Lawry's Marinades and Seasoned Salt Review

This summer, two new marinades are joining the LAWRY'S^® lineup:

• Santa Fe Chili with Lime and Garlic – Blends chili pepper, cumin, oregano, garlic and a splash of lime for robust Southwest-style cooking
• Mediterranean Herb & White Wine – Features fragrant herbs like basil and oregano, along with white wine, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and sun-dried tomato

And inspired cooking doesn't stop with the marinades. LAWRY'S^® Seasoned Salt has been a family favorite for over seven decades, packing an expert blend of salt, herbs and spices. Whether you're grilling for your family or serving friends at a summer BBQ, LAWRY'S^® products help make any meal extraordinary.

As a Bzz Agent I received the two bottles mentioned above, a Lawry's red apron, coupons for Lawry's products and a bottle of Lawry's Seasoned Salt.  This is a picture of the products I received (minus the apron):

Here is my husband with the apron and the marinades:

We made the meats (pork) with the two marinades and here's the final products:

JUST THE FACTS:

LAWRY'S^® marinades and spice blends will wake up the flavor in your favorite meals all year long. Here's a taste of what they offer:
LAWRY'S^® Marinades

• Baja Chipotle with Lime Juice
• Balsamic Herb with Italian Spices and Balsamic Vinegar
• Buffalo BBQ with Cayenne Pepper and Vinegar
• Caribbean Jerk with Papaya Juice
• Hawaiian with Tropical Fruit Juice
• Herb & Garlic with Lemon Juice
• Lemon Pepper
• Mediterranean Herb & White Wine
• Mesquite with Lime Juice

• Original Seasoned Salt with Sweet and Savory Spices
• Santa Fe Chili with Lime and Garlic
• Sesame Ginger with Mandarin Orange Juice
• Signature Steakhouse
• Steak & Chop with Garlic & Cracked Black Pepper
• Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ
• Teriyaki with Pineapple Juice
• Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato with Minced Garlic and Olive Oil

LAWRY'S^® Spice Blends

• Black Pepper Seasoned Salt
• Fire Roasted Chile & Garlic
• Garlic Pepper
• Garlic Powder with Parsley
• Garlic Salt
• Garlic Spread

• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Original Seasoned Salt
• Roasted Garlic Salt
• Salt Free 17
• Seasoned Salt w/ Mediterranean Herbs
• 25% Less Sodium Seasoned Salt

Santa Fe Chicken with Corn Salsa
1/2 cup Lawry's^® Santa Fe Chile with Lime and Garlic Marinade
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 can (15 oz.) whole kernel corn, well drained
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped red onion
MIX Marinade, cilantro and orange juice. Place chicken in glass dish. Add 1/2 cup of the marinade mixture; turn to coat well. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
TOSS corn, tomato, bell pepper and onion with 1/4 cup of the remaining marinade mixture. Set aside. Remove chicken from marinade. Discard marinade.
GRILL chicken over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes per side or until cooked through, brushing with remaining marinade mixture. Serve with Corn Salsa.
Makes 6 servings.

I am a Bzz Agent and received the products to write this review but the opinions are mine and I was not told what to write for this review.  I hope you will try the products yourself!

Tribute to the Aurora Victims from others (pics)

Eileen is on a group with me for the victims and she drew this picture and is sharing with everyone!

The above are the 12 memorials to the 12 who were killed.   Now I have more pictures of the surrounding area.  I don't have the names of the above to match their cross.

Be. Wine Review

I am a Bzz Agent and this is a great product to be able to review!  It came with several $1.00/off coupons for any of the 4 varieties of Be. Wine.  It also came with a Be. small mirror, Be. small lip gloss, Be. small container of mints and a Be. double nail file.  It's as if they knew me perfectly and the little things I like to carry in my handbag!

