Celebrating Milestones Giveaway

 

Swank Savings is celebrating reaching some important milestones in the blogging world - 10,000 Facebook Fans and 5,000 Twitter fans - by hosting an awesome giveaway. We are blessed to have several great bloggers helping promote and celebrate with us.

Don't forget to check out our other great giveaways by clicking on the giveaway button in the menu bar or selecting Swanky Giveaways under Categories in the sidebar on the right. Thanks for stopping by and please know I am thankful and appreciate each and every one of my readers. Good luck!

We are giving away three great prizes to three different readers (one prize per winner).

1. $500 Grocery Savings eGift Certificate
2. $50 Restaurant.com eGift Card
3. $50 Priceline.com eGift Card

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. This is open to the US.

The giveaway will run from 12/29/2012 to 1/12/2013

Please enter through the Giveaway tool below.

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This blog is not responsible for prize shipment/delivery. Swank Savings did not receive any compensation for this post and all opinions are our own.

What Is A Fibromite?

The Winner Of The CountDown To Christmas Giveaway Is ....

Congrats to Amanda R. who won via her entry of "liking" LoveMy2Dogs!

   I'll be sending you an email within a few minutes.  You'll have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.

I want to thank all of you for entering, and for sticking around with me on The Fibro Frog.  I hope every one of you have a happy and blessed Christmas.

FREE Blogger Opp: Coach Wristlet

Blogger Opportunity

This giveaway will be from 

1/15/2013  to  2/14/2013

Come and be part of this awesome giveaway!

COACH MADISON DOTTED OP ART SMALL WRISTLET Value $ 48.00

Options to join

**FREE FACEBOOK OR TWITTER with announcement (If no announcement pay $5.00)

*Additional links $1.00 each (optional)

* Host a page $5 fee (Optional)

*Be one of the Host $10.00 (Optional) -Host does not pay any other fee As I host you will get: -Will be part of the giveaway without the $2.00 charge -Name with link of your blog as a host on the post -Mandatory entry links on the rafflecopter (up tp 4 links) -Host a page

*The blog that refers more bloggers will get FREE host :) Here is the promotional post!

Agree to post the giveaway html on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

Please send any Payments:

Paypal melisurveys1978@gmail.com

Any payment received will go to pay for prize that I already purchased , shipping charges and futures giveaways with no sponsors.

Sign Up HERE

FREE Opp. For Blogger's -American Girl Dolls 2 Winners

Blogger Opportunity

1/20 to  2/19

Come and be part of this awesome giveaway

I love this giveaway, my daughter has 3 American Girl dolls and she loves them.  Even now that she is older she keeps them as collectible items.

That's why I thought this would be a great giveaway 

We will have 2 winners.

One winner will get:

Doll + Starter Collection.  Winner gets to choose skin color, hair color and eye color.

Value $120

Second winner will get:

One American Girl Doll with the box.

Winner gets to choose which doll they want.

Value $105

Winner will need to choose their prizes from American Girl Doll, this way I will be sure to pick one that is on stock for delivery, if it is sold out I will try to get what ever they choose directly from the American Girl Store here in NY 

(I love that Store)

Any payments made for hosting, page hosting, links, etc.  Will be use for shipping charges and for futures giveaways. 

Requirements to join

* Free Facebook or Twitter with posting announcement Here or pay the $5 fee.

*Additional links $1.00 each (optional)

* Host a page $5 fee (Optional)

*Be one of the Host $10.00 (Optional) -Host does not pay any other fee As I host you will get: -Name with link of your blog as a host on the post -Mandatory entry links on the rafflecopter (up to 4 links) -Host a page

* Agree to post the giveaway html on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

Please send any payments as donation

Paypal melisurveys1978@gmail.com

Sign up here

Make sure you tell them that The Fibro Frog sent you!

My Dream For 2013

I'm really excited to turn my dreams into reality in 2013! A new career of helping to educate and to advocate for those with chronic pain & fatigue illnesses. I can't do this though without your help. I can't even get my page into the GoFundMe search results until the fund has received at least $100 in donations. I'd be very grateful if you all would help me to help others. Let's make 2013 the year of awareness and change in thought process for the approximate 116 MILLION people that suffer day in and day out with some sort of chronic pain illness. Pain that debilitates and takes away from a person's quality of life! If you don't suffer from a chronic pain illness, if you'd have to live ONE WEEK like we do, you'd understand WHY this is such an important feat.

I, along with approximately 115 other U.S. citizens would be extremely grateful for any help you can give us.  I also need a career, and where education and advocacy is so important to me, getting the seminars off the ground would be a dream come true for me.  The more people who know, and start to understand what people with chronic pain go through day-to-day, the better the chance we'll have at demanding further research.

