So my wireless card went out in my laptop. I don’t even know how to get online old school, so I’ve been armed with only my cell phone. And blogging from my cell phone sucks. Then a few days ago I downloaded Picasa on my cell to compare online photo storage sites. I saw all my blog pics. I wondered if they really needed to be there so I deleted one folder. I checked back to the blog posts and it was still there. Sweet I thought, and went ahead deleting what I thought would be safe back on my blog.

Today when I check out my site all my pics are gone!!! AAARRRGGGGG!!!!! I should have known better! After doing some googling I discovered that the Picasa albums are used for all blogger accounts. Meaning, if you have a Google + account and delete pics from albums there, they will disappear from your Picasa album AND your blog! YIKES!

There are many food bloggers and photography blogs that have recently deleted albums from Google + because they didn’t want all those pics there. They wanted to be able to share personal pics of their kids, family, themselves, etc. When they deleted the images from Google + they disappeared from their blogs! Pissed we are! There is no trash bin to restore, there is no un-delete. We are all screwed.

I wanted to make some changes in 2012 like moving to WordPress, so since my hand has been forced, I’m making the move now. So chances are I’ll be absent for a bit online while I figure out a new blogging platform. If you have any tips/tricks please share them with me on my Facebook Page. It would be much appreciated!

Also, what widgets/plugins in WordPress can you not live without? I need help!!!

Right now you can print off a $0.35 coupon for Carmex! It’s straight from their Facebook page. Click here.

Have you ever thought how to download video and audio from flash players on internet sites like YouTube, Google Video, Vimeo, but didn’t know how to do it? Most programs you’re probably running don’t allow you to save video files from websites like that.

Why would you want to? Maybe you have permission to use a video on your site but you don’t have the embed code. Maybe your kids want the latest Selena Gomez video to watch on their iPod/iTouch (like my Cohen does). JCopia does it all. It will Capture flash video and audio from any website to your computer as files. That way I can put all my kids favorite videos on my computer, then burn it to a DVD or put it on their iPod’s.

Screen Shot of multiple files being downloaded

JCopia detects and begins to download any clip, video, music, radio stream, video stream, Flash game or presentation that is played in your browser. Increase your video and audio collection with ease with JCopia. It’s available for just $17.99!

Want to see it in action? I did! I always look stuff up on YouTube because I need to see it work. Don’t you?

Right now it’s only available for PC, sorry Mac. I’m so excited to use this! My only concern now is the size of my hard drive!

I received my first VoxBox from Influenster last week. I haven’t had time to sit down at the computer and edit video yet, so you’ll have to wait a bit to see all my goodies! However, I did grab this lip color to try it out.

It’s the fig color by Juice Beauty. It’s certified organic, that’s always a good thing! It runs $18.00 a tube which is more than I would normally pay. It glides on easily, feels amazing on, but isn’t long lasting. That is my only complaint. It doesn’t really bother me because I apply and reapply lip gloss all day, but if I’m going to spend $18.00 on lip color I want it to last.

When I attempted to make this video on my phone I didn’t think to turn it sideways. I edited it with the Splice app. Here goes:

They have makeup too, and actually so much more! You gotta check it out, juicebeauty.com.

*disclaimer- product provided to me by Influenster for review, opinions are my own.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bought a new app to help me blog on the go. Have you used it before?

I had the opportunity to try out a new Certified Organic Skin Care line by Miessence. (pronounced my-essence) I had a really great video made that I just needed to edit, but my computer crashed and I somehow lost my videos. Since I used up my sample I cannot re-film it. It makes me sad. I really wanted to show you all the texture of the products. So now you’ll have to settle for my description. I’ll try and make it good!

Miessence is USDA and ACO certified. That is a tough standard to live up to! Here is some quick info from thier site that puts it in perspective:

■Look at the ingredients on all those skin products out there, from moisturizers to sunscreens to shampoos, you’ll find health-threatening chemicals–propylene glycol, parabens, PABA, PEG, and mineral oil everywhere. These chemicals pose real dangers to your health, including cancer. And, sadly they are FDA approved and labeled as healthy.



■Did you know there are no regulations or standards governing the use of “natural” or “organic” on personal care products? The average adult uses 9 personal care products daily exposing them to 126 chemicals every day. Nearly 90 percent of the 10,500 ingredients FDA has determined are used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution.**
 
■The ONLY way to verify that a skin and body care product is organic is to see a third party independent certification logo on the product like USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or ACO (Australian Certified Organic).



■ElyOrganics.com features over 100 effective, truly organic, miessence skin-care, cosmetics, aromatherapy and health care products. No need to wonder if your skin & body care are filled with harmful chemicals. Each product page includes complete ingredients list so you know what you are buying.