There are 4 different Be. Wines:


1. Be. Flirty Pink Moscato – This mischievous Moscato, with rich berry and delicate floral notes, is made to be sipped with a wink and a smile
2. Be. Bright Pinot Grigio – This effortlessly drinkable Pinot Grigio keeps things light, with sun-ripened citrus flavors and a crisp, fresh finish
3. Be. Fresh Chardonnay – This cheeky Chardonnay energizes taste buds with crisp green apple flavors and zesty hints of citrus
4. Be. Radiant Riesling – This dynamic Riesling blend brings an exuberant vibe with tantalizing fruit flavors and bright floral notes

When I first went to Ralphs (Kroger) the only Be. Wine that they had was the 2011 Be. Flirty Pink Moscato wine so I bought it and brought it home and poured a glass.  I really didn’t like it.  Not everyone likes the same kind of wine but I didn’t want to give up on the wine so I got the idea of making a punch and searched for recipes and came up with the following:
Grapefruit in Moscato  (by Martha Stewart)
•    1 ruby red grapefruit, chilled
•    4 sugar cubes, preferably raw sugar such as turbinado or demerara, or a couple slight spoonfuls granulated or superfine sugar
•    1 bottle (750-ml) Moscato d’Asti

I knew that the Moscato d’Asti was sparkling so that got to me to think about trying my Martinelli’s Sparkling Prickly Passion Lemonade with the 2011 Be. Flirty Pink Moscato wine. I figured that the sweet berry flavors of the wine would blend well with the prickly passion fruit lemonade.  And I was right!  It was delicious.  The Martinelli’s is a lightly carbonated blend of filtered water, sugar, lemon, passion fruit, raspberry and prickly pear juices from concentrate. Contains 11% juice.

A new neighbor moved in behind our house and so I thought what a perfect time to give out a bottle of wine and $1.00 off coupon!  So I gave him his choice of three and he chose the Be. Bright Pinot Grigio.  He saw me on that weekend and said that he enjoyed it with a friend and was anxious to use the coupon to buy another bottle for another night with his friend! That sounded wonderful.  I was so happy I was able to share in that event.

I also went to a party and took Pinot and Chardonnay with me and everyone really loved and enjoyed those.  I now have three bottles in my house to enjoy with visiting friends or take to an event with me.  That is how I used the rest of the coupons.   I hope you have the opportunity to try one or more of these Be. Wines and will share with me how you enjoyed them.

Groupon Problems

When was the last time you saw a COUPONER promoting GROUPON?  I haven't in a long time and hopefully you haven't either.  In case you have be sure to tell them about this blog and the blogs mentioned here. What is Groupon?


Trouble is stirring about for those who have used GROUPON for their company.  Here are some of the stories:


GROUPON PROBLEMS-Esquire

The Trouble with Groupon-Slate

Back Alley Waffles...Groupon   (This article was updated to include comment from a spokesperson for Groupon.)

Groupon Exposes Customer Emails In Google Results...Again 

Groupon Baby Name Deal: Site Offers To Name Your Baby 'Clembough' For $1,000 

Christian Bale visits survivors in Aurora, CO

Christian Bale visited the victims (as HiMSELF, not representing Warner Bros.) of the shooting in Aurora, CO.  In the wake of the shooting, Bale released a statement saying, "Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

The photo album of the shooting victims can be found here.  Messages of sympathy for the victims can be found here.  
Story and photos found here.

Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?

 "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?"

special note:  It is my wish to not write my words tonight about this horrible situation but rather give the words of someone else who wrote about the topic "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer" I don't have the answer to that question but I do know that many people ask it.  So tonight I post this topic.

The "state" of Penn State

What is the "state" of Penn State?

Last night I was contacted by the Dr. Drew staff to call and comment live on his show with the comment that I made to his question about PSU taking down the statue of Joe Paterno.   Unfortunately I did not get to my email in time for the live show to respond to the email and call the staff.  But I did reply to the show staff with this response:

Hi XXX,
I'm so sorry that I didn't check my email in time for tonight's program with Dr. Drew but I left a message on your machine explaining to you that I'm a former educator myself of Severely Emotionally Disturbed children (and am out of teaching right now on a physical disability) and I'd be happy to call in and comment with Dr. Drew about this situation. 

I'm a Pennsylvania transplant living here in Southern California (26 years now) and am married and have two grown adult sons.  I would love the opportunity to write/speak with someone influential to this situation at hand at Penn State and share my suggestions with him/her/them.

I think the key is education.  The statue and the football program are side issues. That's something physical that would only stir up riots within the school.  I think the  best thing to do about that statue (in my humble opinion) is to have the Joe Paterno family buy a gate/fence and enclose the statue and retire it to some part of the campus that is not highly visible.  This way he is not the focus of the football team/program.