I'm going to be completely honest here.  I do NOT have any quality of life the way things are.  I try so hard to hold onto my ADL's (Activities of Daily Living).  As much as I don't want to admit it, they're slowly slipping away from me.  I'm only 42 folks, and there are people who suffer like I do that's a part of The Fibro Frog, that are in their early 20's.  Research has made some great advances in the field of Fibromyalgia.  They now have proof that it's VERY real.  It's been proven that Fibromyalgia is a neuro-immune disorder.  Our nerve endings are significantly  effected.  Tests and various studies have proven that we really are having significant pain.  Brain imaging studies have also proven that the reason we're so tired all the time - wake up as tired as when we go to bed - is because we never go into the deep sleep cycle.  We don't get into REM, so we're never getting that restorative sleep that the body so desperately needs.  The old thought process of "There's nothing wrong with these people, they're just crazy and lazy" is now gone since research has proven so much.  Unfortunately, this is still the biggest myth out there surrounding people with a chronic pain condition such as Fibromyalgia.  We need funding for MORE research, so that we can advance on to find out what causes people to get Fibromyalgia.  We need funding for MORE research so we can find a CURE for Fibromylagia.  Most of us would even be completely stoked if they'd even just find a concrete universal treatment plan that would WORK for EVERYONE who's effected.  Right now we don't have that.  We have one pill for one symptom.  One pill for another symptom.  Sometimes a pill will work, then for others it won't work.  Right now, for lack of a better word, the doctors play russian roulette with us.  

Not only do I need a career that I can actually work, since there's no way in heck I could work a typical job, but I need to get the message out.  The message that "we" aren't crazy.   "We" aren't lazy.  My seminar not only hands a ton of information and resources to the person effected, but it also reaches out and shows the people who are NOT effected, how real and debilitating living with a chronic pain condition is.  It opens peoples eyes as to how much more research is needed.  If people doesn't understand the "truth's" of chronic pain, then there never will be pressure put on the government and private proprietors to give more money for more research.  Research that's needed more then I could ever convey.  I'm reaching out to everyone, to ask that you part with a couple bucks donation so I can get this dream off the ground.  If you're able to donate $5 or more, then you can donate via my GoFundMe account by clicking HERE.  GoFundMe has a minimum donation amount of $5.  If you aren't in the position to donate at least $5 but want to contribute, you can donate $1 or more via my PayPal account: jaammull(at)aol(dot)com.  

No matter what, I want to thank all of you for at least reading this and following along with my progress.  I'm blessed that I've gained so many followers in such a short time period.  Less then 1yr, and that amazes me.  I'm thankful and greatful for each and every one of you to have come into my life.  I hope you all have a Blessed holiday season.  Merry Christmas to you all!

Entry Form For Christmas Giveaway Is Live!

Welcome to The Fibro Frog's 1st Annual Holiday Gift Guide and Countdown To Christmas Giveaway!  We had EIGHT Wonderful Companies Take Part In This Giveaway.  I Approached Companies That Had Products I Felt Was Beneficial For Those Who Suffer From Chronic Pain Illnesses.

Make Sure To Go To Previous Posts To Read About Each Company, And What They've Graciously Offered For This Giveaway!  A Quick Recap On The Prizes:

1. Mediflow Waterbase Pillow

2. Bed Lounge

3. Eat Smart Digital Scales

4. Maddy Moo Design Your Own Morgan Bag

5. Bag Of Hand Dipped Soap Petals

6. Fibro Awareness Bracelet

7. 26 Bird-E Towels

8. A Gift Of Cookies

ONE Winner Will Be Drawn On Christmas Day, and That Person Will Win All 8 Gifts! How Exciting Is That?!

Enter To Win Below!  Good Luck Everyone, and Thanks For Making The First Year Of The Fibro Frog Even More Successful Then I Could Have Ever Imagined.  Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

In The Terms & Conditions On The Bottom Of The RC, It States That This Giveaway Is For U.S. Resident's, Ages 18 and Over, Only.  I Figured I Better Put It Here Where It's More Visible Too.  -Also In The Terms & Conditions It States That The Fibro Frog, Facebook, Nor Rafflecopter Is Responsible For Prizes Being Shipped, Lost, or Damaged.  Each Item Will Be Shipped From The Company Directly To The Winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bird-E Towels

You're probably thinking "Bird-E Towels, what are those?  I don't have a bird!"  LOL Well let me assure you, a Bird-E Towel doesn't have a thing to do with birds!  Take a look at the photo below, then I'll let you know what you're looking at.

This, my friends, is a Bird-E Towel.  Bird-E Towels were created by a wonderful mom, that I've known for around 10 years.  She has a large family and didn't like the money it was costing to purchase paper towels, plus, she didn't like all of the waste paper towels created.  In comes her very artistic, crafty side, and a Bird-E Towel was born! They're washable, reuseable paper towel alternative!  Kerri refers to them as "the unpaper towel. You see a lot of people making these things and trying to sell them today, but Athena Creates was the first person to offer them!  She put a lot of time and trial & error into perfecting the best material to use, and figuring out the best way to create them.  

Athena Creates also makes organic Bird-E Towels, like the ones in the photo above.  If your New Year's resolution is to try and live greener, then the Bird-E Towels will set you off on the right foot!  Now, I know a lot of people doesn't even stop to think about going green, and if you're on that side of the fence Bird-E Towels would still be a wonderful additon, just for the money you'll save from not buying paper towels anymore!

