PicMonkey

Anyone who's been around my blog and facebook very much, knows that photography is my favorite thing to do.  Fibro and arthritis has made it harder for me to get out and enjoy taking landscape and nature photos as much as I used to, but with an 18 month old granddaughter, a new granddaughter due to arrive in a few weeks, and still having the youngest of my four children living at home, I still have plenty of photo opportunities!  

I was a Picnik junky when it was around.  I honestly started to tear up when I found out they were closing.   I sadly gravitated over to PicMonkey, just sure that my easy yet super-cool editing was a thing of the past. I even splurged and bought a used copy of  Photoshop CS5 and sighed heavily thinking about trying to learn how to use it.  I muttered an awful lot in my head, about how my love for photo editing was going to be a thing of the past.

As I uploaded a photo on PicMonkey, and started to play around a little bit, I felt my fear and dread quickly dissipating.  I thought to myself "Huh.  Maybe this will be ok after all".  It was so incredibly easy and user friendly. The bonus?  I found new options in PicMonkey, that I didn't have with Picnik.  My very favorite effect at PicMonkey is the Film Stock effect.  My next fav is HDR!  Here's an example of a photo I did a few weeks ago using the HDR effect:

My triple berry pie is amazing, but PicMonkey helps to make it look even more amazing!  The first photo is my pie unedited.  The second picture, is my PicMonkey version. Same with the third photo (unedited) and the fourth photo (edited)?  See how I can pull more of the colors and "wetness" of my berries out using PicMonkey effects?

PicMonkey offers tons of super cool overlays and effects for not only each season, but also for each holiday!  You have to check out the super adorable items they have available for Valentine's day now!  I love them all!

Here's one for Valentine's Day that I quickly made from a photo of my youngest daughter and her boyfriend.  This photo was originally taken in front of my Christmas tree this past holiday season.  With all of the cool Valentine's day effects, you can't even tell!

Another thing that I absolutely love about PicMonkey, is that they have a blog where they also give tips and tricks to make the most out of your photos. I could easily spend an hour or two at a time reading their blog posts in one tab, and trying out their tricks on a separate tag lol. You'll find their blog by clicking HERE.

PicMonkey has a ton of super-cool effects that you can use for free, but they also have an upgrade membership called Royale and you get a lot more super cool effects with the Royale membership.  Best of all?  The Monkey doesn't want to take your banana money so it's priced at only $33 for a year long membership.  For slightly more a month, you can also just purchase a Royale membership monthly.  <---That's a great alternative if you just want an upgrade to edit photos from a special event!

PicMonkey must never, ever go away.  Because if it did?  I promise you that I truly will cry!  Oh, and that super expensive fancy Photoship CS5 software?  I've used it exactly once.  Yep, once.  PicMonkey is just so much easier to navigate and offers me just enough that I don't have to worry about using anything except for it! 

Awesome Review & Giveaway For Snooze Shade

Wow!  I wish they would've had these out when my children were little!  This Snooze Shade is a wonderful product.  The first thing that popped into my mind was that all of the good-meaning-but-drive-me-crazy-half a million-people-that-want-to-touch-the-baby-when-we're-strolling-through-a-store, can't do it with one of these things!!  I know that people always mean well, but especially in cold & flu season, it put me off even more so!

This is the wonderful SnoozeShade infant car seat cover.

SnoozeShade for Infant Car Seats is the award-winning breathable sun and sleep shade for Group 0/0+ infant carriers with rigid carry handles. It protects baby from the sun or makes any time sleep time.

Use SnoozeShade for Infant Car Seats day or night, on holiday and when travelling so your little one can sleep comfortably wherever you are.

SnoozeShade for Infant Car Seats can help if you:

* think baby is struggling to switch off from outside distractions

* would like to encourage good sleeping habits when baby is out

* have older children whose schedules conflict with new baby’s nap time

* prefer other people not to disturb your sleeping child

This innovative baby product was created by a British mother to help babies and toddlers sleep for as long as they need in an infant carrier.

It's what parents have been waiting for - a simpler, safer, lightweight and secure alternative to hanging coats or blankets over a pram to help baby sleep on-the-go - and, above all, it works.

It is made from a double layer of soft breathable fabric with the highest level of protection from harmful UV rays, blocking over 98.5% of UVA and UVB (UPF50+).

SnoozeShade for Infant Car Seats provides a shady, well-ventilated sleep environment by blurring the visual stimuli that can keep baby awake.

It’s the first sleeping-on-the-go solution for babies and it's great for holidays, in restaurants or any time you have to be out during baby’s nap time.

Benefits include:

* excellent sun protection - blocks more than 98.5% of UV rays (UPF50+)

* blurs visual distractions that keep babies awake

* use in several ways to help baby sleep or create valuable shade

* helps maintain your baby’s sleep routine wherever you are

* prevents well-meaning people from disturbing your sleeping baby

* made from soft stretchy breathable fabric which doesn’t retain heat

* use all year round to protect from sun, wind, chill and insects

* sneak-a-peek™ zip lets you check easily when baby is asleep

* quick to fit, easy to remove and folds up small

* fits most popular styles of Group 0 and 0+ infant car seats

* endorsed and supported by international baby sleep experts

Like the Stroller version, the SnoozeShade infant car seat cover is light and breathable and very easy & compact to transport every where you go. I also love that it's a universal fit so it will fit any car seat snug. I love using mine for long trips out side to keep the baby from harsh weather conditions.