Start now and require the professors to come back to campus earlier than usual and have a professional team come on campus and teach them about abuse (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) and then test them at the end and require that all staff (including the professors) be trained in this and please don't call it "sensitivity training" because we are not just 'sensitive" to the matter, we are proactive!

Then when school starts, every freshman takes a required course for graduation in their freshman year (and every student in the university takes the course to graduate).  Immerse the school in education. 

Dr. Drew is a prime example of an educator.  He uses his show to educate the viewers and the people who come on the program.  Not everyone accepts the education but everyone is given the same free opportunity to receive it.  

I will stop here so you don't regret having asked me to comment...  :o)

Regards,
Carolyn


I tried calling the phone line today but got the voice mail and did not leave a message as tonight Dr. Drew is discussing Sex and Relationships and this is off-topic for the topics that he is covering.  I won't try again tomorrow.  They know how to contact me if they care to reach me and in the meantime I'm going to draft a more professional type letter to PSU (a number of offices) and will probably link that letter to this one when that happens.


UPDATED NEWS:
NCAA results
Big 10 results
PSU reaction to results
Sports Poll about your feelings

Michael Watkins wrote:

My hopes after today’s NCAA sanctions against Penn State.

To Penn State University:
Use these events to become the world’s biggest advocate for children. Raise money for children in need. Create safe and fun camps during the summer that allow children who can’t afford other camps an opportunity to experience a taste of college life and the benefits it brings. Donate unsold sports tickets to Big Brother/Sister. Make the location that held JoePa’s statue an entrance for children. Pull the football team buses up to that area. Allow the children to line “their entrance.” Have the team enter that gate, high fiving the children and making incredible memories for each one of them.

To my family and friends who are Penn State fans:
Stop the debate about Joe Paterno’s involvement, the fairness of the sanctions and where the blame should go. At this point, every discussion continues to delay moving forward. Accept that terrible things happened and bad choices were made. Move on and accept we’re not what we were. Continue to cheer the Nittany Lions on Saturdays. Don’t cancel your season tickets. Go and cheer them on, even when they’re far outmatched. Regardless of final scores, cheer a group of young men who are there despite millions of reasons to go elsewhere. Celebrate their sacrifice, cheer their courage and make them know you appreciate their effort. Leave the trash talk at home. Welcome opposing fans. Cheer both teams as they enter the field. Become a fan base that is known for being the most gracious in all of the land. If you can’t go to a game, give your tickets to a kid who may never get to go to a game otherwise. Don’t know one? Call Big Brother or Big Sister of Centre or Clinton Counties. They’ll get them in the hands of a kid who will remember the game forever.

To the players who will take the field the next four years:
Play with all your heart, giving 110% every down. Know that we’ll cheer for you, win or lose. You playing for Penn State, under these circumstances, makes us proud of you and appreciate you. Don’t trash talk or taunt. Let your effort and passion speak for itself. Hit your opponent and help them back up to knock them down again. Hand the ball to the refs. Make “success with honor” applicable again at Penn State.

To Coach O’Brien:
Show us passion and energy that we haven’t had in a coach in years. Teach honorably, win graciously, and lose humbly. Recruit kids the next four years that are great leaders. Worry less about wins and more about restoring Penn State to the respectable, outstanding university it was. Know we’ll cheer you, love you and support you…win or lose.

The worst day just passed. It’s time to become a blue and white sea of people who lift up kids, live with honor and support a bigger purpose than the scoreboard. WE ARE…PENN STATE!

What would you do?  What are your thoughts?

Responsible Animal Companionship Part 1

My dog "companion" SANDIE 10 yrs old

When my husband and I "rescued" Sandie for our life long companion (not "ownership" because she is not an object, she is an animal) we did so from a kill shelter and she was scheduled to be put down and we were told she was not adoptable.  We went back and forth with the shelter (which today is now a no-kill shelter, recent decision and new management) about Sandie and why she was returned to the shelter two times and not adoptable.  Finally we reached an agreement with them that we would under no uncertain terms house her with another dog.  She was not able to live in the same home as another dog.  We agreed to that and have stood by and will always stand by that agreement.

All of the dogs that we have ever fostered or owned were rescued from kill shelters.  We have never bought or been given for "free" a dog.  We're allergic to cats so we've never had any of them.

