wool. I spent a long time browsing, and found tons of scarves that I loved. Since it's winter, I chose a warm plaid scarf that works for men or women. It's a classic plaid scarf made of soft wool and cashmere - just perfect for cold weather. The Erin scarf measures 64x12 inches and has a nice 3" fringe. It's very versatile and can be worn with a coat, jacket, or sweater.

Scarves Dot Net offers many beautiful scarves, including silk scarves, wraps, pashminas, crinkle scarves, and more. You can shop by season, shape, trend, color, material, or length - extra-long scarves, anyone? The price is right, too - almost all of these scarves cost under $20. I have bookmarked several gift ideas for my mother and for myself. Check them out - Mother's Day is coming up, and I know just what to get my mom.

If you need some pointers on how to tie a scarf, you will find 37 different ways on the Scarves Dot Net site.

Connect with Scarves Dot Net on Facebook, via their blog, or on Twitter (@ScarvesDotNet).

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a $20 gift certificate to Scarves Dot Net!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received free product sample for review purposes. No compensation was obtained for this post. The review reflects my personal opinion and may differ from yours. 

The Babyopoly blanket is a swaddling blanket that combines the layout of a Monopoly board with the trials of early parenthood. This adorable blanket is just right for swaddling - and for giving a much needed laugh to new parents. It's a gentle reminder to live in the moment, and take things one change at a time.

The Babyopoly blanket is made of nice cotton blend fabric and measures 30x40 inches. It comes beautifully packaged in a tulle bag and a bow. This adorable blanket would make a wonderful baby shower gift.

Check out the other Babychix baby products for more great gift ideas and connect with the company via Facebook and Twitter (@babychix_).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mixbook is a photo products company that helps people create custom photo books, cards, and calendars. Last year, I created our family holiday cards at Mixbook. The quality of their products is excellent, the designs beautiful, and I could not be happier with the customer service.

They offer tons of wonderful thank you card designs. I created a custom 5x7 thank you card that turned out beautifully. The site is easy to navigate - the hard part for me was narrowing down the choices. I got to pick a background, font, and design. The design and ordering process was a breeze. I ended up with a set of elegant flat thank you cards with a simple purple flower, printed on premium stock paper. They come with nice white envelopes. The cards are very stylish and can be used for any occasion that warrants a thank you note.

Connect with Mixbook on Facebook or Twitter, and make sure to check out their impressive selection.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Please include prize and ending date, and link directly to the giveaway page.

Looking for more blogs hosting Saturday giveaway fun? Visit Aleks at Busy Working Mama and Kristi at Mom's Own Words. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

There's something almost magical about arbors. They remind me of doors leading to enchanting places. An arbor is a gate into nature that's always open. It can be used to showcase a beautiful place in the park, the botanical garden, or your own yard. Garden arbors are like the frame to a photograph, focusing the eye of the beholder on a peaceful, calming snapshot.

I love wooden arbors because wood is a material that's in sync with nature. Arbors can be flat on top, rounded like an arch, or in a triangular shape like a charming little rooftop. They can be painted white or any other color. Personally, I prefer a finish that has a more natural look and reminds me of tree bark. How beautiful are New England arbors?! My favorite is the red cedar one you see in the picture. It's naturally resistant to decay, insect and weather damage, in case you are wondering how long it will last. This arbor can be painted, stained, or left to weather naturally.

Vinyl arbors are a good option if you are looking for something more affordable and maintenance-free. A nice arbor is not just a pleasure to look at but can increase the appeal and value of your home. Now that's another reason to smile whenever I see those pretty arbors.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit Yard Arbors. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

The other day, I was talking to a good friend about our childhoods. Both of her parents had worked full time, she said, but the family just could not make ends meet. Every month, they borrowed a small amount of money to tide them over until payday. A few months later, some unexpected expense would come up, and her mom and dad would be short on cash again. They did not have much debt and made a good enough living but life happened, and they had to find a way to bridge the gaps.

My friend's mom would borrow from a friend, a neighbor, or a family member. She always paid them back when her next paycheck came. Still, my friend felt her mom had been embarrassed to ask over and over again. Back then, no one had heard about fast and easy payday lending. These days, there are ways to take a small loan without resorting to friends and family. My friend's parents would have welcomed the opportunity - with the security and anonymity that comes from not borrowing money from someone they knew.

My friend is all grown up now, with a family of her own. She manages their finances with an iron grip - and maybe uses a small loans service when she needs to. Just a few clicks online, and she has the money. And no one in her extended family has to know.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit PaydayLoans. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Today, I have a fascinating new title for you: Dr. Mark Hyman's The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!. The book takes readers through a six-week program that has helped people achieve better health, drop those extra pounds, and feel fantastic. I can't wait to read it! Check out the book description, and don't forget to watch the inspiring 4-minute video below.