If you don't have a SnoozeShade Car seat cover or Stroller cover I highly recommend getting one!
This Giveaway is HOSTED by
BabyDashCo.com
Want to win one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




 

Blog Issues

Well friends, I went in and added a new page to the blog, for press.  The homepage was working fine before this, but now it isn't.  I don't know what I did wrong, because the only thing I did was to add a new page, then save the page arrangement.  All of the tabs for different pages across the top of the home page are fully loading like normal, but for some reason only the top 1/3 or 1/4 of the home page is showing up for me.  The rest of the page is a blank pink color.  I didn't mess with HTML or anything.  I just simply added a press page.  Out of desperation to make the home page work right again, I even went back in and deleted the press page completely!  It's still doing the same thing.  On that blank pink color there are two letters in maroon.  They are "QC".  I had my daughters boyfriend try to go to it and the page did the same thing for him, as it is doing for me.  Someone from FB though, said it loaded correctly for him.  If you guys can read all of this post, and my homepage looks fine to you, PLEASE leave me a comment here at the blog and let me know!! I can access messages, other pages, etc.  It's just the dang home page I'm having problems with. I have an SOS post out on my personal FB page so if you're a blogger and know what's wrong and how to fix it, please comment over there and let me know!  I'm in complete panic and meltdown mode now!

Random Acts Of Kindness Challenge

I'm sure that everyone has heard of random acts of kindness, good karma, etc.  Well, I'm going to ask you all for two random acts of kindness.  First, let me tell you what has prompted this chain of thought.

I'm always passionate about wanting to educate and advocate.  I want more then anything for a cure to be found.  Heck, I'm not greedy, I'd even be thrilled if a new treatment plan was found that would help everyone universally.  Unfortunately though, I really don't feel as if that will ever happen any time soon. Not the way things sit right now, anyway.  

Why, you may ask?  I'll tell you why. Because there's still too much stigma out there concerning sufferers of chronic pain conditions.  There's too many myths and misconceptions. Too many people who think that either the pain and fatigue associated with Fibromyalgia, or CFS/ME, RA, Lupus, Osteo arthritis or ANY chronic pain condition for that  matter, is "all in our heads".  Or that we're attention seekers.  Or, that we're just lazy worthless people who doesn't want to do anything and contribute to society. My favorite reason of all though?  That we're drug addicts just looking for a way to get pills shoved at us.  Oh buddy, let me tell ya; I just love the fact that I feel like a walking pharmacy. I just love the fact that I have a few meds that I'm supposed to take three times a day, yet I'm lucky if I remember to take them three times a day - because that sounds like a true druggy right there, doesn't it?  I just love that while reading the possible side effects of taking a newly prescribed medicine, the information stated that long term use in mice, causes stomach cancer.  It went on to say though, that they had no idea if that would occur in humans or not. Boy, that sounds encouraging, right?  I kind of want to literally throw up each time I look at the foul little thing now.

Today and tonight were horrible in the pain department for me.  If I said the pain was bad, horrible, horrendous, debilitating, or any other adjective like that, it still wouldn't accurately describe the type of pain I've dealt with.  When I sit around in this much pain, even after taking meds, it tends to make me hate Fibromyalgia, DDD, IBS, and arthritis just a little bit more.  It makes me want to push and shove to demand more funding for further research. It makes me want to educate and advocate that much more.  The only hope we have, is if we can make others understand the importance of advocating for further research. To help them understand what a day in our lives, is truly like, so that they'll realize the importance of a cure or of a treatment plan that will actually work!  

This is where you all come in.  I've done the research.  I've mapped out all of the statistics.  I've put together a seminar that not only will give resources and interesting studies for those of us in attendance that suffer, but I also have material in there telling what a true day is like for us. It has material in there proving that this isn't in our heads, or that we're not seeking attention or faking because we're lazy or addicts.  Your packets share with you productive ways to help your family and friends to understand what this is really like for you.

Since I've been single for the past 9 months, and I haven't had a job in years due to my health, I can't foot the expense of getting this seminar out to the general public by myself.  I'm extending a challenge to you all, asking for two acts of random kindness from you.  One, is that if you can afford even a $5 donation to my seminar fund, that you'd highly consider making a donation.  $5 is the minimum amount that GoFundMe will accept.  The second act of random kindness that I'm asking you all to do, is to please share my mission, and link to either this post or directly to the GoFundMe page, throughout your social media sites.  If you have a blog, please extend this challenge to your readers.  If you have a facebook fan page, please link to this post on your page.  If you aren't a blogger or crafter with a facebook fan page, then I'd ask you to post it to your personal facebook page, extending this challenge to them and for them to extend it to their own friends and family as well. If you have a Google+ account and/or a Pinterest account, that you share this on those forms of social media.  If you have a Twitter account, please tweet this post and ask for RT's on it. 