Do I think that every family is meant to rescue a dog from a kill shelter or no-kill shelter.  In a perfect world, yes!   I am totally against animal breeding and have been my whole life as far as I can remember even as a child.  I started rescuing animals from the streets since I was about 7 years old.  It started with a seagull (one that was hit by a car at the beach and left to die on the street) and went from there.

My husband and I have been involved in animal rescuing, fostering and rehoming for a long time.  But the day that we rescued Sandie we stopped our work in rescue and rehab and rehoming.  We dedicated the rest of Sandie's life as the only companion animal in our home.  My husband can tell you (and probably will as one of the comments here) that we are never happier than we are today that we made that decision.  When we travel, she comes with us.  We stay at hotels and motels that allow animals to stay there.  If you need a list of hotels and motels where you are traveling to take your dog, just go to this organization online, Pets Can Stay,  and seek help from their search engine.  You can also google "hotels and motels that permit animals in ....." (and you type in the name of the city and state where you will be).  All of the Motel 6's that we have ever stayed in have permitted animals. The Marriot also has a search engine of their hotels and motels that permit animals to stay in the room.  I have to tell you that the pickings were slim when we first started this traveling with Sandie.  We stayed exclusively at Motel 6 but we have been discouraged with some of the ones we have stayed in and are seeking other hotels with refrigerator/microwaves in them so we can bring in our own food and her food (which includes canned vegetables that need to be refrigerated after they are opened).

I'm not saying that everyone should take their animals with them when they travel, I'm sharing that it's an OPTION.  I know members of my family who kennel or put their animals with friends while they travel.  Those are other options.  Our decision to bring Sandie with us when we travel happened when we kenneled her and she became very ill there (away from home in another town in California) but she has done well over night in our home veterinarian office.  So it all depends on what works for you and your animal companion.  This topic will be continued.

If Children Live...

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Excerpted from the book CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
©1998 by Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris

This is so very true.  Look at your own life and decide and look at your own children and think about it.  I don't need to add anymore thoughts to this truth!

Would you travel for free to volunteer for an organization?

Would you ever volunteer to help others while you are traveling on vacation?  Do you know that there are many programs available to do this very thing?

Working, volunteering, learning, living and traveling abroad for extended periods of time becomes the adventure of a lifetime for many.

Many venture to unknown lands to fill a gap of time in their lives, improve their fluency in a foreign language, meet new and interesting people, build self-reliance, or to help people and communities truly in need. Whatever your case, by traveling and working in a new land, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the culture and meet people on their own terms, rather than experiencing it as a tourist would.

Explore your short-term and longer-term options for working, volunteering, interning or teaching in unique locations all over the world.

Here are some organizations with these kind of programs:

1. WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

www.wwoof.org – Board and lodging is offered in exchange for a day’s work on the farm. Stays available from one week to many years, and with thousands of hosts available in 53 countries there’s an opportunity suitable for everyone.
For more information, check out A First-Timer’s Guide to WWOOF-ing.

2. Turtle Teams, Worldwide

A generic name for the thousands of small groups that help threatened sea turtles. Most groups are based at one or two nesting beaches — which are typically at risk from over-exploitation — and appreciate help for even just one night.
Search for groups at the local tourist office close to any tropical beach and help a species come off the endangered list. More information can be found at these larger organisations: www.seaturtles.org and www.cccturtle.org.

3. Conservation Volunteers, Australia and New Zealand

www.conservationvolunteers.com.au – Through various short-term projects in Australia, New Zealand, and a few international locations, you’ll work in teams to protect habitats and promote ecotourism.
A small fee (usually around AUS$100 for a week) is usually required to participate, but covers all food and lodging. UK-based BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) has similar opportunities: www.btcv.org.uk.

4. Sudan Volunteer Programme, Sudan

www.svp-uk.com – Teach English in one of the world’s most impoverished countries. Placements are at schools or universities, but many volunteers help with community projects in additional to their teaching.
Volunteers must pay for their airfare but all other costs are covered, and a small monthly stipend is provided.

5. Appalachian Trail Conference, USA

www.appalachiantrail.org – At over 2,000 miles long, the Appalachian Trail is the classic long trail in the Eastern US and home to almost 2,000 endangered or threatened species.
Volunteers help with trail building and maintenance in return for food and (usually very basic) accommodation.