Ok, now on to the fun stuff. There are 4 skin care profiles for Miessence skin care lines

•Balancing – normal/combination

•Rejuvenating – dry/mature

•Purifying – oily/problem

•Soothing – sensitive

I picked the Soothing line because my face is always breaking out in red blotches. You are to do it twice daily to receive maximum benefits. It’s a 3 step program:

Cleanse: Gently press the face with a warm, soft cloth to soften and prepare the skin for cleansing. Massage one or two pumps of cleanser into your face and neck. Remove with a damp cloth and plenty of water. If wearing make-up, a second cleanse is necessary. Conditioning: On clean moist skin, massage 2 to 3 pumps of conditioner gently onto face, throat and decolletage. Moisturize: Apply one to two pumps of your moisturizer to the palm of your hand then pat and press gently onto your face, throat and decolletage.

Pros: Works like a dream. My skin didn’t react whatsoever. Which was kinda shocking for me. Something always causes a reaction, but this didn’t. It also make my sking feel really clean and taught, and ladies…taught is good!
 
Cons: The scent. It wasn’t bad really, I just couldn’t see myself using it day after day. I didn’t like the smell of it at all. The Cleanser wasn’t so bad, it was the Conditioner. It didn’t stink by any means, it just smelled strongly of herbs/spices type of stuff.

Bottom Line: Would I buy it? If I was dedicated to only using organic products and especially on things that go into my body then YES! This is CERTIFIED organic! That’s impressive! However, the cost is up there. For the 3 pack of Soothing products pictured above the price $106.50. That is way out of my budget. So no for me, but yes if I could afford it. Hope that clears it up!

They have much more than just skin care, they have cosmetics, hair care, stuff for baby & mom, body/oral care, essential oils, perfumes, health care and household products!

I like to use essential oils in my homemade cleaning products and in my cloth diaper wash.

Like Ely Organics on Facebook to be notified of when they have a sale going on!

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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

I came across this video somehow and it really tore at my heartstrings. My oldest 2 boys are now 5 and almost 8, but my baby is 21 months. I’ve been thinking about turning his seat back around because it’s now forward facing.

Homemade Mom: {Giveaway Alert} The only family planner you will …: “2011 On The Go Organizer & Planner (September 2010 – December 2011) This is by far my FAVORITE planner! Want to know why?It h…”

In my last weaning update I told you all how we are now nursing all the time to help him recover from his virus. He is doing much better now but he doesn’t want to must any less. I keep offering him drinks and snacks but he’s simply not interested. So now is where we get to the back story.

Wednesday night my sister was in labor. I kept getting text messages from my mom with updates so I found it hard to sleep. Cutler was asleep but wanted to sleep nurse. The second he was done I pried him off. It didn’t last long though before he wanted to nurse again. I’m certain that at this age he doesnt need to nurse in the night, but I don’t mind one feeding, but 4 plus feedings?!? He’s clearly using me as a tool to fall back asleep. My breasts are his pacifier.

Thursday morning I woke up in severe pain! Nipple pain that made me cringe! If you don’t want to hear the dirty details that are to follow I advise you to click away. Just click away. (doesn’t that remind you of the movie ‘Signs’ when he told him to “Swing Away”?) When I looked down my shirt I was immediately concerned. My one nipple was dry and cracking. My other nipple, the one that was nursed on all night, was bright pink and peeling. OUCH! Just putting on a bra was extremely painful! I wasn’t sure I be able to hold my new neice with the pain I was in. I was able to get Cutler up and out the door without feeding him. He wasn’t happy but he did OK.

Since I was up at the hospital twice yesterday visiting my new baby neice my mom watched Cutler for me. That was a relief. I didn’t have to refuse him his Ninny. That battle came that evening. We all went up to the hospital again last night so my boys could meet their new cousin. I stopped off at the pharmacy and picked up some breast shells on the way. After all the excitement of the day he was ready to crash around 8 pm. I nursed him hoping he would fall asleep quickly and we’d be done, but that didn’t happen. I nursed him and was in severe pain. I tolerated it for as long as I could. Finally I had to tell him no more. I told him that mommy’s ninny had an owie. He cried and screamed until 10:30. It was terrible! He kept throwing a fit, arching his back and falling down like a limp noodle.

He woke up once in the middle of the night to nurse and I did nurse him. It hurt like hell and I couldn’t let it continue. I kept telling him, “You need to let go, Mommy has an owie”. He let go and I thought he was going to fall asleep, but I guess I just awoke the beast within. He screamed like I broke his heart. I felt terrible. Luckily it didn’t last long. Minutes and he crashed. I’ll be happy when I heal. This sucks!