Finally...

Post contributed by Noah Schmidt

Comparing dish vscable has been a full time job for me lately and it’s because I want to get this TV thing right. Watching BRAVO is the closest thing to a hobby I have since I work so much and I want to ensure I’ve got all the channels I need as well as DVR so I’ll never miss an episode of Housewives or Millionaire Matchmaker. My boss is running me ragged lately with all the new clients but you know, there’s something to be said for putting in your dues young so you won’t have to worry about doing it once you’re older. I don’t have time to get out and meet people the way things are so me and Andy Kohen are going to just have a TV relationship at home – that’s good enough for me! One day I’ll want to get in a relationship and have kids and all that but for now I’m going to keep working my butt off in hopes of that promotion I hear rumors of.

Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Slim-Fast has a new plan, and I am super excited to try it out.  It's called their 3•2•1 Plan.  Simply put, you can have two shakes or meal bars, one 500 calorie regular meal, and three snacks.  For your snacks, you can choose from Slim-Fast's 100-calorie snack bars, fruits, nuts or veggies.  As an overweight woman, I can tell you that being able to eat is a big factor in sticking to a meal plan. 

I tried Slim-Fast years ago, and back then, you could only have one meal a day and two shakes.  I found it hard to drink two meals.  I never felt full.  Plus, the shakes were kind of gross.  I was given the opportunity to try one of their new shakes for free, and I have to say, it was pretty good.  My kids liked them, too.  Brandi tried one, and said it tasted like a chocolate shake.  There are five different flavors now, as opposed to the basic chocolate and vanilla of years ago.  The new flavors are:

• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Rich Chocolate Royale
• Cappuccino Delight
• Strawberries N’ Cream

We tried the Rich Chocolate Royale, and like I said, it was really good.  I am looking forward to trying the rest. All the Slim-Fast can be found nationwide at Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger, and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

Just like everything else these days, Slim-Fast has a facebook page, and I encourage you to "like" them, especially if you are looking for encouragement in your own weight lose journey.

Decorate Your Home With PartyLite

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever attended a PartyLite party?  My sister hosted one several years ago, and I bought the most beautiful candle.  I believe it was their Gemini candle.  It was two candle holders joined together by brass rings.  I loved that candle.  I think I still have it somewhere around here. My sister got a bunch of free stuff when she hosted her party, which is one of the many benefits of hosting a party.  I would love to get my friends together for a night of candles and fun to earn free stuff for myself.  I mean, who wouldn't?

PartyLite just had a sweepstakes, called the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes, where they gave away five $500 PartyLite gift certificates to people who registered to host parties.  I would have loved to have won one of those.  I could have finished all my Christmas shopping!  Instead I have to fight the crowds Friday and go shopping after work.  Crazy, I know.  I would have loved to have gotten all the women in my life one of these:

It's a ScentGlow warmer, and it makes your house smell wonderful.  You just add some Scent Plus™ Melts, Aroma Melts™ or Scented Oil, plug it in, and an electric warming plate spreads the fragrance throughout the room.  

They have several different ones to choose from, but I like this Holiday ornament one.  I am big on decorating for Christmas, and this would make a wonderful addition to my collection.

Make sure you "like" the PartyLite Facebook page to find out about special monthly offers online for party hosts and guests.  They also just released their Winter/Spring 2012 Catalog on December 16, which is full of beautiful candles. You should check that out, too.

Beautify Your Yard With Tips From Dig. Drop. Done.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am super mom!  Seriously.  I always knew I was a good mom, but here lately, I have discovered that I really can do it all.  I work, I cook, I clean house, I get the kids up and off to school every day, I make sure they get to all their performances and rehearsals.  Sure, I need a little help now and then, but everyone does.  Right?

I want you to meet Marcy.  She's a super mom like me. 

She has all these super tips about gardening, and when the best time is to plant all the beautiful bulb flowers you want to grow in your yard.  Right now, I don't have a yard to plant bulbs in, because we are living in an apartment complex.  But if I did, I would want to grow these beautiful purple crocus bulbs. I bet I could probably grow them inside in a planter.  I used the Garden Guru Tool at Curbside Chaos to find out when the best time to plant these bulbs would be.  The tool was simple to use.  Al you have to do is:

Step 1 – Pick your Country
Step 2 – Pick your location within that Country
Step 3 – Choose the type of bulb you want to grow
Step 4 – Check out the Planting Guide that shows you how to plant your bulbs.

My results were:

You really should check out the website right now, because they are having a contest where you can win a $5,000 yard makeover including a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter).  Taniya will go through and give you tips on the best way to update your yard! She will give you creative ideas for incorporating flower bulbs into your landscape. All you need to do to enter is submit a photo of your yard at CurbsideChaos.com.  You can visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more.  You can also help donate money to Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Simply share about Dig. Drop. Done. on twitter.  Easy enough, right?

So, which bulbs do you plan on planting this year?

A Great Stocking Stuffer

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My kids want cell phones for Christmas.  Ryan has one, but all it does these days is text.  I have to buy a card for it every month, which is sometimes hard to so considering money is really tight around here.  I have been thinking about switching to Sprint and getting all of us new phones, including the girls. 

I need to make up my mind soon, though, if I want to take advantage of this awesome deal Sprint has going on right now.  From December 12 through December 14, Sprint is giving away their Android™ powered EVO 4G devices for free!  This offer is only good online, but they are also offering free shipping, which is awesome. 

It gets even better!  I can have the activation fees waived for new lines.  I am pretty sure I will have to put up a deposit, but free phones and free activation is hard to pass up.  I can already see the smiles my kids will have on their faces Christmas morning if they wake up to cell phones.

I think my girls would prefer the one that has the slide out keyboard.  I know that will make texting easier for them.  And we all know how much girls, especially teenaged girls, like to text!