Free Birthday Treats Blog

Slendertone EnerVive Muscle Conditioning Review

Julie Northrop — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:42:47 +0000

About a year ago, both my shoulders started to ache and if I reached up at just the right angle it almost felt like a pinched nerve. So off I went to the doctor who took x-rays only to come up empty handed and suggested I go through some physical therapy. Like most moms, did I follow through? Of course not! Well, when Beth over at Role Mommy offered this enticing offer of trying Slendertone’s EnerVive, I knew I had to check this out.

According to their site:

Slendertone Enervive is a hands free, easy to use, professional muscle conditioner that applies our clinically demonstrated EMS (Electrical muscle stimulation) technology, to gently and safely stimulate and relax your muscles. This same technology is used by physical therapists in hospitals and clinics across the US to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles. Now you can have an effective and convenient solution to muscle recovery and relaxation right in your own home.

Now depending on what your specific need is, Slendertone EnerVive is set up with six (6) different programs for muscle warm-up, improved muscle endurance, increased muscle strength, and muscle recovery from physical exertion.

The electrical muscle stimulation is conducted through two adhesive butterfly pads that you secure to clean designated areas on your body. The instruction manual provides the appropriate pad placements which are biceps, triceps, your lower and upper back, shoulder, abs, back and front of thighs, calf muscles and even the tushy.

After reading Beth’s little teaser about getting a massage while she sat typing away, I just couldn’t wait to get one. As soon as it arrived, I pulled everything out, read through the instruction manual and tracked down someone else…to try it first! Yes, I was a bit nervous about the electrical stimulation. Thank goodness my husband was a good sport and let himself become a guinea pig. He really enjoyed it, but was struggling to find the right words to describe how it felt. So before I could step in, my 14 yo daughter decides she wants to try it out. Guess where? Her abs! She liked it as well and finally decided, after almost falling asleep on the floor (each program runs anywhere from 15 - 20 minutes) that it was my turn. See what happens when you don’t try it first?

I knew right where I wanted to try them - my shoulders. So with the help of my husband, I got all set up and found that the Active Recovery Program 2 is my favorite. I used it all the time now instead of popping two or three Advil. And how does it feel? It’s not a zap, but a pulsating current between the two sides of the butterfly pad that seems to contract your muscles and then release. It really is very relaxing.

The Slendertone EnerVive retails for $179.99 and it can be purchased through Slendertone’s online store with a 60-day money back guarantee.

If you’re looking for a special Christmas or birthday gift for a loved one, this just might be it!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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The Ultimate Spinner Game Review

Julie Northrop — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:30:12 +0000

Do you have a family game night where you drag out all the board games and have fun as a family? We don’t do it every week, but try to. It’s so awesome to interact with our kids (before they think it’s stupid to spend time with their parents) and see how they think through something or how excited they get when they beat you.

My family and I recently had the opportunity to review Robbins Toys’ The Original Ultimate Spinner, which by the way, is made in the good ole’ United States. Maine to be more specific. Jim Robbins, owner of Robbins Lumber, felt compelled to find a safe, environmentally friendly and fun toy for his grandchildren after last year’s massive recall of toys from China due to lead paint and other toxin concerns. Robbins Lumber is also a “green” certified fifth-generation lumber mill in Searsmont, Maine.

The Original Ultimate Spinner Game is an amazing 12 game collection of educational, recreational, physical and mental challenges. It features a high quality wooden base with a large wooden spinner hand and a full suite of colorful, durable games.

We had so much fun playing the bowling, racetrack (with the pine wood race cards) and math games and look forward to playing the numerous others.

I will have to say though, the Spin-Do is probably our favorite, but I’ll let my 10 yo son explain why. He sat down and wrote out his very own review.

Are you looking for a game that makes your head go spinning?! Then get this awesome game called The Original Ultimate Spinner! It includes 12 crazy games for kids and adults to have fun! My favorite game was Spin-Don because it had lots of funny activities like acting like a chicken laying an egg! I’m looking forward to playing this game again with my family!

If you want to truly see how creative your kids can really be, play the Spin-Do game with them. I was amazed when my son, sat in his chair like a chicken put his arms back and clucked! Although I thought his favorite would have been the piggy back ride I had to give him around the house.