If  you like Tie Dye, Athena Creates has you covered on that one too! In Kerri's stock, you'll find everything from t-shirts, to dressier shirts, dresses and skirts, tote bags, all the way down to tie dye socks! Yep, socks!

When Athena Creates was first created, it was all done in a sewing studio above their garage at their house.  Kerri worked it, by herself.  Now, her Bird-E Towels and Tie Dye items have become such a huge hit, she's had to hire help and rent an awesome space to move her shop to!

Athena Creates is giving whoever wins the drawing on Christmas day, a set of 26 count pack of Bird-E Towels!!  How awesome is that?! They will be like the one's in the first photo.  To thank her for donating a prize for one of you to win, I'd really appreciate it if you all would hop on over to her facebook page and "like" it, and click share on the facebook page, to share it with your friends!  It would mean a lot to me, and I know that it would to her, as well.  Kerri's an all around great person inside and out!  Later today (it's 3:44am) or evening, check back to see if I have the Rafflecopter ready to go! It will be up by early evening at the latest.  =)

A Dilemma - Wrestled With Should I or Shouldn't I

Someone contacted me and asked me to post the link to my donation page for the seminar (which I kindly pointed out was located on the right hand side of this blog), and said that they know the struggles I've gone through this year, both mentally and physically.  They said that they know it's been very hard for me monetarily with my husband leaving and my health not allowing me to work, because they're a facebook friend of mine and have seen my status updates. They asked me to post my PayPal email address too.  Well, last Friday I'd posted on my personal facebook page that I hadn't received a child support payment in two weeks and the 2 previous payments I'd received wasn't even for as much as it's ordered to be.  I said I could about cry because I was over $400 short on bills for the month and still had Christmas shopping to do. I had a lady on there tell me I should just be grateful to get anything.  I explained to her that in the past this wouldn't have been a problem because I could, and did, work to support myself and my family.  I told her that it's just so very hard now, because I'm sick and unable to work.  She responded by telling me if I'm unable to work, that I shouldn't have any kids and told me "for lack of a better word, you're USELESS".  Yep, she sure did and she even used the caps as I've quoted.  I can't tell you how much this stung.  My oldest daughter, 23 and a grad student, responded and told her that I've always found a way to support my children and that I've always been a good mother.  The request for my info came in on Saturday and I was still pretty raw with hurt feelings from Friday, so I've just sat on it.  When I emailed the person back and thanked them for the offer, I told her it would make me feel bad to do what she'd asked me to do because I was afraid that others might think and feel about me the same way the facebook lady felt.  She responded back and told me that she herself wouldn't be able to do very much but that she really wanted to do what she could and that I should put it out there because even if it's only a few dollars, that a lot of people like to help others that are down on their luck at this time of year.  She told me that right now keeping up this blog is my "job" and that it's not wrong to accept donations for the "job" I do.  I still feel really funny about this, but I've decided that I'll do it. Please, no one think you "must" contribute to either (the seminar donation page  for the seminar overhead or my paypal for my personal use).  Getting these words out is worse then having teeth pulled to me.  I extremely dislike asking for help.  It was explained to me though, that if I don't post it that I could be taking someones good deed for God, away from them (that is the way my mother explained it to me when I told her about this situation).  Sooo, if you want to donate to the seminar fund, there's a GoFundMe button on the right hand side of the page.  Just click it and it'll take you where you need to go.  If you want to contribute to my PayPal for my own personal bill/Christmas usage, my PayPal address is: jaammull(at)aol(dot)com.  I'm completely embarrassed to do this, yet I'm humbled that someone thinks enough of me to want me to post it.  I'm conflicted.

Maddy Moo Creations

I'm so stoked to introduce you all to Maddy Moo Creations!  The owner, Elizabeth, and I met several years ago online.  We both were a part of an online parenting group.  Elizabeth brainstormed to come up with a way to stay at home with her children, while still providing financially for her family.  This is how Maddy Moo, named after her daughter, was born.  You can read Elizabeth's story about how the company was formed, by clicking HERE.

Maddy Moo puts a whole new spin on "house parties".  With Maddy Moo, you can book a house party just like you would a Tupperware party, or any other type of home party.  A design consultant will help you and your friends design your own handbags and/or diaper bags!  That's right, with this unique approach, you and your friends will get to have a party together while each of you design your own perfect bag!  You'll choose your own exterior fabric, your own center accent fabric, your own interior fabric, handle, handle length,and the color of ribbon bow on the handle.  You'll also choose if you'd like any additional inside pockets or not, along with deciding if you want a monogram and if so which monogram font and monogram thread color.  Each bag has a different set of options you can choose from, some as what I listed above, and others with different options then what I have listed above.  Once you make your choices, your bag will be handmade then shipped to you.