At the age of 42, I know I'm not a spring chicken.  I'm also not an old duck yet either though.  The thought, that I may have to live another 30, 40, 50 ...years trapped inside my own personal prison is a horrifying thought to me.  

To feel exactly like you have the flu every single of your life, all the way down to nausea and skin that's sore to the touch.  Skin that hurts if it's even lightly brushed by someone else.  Or just like mine is tonight, that hurts when my shirt shifts over it while I'm typing this. To having sharp pains.  Stabbing pains.  Dull, deep pain.  Sunburn feeling pain.  Sore muscles, and joints that hurt.  Headaches.  Muscle spasms. The lack of energy.  The dozens of co-conditions that run with FMS.  It's just all. too. much. It's no wonder that depression is a co-condition of fibro.  Who wouldn't be depressed having to life every single day of your life like this?

Thank you all for taking the time to read this.  Thank you to those who will accept my challenge of the two random acts of kindness and passes the challenge on to others as well!

Free Blogger Opp's

Weekly Flash giveaway!

Every week we will have a flash giveaway that will last 3 days.  On each giveaway we will have only 30 bloggers.  20 Free links and 10 hosts (I hope lol).  

Date:
February 13 - 16                     $75 Amazon Gift Card
February 20 - 23                   $75 Visa Gift Card
February 27 - March 3       $75 Toysrus Gift Card
March    6 - 9                           $75 Victoria Secret Gift Card.


Each giveaway will have a different sign up form.


Free links:

-Facebook  or Twitter with announcement. (If you choose to not post the announcement the cost is $5.00.

You can get the announcement HERE.  If you are signing up for more than one giveaway on this group, you just need to do one announcement and use the same link for all the sign up form

Extra links:

-$2.00 each link.

Host:

-$15.00 You will get up to 10 links.  

I changed the way I do the RC.  Now each host will have 2 host page, One of the host page will be a RC with all the links from your blog, this way the RC is smaller, the fans get to do everything in link.

Optional:

If you want to be host off all 4 giveaways you will need to pay only $50.00 ($60.00 regular)

Please send payment via paypal as a gift to melisurveys1978@gmail.com.  If your payment is not sent as gift please include $0.50 for paypal charges.

Sign up for:        $75 Amazon Gift Card

Sign up for:        $75 Visa Gift Card

Sign up for:        $75 Toysrus Gift Card

Sign up for:        $75 Victoria Secret Gift Card.

Thank you everyone for your help on these giveaways!

Mediflow Is Hosting A Contest! You Could Win A Cruise!

You all know how much I absolutely love Mediflow.  Not just for the wonderful Waterbase Pillow they make, but also for the stellar people they are.  I've seriously never worked with a more fun and friendly brand then I have with Mediflow.  Well, they're at it again!

They're hosting a photo contest, and you could win a cruise!  It's as easy as going to their facebook contest page, which you'll find by clicking HERE, then uploading your favorite water photo!  Then, starting March 16, 2013, have all of your friends start voting for you!  The page is already open for your submissions.

The grand prize is: $1,500 worth of Carnival Cruise Line gift cards redeemable for a cruise to the destination of your choice.

2nd Place is a Polaroid Action Sports Camera

3rd Place is a set of Mediflow Waterbase Pillows shipped to you or a loved on (US Only)

Runner up will receive a case of Mountain Valley Spring Water delivered to your home. (delivery to Continental US Only).

I don't know about you all, but I'd kill for the relaxation of a cruise!  I think it's just the thing that this stressed out Fibro mom needs to start her year off right!  So if you guys don't want to enter, I'd really appreciate your votes for my photo starting March 16th!

Again, just go HERE to submit your entry!  Good luck!

American Girl Doll Giveaway (Two Winners)

 

Hosted by:

NYSavingSpecials, Your Fashion Resource, My Four Littles, Ann I Am, Barbara's Beat, Life's Cheap Thrills, We Have It All, 

Mamal Diane ~ keeping it simple, 

Sweet N Sour Deals, The Naptime Review, Cotton Ridge Homeschool, Kaisy Daisy's Corner, Mommie...Again, Capri's Coupons, Michelle Gills Blog, Just a Little Creativity, Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews, Stay a Stay at Home Mom, Mommy Bear Media, My Devotional Thoughts, Mindfully Frugal Mom, Simply Sherryl, Spend With Pennies, Phillyfun4kids and B & V Savings

We are happy to bring you this great giveaway.

The American Girl Doll giveaway.

Jan 20 to Feb. 19, 2013

We will have two winners.

Winner number one will get:

Doll + Starter Collection.  

Winner gets to choose skin color, hair color and eye color.  

Value $120.

Winner number two will get:

One American Girl Doll with the box.  

Winner gets to choose which doll they want.

Value $105.

Winners will need to choose their prizes from American Girl Doll website.

Winner can not change prize for any other American Girl Product.

To be part of this giveaway you need to be 18 years or older.

This giveaway is only for US residents.

To gain entries to win, fill out the form below. 

All entries are optional.

Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NYSavingSpecials is responsible for prize.  If you have any question please send an email to nysavingspecials@gmail.com