The Original Ultimate Spinner was made for ages 4 and up and can be purchased through their online store for $49.95 or at these other locations. It is a wonderful gift of fun and laughter that brings a family together. Perfect for the holidays or any upcoming birthdays!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales Ads

Julie Northrop — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:11:40 +0000

With the slump in the economy, consumers like you and me are watching every penny we spend on birthdays and presents during the holiday season so it’s important for us to get up to speed with sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Typically the Black Friday sales ads come out with the Thanksgiving newspaper, however, over the years these sales have been leaked to the public so consumers can plan early for their purchases. I’ve listed below a few of the popular websites that list Black Friday Sales Ads. Most of these sites state that the posting of these sales does not confirm the advertisement is official…in other words, buyers beware. Just click on the logo to go to that site. Also be sure to check out the comments before you leave. There are sure to be some awesome resources left by others.

BlackFriday.info is affiliated with KeepCash.com which provides daily deals and as a convenience, also allows registered users to create a shopping list. You do not need to register to see product images or Black Friday ad scans. If you plan on shopping online, BlackFriday.info also has Online Deals from retailers that will be posted Thanksgiving morning and running right up until Cyber Monday. They suggest bookmarking this page since these deals sell out quickly.

Black Friday 2008 provides retailer’s Black Friday advertisement scans in .zip or .pdf formats and there is no registration required to download.

Deal Taker has a huge list of rumored Black Friday sales ads with comments from members. If you’d like to have full access to the Black Friday discussion areas, you’ll need to register. It’s free.

GottaDeal.com has some full page Black Friday ad scans, however, you’ll need to register to see them.

Black-Friday.net also offers registered users the convenience of creating a shopping list and it seems to have a fairly good selection of Black Friday ads to browse. Registration is free as well.

Now if you’d like to avoid this rush of people and would prefer to shop online, Cyber Monday is the ticket for you. Retailers are offering special deals throughout the day. Sales for Cyber Monday aren’t normally announced early so it’s not as easy to plan ahead. I found one site that I thought might be helpful.

From their site:

On the day of Cyber Monday there will be hourly specials and exclusives from your favorite online retailers. Sneak peeks of the hourly deals will be shared via email alerts so make sure to sign up for special savings and the latest offers.

Another option for saving money over the holidays is Craigslist or eBay. Whether you’re looking for new or slightly used items, they have just about anything at a fraction of the normal cost.

Stick around because I’ll be sharing some more options later this week: Pledge to Buy Mom Made and Regiftable.

Do you know of some Black Friday or Cyber Monday sites I might have missed or something you’d like to add? Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear about it.

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Shrinking Product Sizes Yet Prices Stay the Same

Julie Northrop — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:57:21 +0000

Not too long ago, I made a comment to my husband about this very subject. Packaged products seemed to be getting smaller, but the pricing either stayed the same or increased. For instance, has anyone noticed the smaller tubs used by Dreyers Ice Cream? Manufacturers are using more subtle changes as well like indents in the bottom of peanut butter containers and thinner cereal boxes.

Why? Manufacturers state it is the increase costs for supplies and transportation causing them to take action. Apparently consumers would rather pay more for less, than more for the same.

Most consumers don’t even notice. What do you think about this?

Check out this CNN video that shares even more:

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Save up to 90% on SHinDigZ Party Deal of the Day

Julie Northrop — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:29:33 +0000

Last month, SHinDigz introduced their Party Deal of the Day featuring a new product each day that can be purchased at a discount of up to 90% off.

Of course I had to check it out for myself and today they have a Moment to Relax Santa which is 12″ high x 7 1/2″ wide x 11″ deep Santa figure is sitting in a wooden chair and reading a nursery rhyme book. Normal retail price is $42.75, but for today they have it marked down to $10.99. A savings of 74%!

So whether you’re gearing up for the holidays or mabye planning a birthday party, be sure to visit them daily to see what featured product is the Deal of the Day.

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Who Were the Winners of the Chex Mix Baskets of Indulgence?

Julie Northrop — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:57:09 +0000

What a great pampering giveaway and a record number of entries as well! Thank you all so much! General Mills has created quite a yummy snack with this new Chex Mix Turtle Bars. They are even giving away free Chex Mix Turtle Bars until supplies run out or December 31, 2008. Just sign up for Betty Crocker’s newsletter and they will send you one.