Now, although you'll get special offers for being a party host, you don't have to have a party to get a Maddy Moo bag.  You can order one straight from her website!  Elizabeth insisted on sending me a Morgan bag.  The Morgan bag comes standard with 3 interior pockets, a magnetic closure, and a nylon webbing handle. Mine was done with the fabric Amsterdam Lipstick, non-monogramed.  -I love the beautiful red & white print of the Amsterdam Lipstick. There are so many fabrics to choose from!  Everything from solids, to paisley.  Stripes to dots.  You'll be assured of finding something that appeals to your taste!  My 17yr old daughter and I both love everything about the Morgan bag! 

The days of carrying around an ugly diaper bag?  Maddy Moo has put an end to that!  A lot of her bags are "design your own diaper bag", like the Hope Messenger bag that's shown above!  You can even design your own diaper pad that's totally chic and stylish.  You'll find a ton of fun accessories that you can design too!  Maddy Moo Creations offers wallets, checkbook/I.D. holders, key chains, lunch bags, mugs, and more!

To see more Maddy Moo Creation products, just click any link in this post.  -Then sit down and play with all of the fabrics, bows, pockets, etc. to see what you can come up with for your own dream bag!  Maddy Moo Creations also has a facebook page that you'll find by clicking HERE.  Check it out and leave her a quick note on her facebook page, thanking her for participating in our giveaway.  Yep, the winner of our giveaway will get to log onto the Maddy Moo Creations website and design their very own Morgan bag!  Thank you Maddy Moo!  We appreciate you!

Magic Christmas Dust

JBeads Accessories

Tonight, I add an extra special item to the Holiday Gift Guide and Countdown To Christmas.  This is made by one of our own members of The Fibro Frog.  Jessica is the owner of JBeads Accessories.  She contacted me and asked if she could donate an item for our giveaway section.  She was so excited, that she created something extra special for the winner.  She made this beautiful Fibro Awareness bracelet, using our fibro color of purple!  It's 8 inches long, and has a larger clasp to make it easier for us to put it on.

Jessica offers a ton of high quality jewelry and very affordable prices.  She makes bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and matching sets.  Each item is hand-crafted by her, and she's ready & willing to answer any questions that any one may have concerning her jewlery.  She's even willing to do custom work, if you can't find something you like on her site.  She prides herself on her customer service, and that shows through on each and every piece that she makes.  Besides looking around JBeads Accessories, make sure you show her some love on facebook too!  You'll find her amazing facebook page HERE.

Thanks again for contacting me Jessica, and for wanting to take part in this very special giveaway that's coming up!   Remember everyone, a signup form will be posted later this week, and a winner will be chosen on Christmas day!  The winner will receive one of every item that I'm listing as a part of the Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas!!

Bloggers Free Opportunity

Pink Ninja Media, Jenn's Blah Blah Blog, and Happy Home and Family are inviting all your awesome bloggers to join us for another Free Blogger Opportunity!

Give your readers the chance to win $200 PayPal Cash! Increase you're social media following, page views, and you'll have an awesome giveaway for your readers!

Get a FREE Facebook Link, hurry over and take advantage of this FREE BLOGGER OPPORTUNITY!

Compassion

The definition of compassion, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (check it out HERE) is as follows: "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it".

Why?  Why ...don't most people care about the level of pain that people with a chronic pain & fatigue illness feel?  Seriously.  People are so busy in their own lives, that they don't stop to really think about us.  If they do, they can't wrap their minds around it.  They think that we're just exaggerating.  Or that we're just lazy.  

Today, I had to have my daughter apply a Lidoderm patch on my lower back.  She also had to apply one to my middle back.  At the same time, I took 800mg of Ibuprofen along with 50mg of Tramadol, and 10mg's of Flexeril.  I still hurt so badly, that I had to go lay down in bed for awhile.  It felt as if I hadn't taken anything at all for the pain.  This is how my life is spent.  Hurting. Trying to alleviate the pain.  Being stuck either in my chair or in my bed.  Sometimes being stuck in a bathtub of hot water for an hour ...adding more straight hot water as it cools off. My entire life is spent like this.  Trying to live, by working around the pain.  Trying to plan activities of daily living, around the pain.  Trying to have some sort of quality of life.  Trying to fight back the depression that one feels, when they have to live their lives like this.  I have "live" in bold face, because if you really think about it, am I honestly "living" when this is my life?  The depression that one feels, knowing that they will have to live every day of the rest of their lives with this kind of pain.  In my case, I could be facing another 30-40 years, of constant pain.  To stop and think about having to feel like this for 30-40 more years seems surreal to me.  It seems undoable to me, quite frankly.

I desperately try to advocate for those with a chronic pain illness.  Not just those with Fibromyalgia like I have, or with RA like two out of three of my doctors believe I have, but for anyone who suffers from any type of chronic pain.  Pain is pain, no matter what the diagnosis is.  I feel compassion for anyone who has to live like I do.  I've always been brutally honest on this blog, and I intend to always be honest even though that isn't always painting a pretty picture.  So in all honesty, I fight so hard for awareness, advocacy, and research because I'm hoping that a breakthrough in research happens in my lifetime.  I'm hoping that by some miracle a cure may be found so I don't have to feel the pain anymore.  I'm hoping that I may regain some sort of quality of life before I die.  