Book Description
In The Blood Sugar Solution, Dr. Mark Hyman reveals that the secret solution to losing weight and preventing not just diabetes but also heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer is balanced insulin levels. Dr. Hyman describes the seven keys to achieving wellness-nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism, and a calm mind-and explains his revolutionary six-week healthy-living program. With advice on diet, green living, supplements and medication, exercise, and personalizing the plan for optimal results, the book also teaches readers how to maintain lifelong health. Groundbreaking and timely, The Blood Sugar Solution is the fastest way to lose weight, prevent disease, and feel better than ever.


The Giveaway
Three (3) lucky readers will win The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A few years ago, I came back from a family vacation to find out my vacuum cleaner broke. After some frenzied research, I took the plunge and bought a Dyson vacuum. And I am so glad I did. This baby is the best thing that's ever happened to my housecleaning chores - other than having someone else do them, that is. Dyson made me love vacuuming. That's no small feat.

Sure, the Dyson vacuum cleaners are more expensive than other brands I've tried. They are worth every penny. I could not be happier with the cleaning ability of my DC17. I can only imagine what it would be like to reverse that excellent suction and use it for a hand dryer. I have not tried Dyson hand dryers but I am curious. I wonder what airblade hand dryers look like. Do they have blades to move the air more efficiently?

A Dyson airblade hand dryer is used every day somewhere around the world to dry about 25 million hands. It takes about 12 seconds and dries at air speeds of 400 miles per hour. Now that's fast. This dryer also uses 80% less energy than warm hand dryers. I love how green it is - and the futuristic design.

Hmmmm, I wonder if I can have a Dyson hand dryer installed in every bathroom in my house... A hand dryer like that would go perfectly with my Dyson vacuum cleaner. Then maybe Dyson will come up with the perfect dishwasher, washer and dryer. I'll be waiting.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit HandDryerSource. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

A few days ago, I made a blueberry and yogurt parfait a la Starbucks for my kids. I carefully layered yogurt, blueberries and granola, and snapped a few pictures of the pretty treat. Then I called the kids to the table. Just as they dug in, I raised my camera to take a photo of children enjoying parfait. And my trusty Rebel responded with "Replace Battery Pack". Oh no! Do I have an extra Canon camera battery? Erm, I don't.

I take pretty good care of my photo equipment. I keep my lens collection in a special box to protect it from dust - and from curious little fingers. I always know where to find my Canon battery charger. And I re-charge the battery before it's completely empty.

Until now, I had not given much thought to getting another Canon digital camera battery. Just in case mine suddenly stops working - like the other day - and I am in the middle of a photo opp. Too bad memories can't wait a few days until I get a replacement battery.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit Batteryheads. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

I own about a dozen flash drives. It's hard to pinpoint it exactly because I tend to misplace them. I am pretty sure there's one lurking on the bottom of my purse right now. I see a few in a glass pencil holder on my book shelf. And I think hubby's got a couple in his desk at work.

Some of these disappearing flash drives have a cord to wear around my neck. But let's face it, that looks a bit nerdy. And I like my necklaces a tad more, how to put it, stylish and elegant, thank you very much.

Can't find your flash drives, either? Don't despair - there is a nifty way to have your USB on hand: Memory on Hand! Yes, really: the MoH is an utterly cool wristband with a flash drive built in. The band comes in a variety of colors, so no one - including your teen - can ever accuse you of nerdiness. In fact, your hip, fashion-conscious kid will probably "borrow" it.

These equally cool and hot USB wristbands are made of soft rubbery plastic. They are super comfy to wear, and hold 2 GB or 4 GB of precious data. Aren't they the cutest thing? I love mine and try to keep my husband from stealing it. Sorry, I meant to say borrowing. OK, maybe I'll share...

The MoH Band can be used just like any other flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive. Just plug it into an USB port on your laptop or computer. Once plugged in, it will either pop-up on your desktop or can be accessed by opening up 'My Computer'. And yes, you can use it with any USB compatible device besides  a notebook or desktop computer - printer, TV, gaming system, photo frame, sound system, or projector.

There are tons of pretty colors to choose from, including solids, tie-dye, and even glow in the dark. How cool is that! You can even get a MoH band with a peace sign. The wristbands are very affordable: a 2 GB band costs $19.95, and a 4 GB band is $24.95. I can just see college and high school kids wearing MoH wristbands, three or five at a time - on each hand.

The MoH wristband is the brainchild of two former students. The Cambridge, MA startup that creates, manufactures, and sells The MoH Band has launched a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects and helps raise money for individuals and companies through the support of a larger community. By starting a Kickstarter project,  Andrew and Jeff, the guys behind the smart wristband, are trying to create new products, grow the business, and keep the company their own. They need your help! Anything you can "pledge" to their project and any way you can share it with others goes a long way. Check out their project and support these young entrepreneurs if you can.

Connect with Memory on Hand on Facebook or Twitter (@themohband).

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a Memory on Hand USB Wristband in their choice of color!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Sponsored by Tomoson.com