Now on to the winners! The lucky numbers pulled from Random.org were 77, 90 and 318, which would be:

#77 - Kimberly

#90 - Jean F

#318 - Lorri S

Congratulations Kimberly, Jean F and Loris S! A huge thanks again to everyone for entering and leaving such wonderful comments! I wish I could have given out more of these wonderful baskets.

Be sure to subscribe below so you don’t miss out on upcoming giveaways and more great deals!

A special thanks to My Blog Spark for making this possible and to General Mills for providing these wonderful treats for all to enjoy!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Who Won the Lily On the Fly Meal Planner System?

Julie Northrop — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:31:42 +0000

Before I announce the winner, for those of you who might have missed out on this one be sure to read my review on Lily On the Fly’s Meal Planner System. If you find yourself cooking at home more now because of the economy, this is a huge time and money saver.

Now on to the winner! The lucky number pulled from Random.org was #3 which would be:

#3 - HolleyV (that extra comment for subscribing to my RSS feed won it!)

Congratulations HolleyV and thank you all for entering and leaving such wonderful comments! Be sure to subscribe below so you don’t miss out on upcoming giveaways and more great deals!

A special thanks to Karen at Lily On the Fly for providing me with a Lily On the Fly Heart Meals for Hungry Families Starter Kit so I could evaluate it and for offering one for this giveaway!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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I Won a Kreativ Blogger Award!

Julie Northrop — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:52:34 +0000

Cherie over at The Wandering Peanut gave me this Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you Cherie!

Ok, so I’m to list six (6) reasons why I’m grateful and then pass this award on to six (6) other bloggers. So here it goes…I’m extremely grateful for:

Don, my husband of almost 22 years, who has graciously stood by me and encouraged me to follow my dreams and is an awesome father to our two wonderful kids.
Our kids who still give me hugs as soon as they get home and through their eyes I see a less jaded world.
The doors of opportunity that continue to open allowing me to work from home and be there for my family.
The good health of my family and friends.
All the support I’ve received from my family, friends and online buddies. Without it, I would not be where I am today.
Duchess - my cat who keeps me company throughout the day and always seems to know when I’m getting stressed.

I’m honored to give this award to:

Tori at Thoughtfully Simple
Jill at Cool Photo Ideas
Sarah at Ohana Mama Blog
Deanna at Mommy’s Idea
Erin at the Mom Buzz
Phyllis at Moms With A View

Be sure to check these awesome blogs out for yourself. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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Announcing Two Lucky Card Cubby Winners!

Julie Northrop — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:12:47 +0000

Just as a quick recap in case you missed it, I recently ran a giveaway for two Card Cubby Giftcard/Coupon Organizers. My Passion Pink Card Cubby has been a huge time and money saver. In fact, just today I needed my movie card which is usually buried among the other cards, but I easily found it inside my Card Cubby. I saved several minutes looking for it and $3 using it to buy tickets online. Remember Wendy is offering free shipping and a 10% discount (use code CC208) for a limited time, just in case you’re looking from a gift for say a teacher, mom, aunt or girlfriend.

There were 115 comments and I have to thank all of you for leaving such awesome comments!

Now on to the winners! The lucky numbers pulled from Random.org were #10 and #90 which would be:

#10 - Lori Walker

#90 - Dddiva (she added my blog button and this comment won a Card Cubby for her!)

Congratulations Lori and Dddiva and again thank you all for entering! Be sure to subscribe below so you don’t miss out on upcoming giveaways and more great deals!

A special thanks to Wendy at Card Cubby for providing me with a Card Cubby for me to evaluate and for offering two Card Cubbys for this giveaway!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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IKEA Tempe Celebrating Anniversary and Offering a Birthday Freebie

Julie Northrop — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:37:45 +0000

IKEA is celebrating their four-year anniversary in Tempe, Arizona. If your birthday falls between November 14 - 17th, be sure to stop by and flash your ID to receive a SOVA twin size sheet set and a GOSA standard pillow. Free birthday value is $50! Sweet!

During this event, IKEA is also offering free breakfast until 10:30am and starting at 10am, the first 100 loyal customers will receive a random prize envelope with vouchers for free goodies. Prizes range from a free snack or free lunch to an IKEA Gift Card (value $.50 - 250).

I so wish my birthday fell in between those dates, but alas I do enjoy having a summer birthday…can’t have it all right?

For those that do and are here in Arizona, enjoy the birthday freebie!

To find local businesses offering birthday discounts & freebies for adults, kids and pets, visit my website, Free Birthday Treats.

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