When I've been stuck in the vicious cycle of a flare for awhile, it always runs me down.  It makes me sad, grouchy, depressed, on edge, touchy.  Most of you know that after my husband left me, I sat down and put together a seminar on living with chronic pain.  I've never been one to ask for help or charity.  Heck, when someone even brings me a gift for my birthday or Christmas I'm not sure how to act because even if it's something I absolutely love and I'm happy to get, I'm not used to getting things for myself.  Therefore it makes me feel awkward to accept gifts.  I eventually though, swallowed my pride and made a Go Fund Me account.  As embarrassing as it was for me, I shared the site and asked for donations.  Donations so that I could pay for conference rooms, advertising, and travel expenses to present my seminar.  Not only does the seminar give the person afflicted with a chronic pain illness numerous references, tips, and advice for coping with their pain, but it also gives them resources to share with their family and friends to help them understand what it's like to live every day like this.  It also educates those without a chronic pain illness, what it's like to be "us".  To be a chronic pain sufferer.  The seminar also opens people's eyes to the dismal amount of research that we have in this area, and why it's so important to advocate for more research.  Why we need a cure.

This is my "confused" frog face.  Of course, having fibro fog most of the time lends me to look confused a lot of the time, but tonight I'm putting it on because I just can't understand the lack of compassion.  The lack of compassion there is for those of us who are stuck in a life of hell on earth.  After spending 1/2 of my day in bed due to pain, and the other 1/2 sitting here in pain, I logged onto my email a bit ago.  I had my weekly newsletter from Go Fund Me.  Each week, they send one out telling of the great success stories they've had during the week, with donations.  I usually don't open them, but tonight I did.  I opened the email and the top story headline on it was this: 

The Clint Tarver Campaign Clint Tarver made headlines this week. After the Lansing, MI hot dog vendor had his equipment damage by rowdy protesters, America reacted with a ton of support. $33,461 raised by 1436 people in 2 days $33,461 raised in TWO days, by 1,436 people. Wow.  Tears sprung to my eyes.  That is one hell of a lot of money in only a two day time period.  Now, I am sorry that this hot dog vendor had his equipment damaged.  I'm also happy for him that's he's going to be able to replace his equipment because it was his job.  On the other hand though, I've raised $85 in the past six months by a total of four donors.  Now maybe I'm biased, but I feel that this proved to me how little compassion the general public feels for those of us who suffer with chronic pain & fatigue illnesses.  Someone may say "Yeah, but that was that guys job.  He probably has a family to support".  You know what?"  Presenting this chronic pain seminar is my job and I have a family to support as well.  I have to do something to try and support my daughter and myself.  The level of pain, fatigue, and insomnia that I suffer makes it near impossible for me to work a "real" job.  Believe me, I wish more then anything that I could just go get a job in a factory.  I'd enjoy the face to face interaction with other adults, and I need the money.  I really need the money.  The reality of it is though, it just isn't possible for me.  About 3 years ago I got a factory job through a temp service and I made it through 1/2 of the shift.  After 1/2 of the shift I limped to my car crying from the pain.  After sitting in the car for the 20 minute drive home I could hardly pry myself out of it to walk into my house.  I was so stiff and hurt so bad.  Yet this hot dog vendor obviously can work any job so even though he wanted to be a hot dog vendor, he could've went out and found any other type of job to support himself while building the money up to replace his equipment.  You know that my donation page won't even show up in the site's search results?  You have to have had at least $100 in donations before they'll add you into their search results for the different catagories.  I just don't understand how 1,436 people can be compassionate enough to donate over $33,000 in TWO days to replace hot dog equipment, but can't be passionate enough to give a crap about the pain we're going to be stuck in, until the day we die.  As I have previously blogged, the number one cause of death for those with fibromyalgia is suicide.  As much as I'd like to act shocked and offended over this statistic, I can't.  I can so totally understand the frame of mind these people are in when they commit suicide.  The depression.  The physical pain and mental exhaustion and depression.  Desperation. I "get" it.  I know why they want out.  A person deals with as much as they can, for as long as they can. This is why it's so important to educate as many people in the U.S. as we can, about what our lives are really like.  This is why I feel the desperation to conduct my seminar.  If we want any type of cure in our lifetime, then we need to advocate for a cure.   Days like today and tonight, I feel like just crumbling and forgetting about advocating.  Forget about the blog, and the facebook page.  I feel like I'm putting all of what little energy I have, into fighting an uphill battle and that I'll never reach the top of that mountain.  Every time though, I do keep going.  I always will keep going because if I don't, then who will?  Fighting for education and advocacy is the only thing that spurs me onward and keeps me going.  It's the only thing that gives me hope.  Hope that one day people will feel compassion for "us".  Hope that a cure will be found.  Hope, that someday soon I'll actually have a good quality of life again.  Compassion.  Such a simple word, but also such an important word.

Gourmet Scents

Gourmet Scents is a completely unique, 100% hand crafted, small business.  The owner, Las, does all of her work herself, working out of her home.  She's taken something that she tried out of the blue thinking it might be fun, and turned it into a wonderful business!  Las has been an online mommy friend of mine for about 10 years now, so I've been able to watch her and her business grow and grow.  I know the time and hard work she's put into Gourmet Scents, building it up to what it is today.  I'm very proud of her!

