Wordless Wednesday

My student teacher's bulletin board with a good message for us all!

Online Freebies

The internet is overflowing with bargains, coupons and free offers. It can be overwhelming trying to find a good deal. So here is list I have put together to help.

*For bargains and advice for babies: http://www.babygoodbuys.com/

*For greeting cards: http://www.123greetings.com/

*For financial planning: http://www.mint.com/

*For coupons,deals and giveaways: http://www.northerncheapskate.com/

*For buy-one, get one free vouchers: http://www.coupons.com/

*For info on college classes without a hefty price tag: http://www.ocw.mit.edu/

*For a free account to call and see one another (you'll need a webcam) : http://www.skype.com/
*For music based on your personal tastes: http://www.pandora.com/

*For free printable crosswords: http://www.bestcrosswords.com/

*For free books to enjoy on your computer: http://www.questia.com/

*For a virtual make-over: http://www.taaz.com/

*For deals on cruises: http://www.cruisesonly.com/

*For grocery coupons: http://www.smartsource.com/

*For general coupons ,site is updated 3X daily: http://www.couponcabin.com/

I'm sure there are more good sites out there for saving money. Do you have a favorite you would like to share with us?

Pamper Your Feet!

Springtime is here and most of us will be getting out running/walking and trying out our new sandals. But oh there is nothing worse than feet that hurt! So I've found some comforting solutions to achy feet.

Strappy Straps (http://footpetals.com/)
These help prevent straps from cutting into your feet. Thin strips add comfort to your favorite shoes and sling backs and are a perfect fit on all your thin shoe straps.

Tip Toes (http://footpetals.com/) These will stop your feet from sliding forward. Hate that ugly overhang & toe scrunch? Step in style with these flower-shaped ball-of-foot cushions and go from working all day to dancing the night away!



Spenco Run/Walk Insoles (http://www.zappos.com/)
For walking, running and jogging. Special “heel strike" cushioning delivers optimum shock absorption for repetitive rear foot impact. Use these for extra cushioning in your shoes. You can trim the toe area to fit your shoe. These insoles help absorb shock, reduce friction and improve overall foot comfort. I wouldn't recommend this model for support, just soft cushioning.

Clouds (http://www.fitinclouds.com/)
These are awesome portable ballet flats that fold and fit in a small pouch. You can carry this pouch in your purse and have easy access to a comfortable and stylish solution when your feet hurt from wearing high heels.

(http://www.bodyglide.com/)
FOOTGLIDE® Foot Formula balm guards feet from rubbing by shoes, sandals, boots, heels, and footwear that cause hot spots and chafing. It helps prevent and relieve chafed, chapped or cracked skin, helps feet feel moisturized.


(What do you think of those new gladiator sandals?)

ShiFTing Priorities

Our local Sunday paper profiled two women last weekend. They are from central MN and have started a world wide effort to do something nice for somebody every day. They have named it “ShiFT the World.” (Spread happiness it Feels Tremendous)

They have done small things like written letters to favorite aunts and uncles. The gals have done many other things like making a scrapbook for a friend’s son’s funeral and buying diapers for a harried mother. Each act of kindness they feel makes the world a happier place.

This was supposed to be a challenge for them for a month but they have decided to extend it throughout the year. They are blogging about it at http://www.shifttheworldwithjessandgrace.wordpress.com Their stories are inspiring and fun to read.

I’m going to join the ShiFT! How hard can it be to do something good for someone else each day. It may take some effort but what fun it will be to see the results! Care to join me and all the other “ShiFTers” out there?

Cards for Cancer

On or around April 10, 2010 Spirit Jump and Teams around the world will be delivering cards to local cancer centers. They are doing this to help put smiles on the faces of the thousands of men, women and children battling cancer.

In a day and age where money is tight and free time is hard to come by being charitable can be difficult. That’s why Spirit Jump has been working tirelessly to find effective and important ways for people to give back. If you can make a card then you can make a difference.

I am going to have my second graders make cards. I have a friend that works at the local cancer clinic and she is going to deliver them to the patients there. I think this is a wonderful (and free) way to help others. I'm hoping to instill in my second graders the idea that we need to be of service to others.

If you'd like to join this effort go to http://www.cards4cancer.org/ You don't need to have a classroom to help--even one card will make a difference!

Dancing Shoes Everywhere!

Hey, after doing the post on dancing shoes I have noticed them in a few new places. Our Sunday paper today had an ad for these shoes ("Kimball" flats) at Nordstroms for $49.95. I also saw them online at Macy's for $49.00. So for just a few bucks and some creativity of your own, you can have almost the same designer look for cheap! Who doesn't like that?

"Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft." Great quote from Wil Smith! Here at Gathered we are busy working on our craft so we can bring you wonderful pampering products!

It is so rewarding to get feedback from our customers. Our newest product "Bella Butter" has been getting rav reviews--especially from those with eczema. So happy to hear that they are getting some relief! It is a blend of cocoa, shea and mango butters and other great ingredients.

Check out Gathered's website for more information or to order. http://www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com/

Dancing Shoes

After such a long title, you wonder what this post is all about right? Well, I saw the cutest tutorial for slippers over at Sachiko's blog "Tea Rose Home." I can't really sew so I was happy to find that minimal sewing is involved here. She took ballerina slippers that she got at Big Lots for cheap (!) and turned them into sweet little shoes to dance around the house in.


If you'd like to give these a try, head over to her blog for the complete tutorial and more examples of her handiwork. http://www.ow.ly/1iKuf

Soon you'll be dancing around the house in your special shoes!

Words for Wednesday

"To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a

redeemed social condition;

to know even one life

has breathed easier

because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson--

That about says it all. Have a great Wednesday!

Groomed Arches or How to Get Beautiful Brows

When I was in Chicago my friend Gail and I wandered into Nieman Marcus. An adorable young fellow asked if we would like make-overs. We couldn't turn him down! So for an hour Gail and I were treated to facial products that were put on perfectly, felt great but were far too expensive for us. Gail learned how to put on mascara (She nevers wears any, I can't go without!). I learned a little about make-up for my eyebrows.

I have never liked my eyebrows. They want to do their own thing and so I have basically plucked a few strays and otherwise neglected them. After having David work his magic on them I decided to check into more tips on getting gorgeous brows.

*To find where your eyebrows should start, hold a pencil vertically against the side of your nose. Tweeze any hairs between your brows.

*Your brows should peak at the outer edge of your iris. Slant the pencil from the center of your mouth,past the edge of your nose, to the outside of your iris.

*To find where your brows should end, tilt the pencil 45 degrees from the tip of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.

*Comb your brows upward.

*Pluck strays in the direction of growth near the root. It takes about 30 days for hair to regrow. (I'm positive mine grows faster!)

*Color in your brows. (David did this for me--I had never done this before.) For my dark brows, I would go a shade lighter than my actual color. For lighter brows, go a shade darker.

*Fill in sparse brows with a pencil.

* Tame unruly brows with a little clear gel. (I'm going to try this for sure.)

You'll need to decide if you want to groom your eyebrows at home or get them done at the salon. If your preference is home then tweezing is the best option. Self-threading works well too but is not very easy to learn. (I had never heard of this before.) At the salon you have a wide range of options from waxing to threading. Some good salons also offer stencil shaping of eyebrows t in addition to the usual tweezing and trimming.

So there you have it. No need to neglect those brows anymore. Now, for an after picture... Ok, so these aren't really mine. But I'm hoping with a little work, that mine will look better than the first picture! :)