The photo above, is a picture of her soap petals. Yep, soap petals.  These are one of her best sellers.  People order them for all kinds of occassions ranging from using them for wedding parties, to showers, to just wanting to carry them in their purse to be able to wash 'n toss their hands while out in public.  

What these petals are, is fabric petals that she hand-dips into olive oil soap.  She has many scents available.  They come in an organza gift bag, ready to be handed off as an excellent gift or to use as a "smell-wonderful" shower or reception table decoration!  

Gourmet Scents has kindly offered to send the winner of our Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas Giveaway winner a set of 10 soap petals and she'll even let the winner choose from 5 scents to make sure they're getting a scent they like!  Gourmet Scents offers way more then just soap petals though.  They have the most adorable soaps I've ever seen!  Check out these cupcake soaps:

These are an extremely good seller for Las.  They made an adorable addition to a baby shower or a children's birthday party.  They can serve a dual purpose in decorating, plus handing them out for party favors!  Here's a few photos of some other great sellers for birthday parties and baby showers:

 

I get so excited every time I look at the soaps made by Gourmet Scents.  They're all just SO stinking adorable!!  Another super hot seller for Las, is her Autism awareness soaps:

Ok, I could seriously keep posting photo's of her work all night long!  They all are just so cute that I feel like I'm cheating you all by not featuring all of them LOL!  Click any of the links above to go the Gourmet Scents website, and click HERE to go to her facebook page!  Hop on over there and "like" her page, then take a look around her photo gallery!!  She's giving you all kinds of choices and scents for the perfect & unique gifts, party favors, shower decorations & gifts, receptions, birthday parties, etc!  Your friends & family will brag that you are the "cool gift giver" this year!

Looking For A Unique Gift? Send Them Cookies!

Seriously, Send Them Cookies!  This company was started by two brothers, who loved their mom's cookies so much, that they took her recipes and started a business. This ensures that every cookie, brownie, pie, etc is baked with love and care.  The ship out the orders the same day they make them, so you're assured that you're getting the freshest cookies available, and they ship them anywhere in the U.S.!

The photo above is the sample pack they generously sent me.  Not only were the cookies absolutely wonderful, but the packaging of them is beautiful!  My 17 year old daughter said "Gee Mom, I hate to open them up for us to eat them.  They look too pretty!".  After eye-balling them for a bit, we were over the "prettiness" of them though, and dove right in!  They were amazing!

These treats would make a wonderful present for any occasion, let alone a great Christmas present that will undoubtedly excite any one who receives them!  This also would make an exceptional office gift.  If a person or company goes out of their way to do something nice for you and you're looking for a way to say "thanks" Send Them Cookies! Another thing I love, is that where they ship to anywhere in the U.S., is that I can order and have them sent straight to my college student.  I live in Ohio, and she's a grad student in Denver, CO.  Even though we're over 1240 miles away from each other, Nikki can still have cookies that are "mom quality".  I appreciate that Paul & Evan!

Paul and Evan also have a facebook page that you'll find by clicking HERE. Let's show their facebook page some love and thank them for participating in our Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas, by donating a prize to our winner that will be drawn on Christmas day!  I'd really appreciate you guys showing your thanks to their page, and I know that also would appreciate it!

Wishing Well Art and Gifts

I'm SO excited to introduce you all to Wishing Well Art and Gifts!  Every item made and shipped by Wishing Well, is done so with the greatest care.  You might be asking yourself what is in that yummy looking photo above. Well, it's hand made Maple Cinnamon Flavored Maple Leaves!  These cinnamon spiced sugar cubes are amazing to use in about anything.  They spice up your coffee, tea, or cocoa or they're great in oatmeal, or just about anything you can think of.  The cinnamon spiced sugar is a wonderful compliment to the foods and drinks of fall & winter.  There's just something about cinnamon and spice that leaves me with a warm, homey, content feeling.

As adorable and yummy as these are, you'll be happy to know that when you order this item, you receive 3 dozen Maple Cinnamon Flavored Maple Leaves and each leave contains almost 2 teaspoons of spiced sugar.  These, along with all of the other adorable, decorative sugar cubes that Wishing Well makes, bring a touch of elegance to your special events, holiday get-togethers, receptions, showers, dinner gatherings, etc. as well as using them at home just to treat yourself.  I'm absolutely in love with her Christmas Tree Shaped Sugar Cubes with Edible Glitter Stars!  These are less messy then using traditional sugar packets, and would make a darling addition to a company Christmas Party, or holiday dinner!  Even after the sugar dissolves into your liquid, you still have the adorable little stars floating in your drink for awhile!  Just take a look below at how cute these little trees are!

Also check out her Colorful Christmas Light Bulb Shaped Sugar Cubes!  She has so many unique, adorable, elegant sugar cubes that I couldn't possibly list them all here!  In addition to sugar cubes, Alisa also makes her own Vegan Laundry Detergent that's even HE safe, along with dishwasher detergent too!

In addition to her Etsy Shop, Alisa also has a facebook page that you'll find by clicking HERE.  I'm super excited about this review, because Alisa lives just outside of the small little village that I live in.  Better then that?  She used to be my sister-in-law!  She's the Aunt of my oldest two kids, Nikki and Cody.  Alisa and I met in kindergarten, so we've known each other for years.  She, as well as her parents who were top businessmen in our area, are just stand up people.  I can personally assure you that her word and her work is golden.  She only uses top quality ingredients, and puts her all into anything that she does!  

I'm proud to have known Alisa, and I'm super stoked to introduce her work to all of you!  I'd be so happy if you guys would take a few minutes to check out her Etsy Shop, and her facebook page.  She's new to the facebook world of "pages" so please, let's show her some love by "liking" her facebook page and sharing it through your social media sites too!  Help support a hard working, small self-started, mom who's making a big name for herself!  Thank you Alisa, for joining us on this Gift Guide and Giveaway!  Also, Alisa has another "gift" for every one too.  -In addition to supplying the prize of $25 to spend in her shop, Alisa also wanted to something special for our military families so she's offering a 15% discount on all orders through January 1, 2013 with the coupon code of: MILITARY2012.

Eat Smart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale

Welcome to the 3rd review for The Fibro Frog's 1st Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas Giveaway!  Remember, check out the reviews posted before this, and after this, because someone is going to win one of every item that I review!  I'm so excited to draw a winner on Christmas day, to give someone an amazing prize package as a Christmas present from The Fibro Frog and all of these wonderful companies that are helping me to do this!  

I was so excited to be able to work with Eat Smart!  They're one of the most courteous, friendly companies I've had the pleasure of working with.  Where The Fibro Frog was just started in February of this year, I was kind of afraid to approach companies.  I don't know how I got so lucky with all of my contacts this year.  They've all been wonderful!  Eat Smart blew me away though.  Not only are they friendly and courteous to work with, but I just couldn't believe how fast I received my scales from them!  

Living a life with chronic pain, it's hard to exercise.  I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about.  Sometimes, it's hard to get proper exercise in, even when you don't have a chronic pain and fatigue illness.  Besides it being hard for me to exercise (ok, I'll confess ...darn near impossible) some of the medicine they give to us, makes us pack the unwanted pounds on too.  Because of this, I was excited to review the Eat Smart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale.  I'm not gonna lie, even though I was excited to try them out, I also was kind of holding my breath afraid to look down lol !  See, before this I didn't have any scales of my own.  My parents have a set, but every time you go to use them, they aren't on the line like they're supposed to be.  So, I'm never too sure if they're truly accurate or not.

Just look at how awesome this digital baby is!!  Now, I know I may get excited easily over things, but this scale really is an amazing item compared to any other scales I've ever used!  It's is so thin.  I absolutely love the fact that it has a blue backlight.  Eat Smart advertises that the blue backlight lets you be able to read the scale, even in the dimmest lighting.  That's a wonderful fact, but I'm a typical woman, and I think it's the coolest because it makes it look pretty and cool! =)  Eat Smart uses special technology that they call "step-on" technology.  What that means, is that you don't have to bend and flip a switch or anything to use the scale.  All you have to do to get a super accurate - in increments of .2 lbs/ .1 kg, is to just step onto the scale and it'll automatically and quickly display your weight.  Yep, you read that right with the .1kg, this scale will weigh you in either pounds or kilos. Not having a switch to turn it on or off with, is such a huge help to me.  With the back pain and knee pain that I have, it really hurts me to try to bend to the floor.  Some days (most days in all honesty), it's near impossible for me to bend like that.  It even has a non-slip surface, that makes it even less worrisome about possible slips & falls. 

The Eat Smart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale is so accurate, due to 4, yep four, high precision sensors built into it!  This allows for a quick, accurate weight every time you step onto it!  It even has a max weight of 400 pounds/180 kgs.  You'd think that something with this much accuracy and precision would be a big, heavy thing wouldn't you?  Not this one!  It only weighs 3.6 pounds.  You can find the dimensions of it by clicking HERE then scrolling down to the Eat Smart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale. The scale is run off of 4AAA batteries, that they include with your purchase!

This isn't the only amazing product that Eat Smart manufactures either.  In addition to this set of bathroom scales, they also offer 4 other bathroom scales, and one of those is the Eat Smart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale.  Now, that thing looks and sounds extremely cool too!  I'd love to have one of those as well.  You can read about it by clicking the name of it above, then scrolling to the bottom of the page.  They also offer four types of kitchen scales.  Again, they have some really cool ones that would make an excellent gift this season!  I have found so many cool items that they have to offer.  One of their kitchen scales calculates all of your food nutrients for you, whether the item is labeled or not labeled!  This is another item that I'd love to have!  They also offer a luggage scale.  My oldest daughter is on a plane a lot of the time, and I know she'd really benefit off of this luggage scale!

Besides checking out their website, make sure that you also check out their FaceBook page!  Let's show them some holiday love, to let them know that we appreciate their concern for us by manufacturing some awesome products, and for contributing to the 1st Annual Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas Giveaway! Go give 'em a big ole "like"!  

We Have a Winner - And A Special Note

Congrats to Carol R.  You were the winner of the drawing for the pillow!

I've had a busy, rough week and it's really hit me.  I apologize, but I'm not going to be able to feature another today, Friday, due to sheer exhaustion.  I'm really having trouble putting thoughts together. There will be a new product featured at 12am Saturday morning. Thanks for your understanding!

Mediflow Waterbase Pillow

Welcome to day 2 of my Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas!  This product is one that I've talked about in the past, I guarantee you I'll always talk about it!  The Mediflow Waterbase Pillow is one of the best inventions I've ever had the privilege to have.  Still, to this day, I tell everyone including my own parents even, that I'll never use another pillow again.  I'm a Mediflow Waterbase Pillow convert.  -They've made a "lifer" out of me!  Also, Mediflow is kind enough that not only will they be providing a pillow in the prize pack for the winner, but they're also going to give one as a prize of the day!  How cool is that of them?!  Read my review on the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow below, then leave me a meaningful comment on this post about what feature you like the best about the pillow, after reading over their website.  I'll take comments until 11:59pm tonight (Thursday December 6, 2012) when I use Random.org to choose a winner!  Comment of "thanks for a great giveaway" etc won't get you an entry. Please remember to tell me what you believe the best feature of the pillow would be! You can get a 2nd entry, by sharing this blog post on your facebook page. If you share the post, leave me a comment that you've shared it. You can earn a 3rd entry, by pinning the post to your Pinterest.  If you pin it, leave another comment telling me you did, and your Pinterest name so I can verify.  I'm also going to give you one last way to earn a 4th entry.  You can earn your 4th entry by sharing this post on your Google + account.  Leave another comment saying you did so, and what your Google + name is.  So, Good Luck to you all!

I'm so excited to bring you this review and giveaway compliments of Mediflow!  If you're plagued by any type of neck or shoulder pain, then this is the pillow for YOU!  Mediflow actually refers to the waterbase pillow as a sleep system, rather then "just" a pillow.

The way the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow works, is that under the plump, soft, polyester fill it has a waterbase on the bottom.  The fill in the pillow, has a special finish on it to keep it plump and cloud-like and makes the pillow long-lasting andwashable!  The waterbase of the bottom of the pillow, gives your neck continuous support that you can't get with a traditional pillow.  The great thing is, the user can adjust the amount of water for the unique support that their own body needs. After you get the amount of water adjusted, the system will support your neck and spine while you sleep, even as you're turning over or switching sides!

Now, if you're anything like me, you're probably wondering if trying to fill the pillow is a big hassle or not.  The day my Mediflow Waterbase Pillow arrived I was so excited to try it out that night, but I was also a nervous wreck that I wouldn't be able to fill it and that I'd make a big mess trying to fill it.  You can see in the photo above, that the pillow comes with a little funnel type thing.  You stand the pillow upright on a chair, insert the funnel, and then poor in the amount of water that you've decided to try.  Once you have the water in it, you run your hands down the pillow until you hit the water area, to push excess air out, then insert the cap to seal it shut.  By doing this step, it keeps the pillow from making a "sloshing" sound when you turn over.  If you hear the water, then you don't have all of the air out of it!  That's it!  Super easy!  I studied the water chart and measured out the amount of water I thought I'd need, and then tried the pillow.  It felt amazing to me, but I still needed just a bit more support.  I just added a little bit more, and it was perfect!

You don't have to take my word for it though, nor do you have to just take Mediflow's word.  John Hopkins Hospital conducted a neck pain and quality of sleep study, and the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow ranked the best out of all pillows tested!  The Mediflow pillow helped to reduce pain patients felt upon waking, it increased their pain relief, and it also improved their quality of sleep!  As a person who suffers from a severe case of Fibromyalgia, I can attest how hard it is to get quality sleep when you do sleep.  Insomnia is a horrible beast of Fibromyalgia that plagues me.  It's also been proven that people with Fibromyalgia never get into a good sleep cycle.  In my honest opinion this pillow is worth it's weight in gold!  I'll never ever own another pillow again.  After just one night of sleeping on the Mediflow Waterbase Pillow, I knew that they'd convinced me!  Therefore, I'm excited to bring a giveaway to you all, so that you'll have a chance to win your own Mediflow Waterbase Pillow!

Giveaway will run from 12:01am September 27, 2012 - 11:59pm October 11, 2012.  Giveaway open to US residents.  This blog is not responsible for shipping the prize.  Prize will be shipped directly from Mediflow.  Winner will be listed on the Raffle Copter form when contest ends, and I will email the winner.  Winner will then have 48 hours to respond to me with their shipping info, or a new winner will be selected.

*I did not receive any cash compensation for hosting this review and giveaway, but I did receive one of the pillows to try out, and give my honest opinion of.  All opinions expressed are my own without any influence from Mediflow.