6. Trip Leader for HF Holidays, Europe

www.hfholidays.co.uk – One of Europe’s most popular walking holiday operators is searching for volunteers to guide their treks. Leaders are provided with accommodation, meals, and the chance to explore Europe in return for sharing their passion and knowledge with the groups they accompany.

7. Help Exchange, Worldwide

www.helpx.net – A website that lists worldwide hosts who are looking for an extra pair of hands, whether it be in their farm or garden, working in schools or on religious projects, building houses or community centres, or simply helping a family take the kids to school.
A small membership fee is required to access host details, but board and lodging is provided in exchange for your work.

8. Peace Corps, Worldwide

www.peacecorps.gov – A unique chance to live and work in another country. Participate in a variety of projects, from healthcare and the environment to business development.
A commitment of 27 months to the placement is required, but for those who are willing, this is a life-changing position. Open only to US residents, but similar projects are available for other nationals with VSO.

9. United Nations Volunteers, Worldwide

www.unv.org – From healthcare and economic development to assisting after natural disasters, the UN offers positions for those that are dedicated to making a difference abroad.
While many positions are open only to experienced professionals, the UN has links to hundreds of international NGOs and QANGOs that are looking for help in similar fields on a less formal basis.

10. Kibbutz Volunteer, Israel

www.kibbutzvolunteer.com – An area that is rarely out of the news, Israel is a land of tight communities but complicated politics.
Being a volunteer here gives you the opportunity to experience this region firsthand while living as part of a socialist community where everything is provided. The region also serves as a good base from which to explore the Middle East and North Africa.

The above 10 volunteer opportunities for free travel.  Be sure to check out all the information before you jump on that word, "free."

Why does forgiveness hurt so much?

Loving someone that has done you wrong can be very, very difficult. It may even seem impossible to you. But it can be done, first you have to forgive them as God daily forgives us our sins and loves us unconditionally. Let go of the burden that's holding you back, and free yourself. And remember that forgiving them does not mean you have to keep them in your circle of friends! Forgive, love and live in the spirit of peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. -Matthew 5:9

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. -Romans 14:19

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. -Colossians 3:15

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the LORD. -Hebrews 12:14

What makes forgiveness so hard?   Human behavior that suggests that people are “hard-wired" to experience ruptured relational bonds, psychological distance, physiological arousal, and the desire to retaliate when they have been hurt by another person. Our pride or self-esteem is injured. Our expectations or dreams are disappointed. We lose something very valuable to us. We want recompense for the damages. 

Have you ever been around someone who seems to be overcome by bitterness, anger, and even vengeful? These individuals have one main obsession in common – an unforgiving heart. At one time or another, the individual has felt they have been wronged. Unfortunately we all become ill-treated by someone on occasion; sometimes even by someone we love. Where it becomes an issue of sin is when we find ourselves holding onto grudges wanting to take revenge on those who have wronged us. The sin the other person had done to us becomes deep rooted sin within our own heart because we failed to give the transgression the person had committed toward us to the Lord. We failed to forgive the offender.

I know that I've recently felt this toward an unnamed individual and I shared the comment about the feeling with my husband.  Wanting to be the good listening husband he listened but then when it came time to react he told me how very wrong I was in what I was saying.  You know I really appreciate that in spite of my hurt, he was able to help me with that feeling and then go on and encourage me to not want to retaliate but to turn over those feelings (to God) and move on with living our lives in the way that we should live them.  He hurt for me and wanted to make me feel loved while I was feeling put off, and so why validating my feelings of being hurt he stood up to the sin of retaliation and moved forward with me.  I love my husband and his strength where I am weak!  God really blessed me with an incredible man and I can only thank him and God over and over again for that maturity.

2012 Olympic Uniform Controversy

This product image released by Ralph Lauren shows U.S. Olympic athletes, from left, swimmer Ryan Lochte, decathlete Bryan Clay, rower Giuseppe Lanzone and soccer player Heather Mitts, modeling the official Team USA opening ceremony parade uniform. (Ralph Lauren )

The preppy uniforms that Ralph Lauren designed and Team USA will sport during the upcoming Olympic Opening ceremonies are patriotically red, white, and blue… and made in China. China?  Aren't we here in the USA crying out for jobs and Ralph Lauren outsources the making of the Olympic outfits in China!




After it was announced that Ralph Lauren would once again be creating the outfits worn by United States Olympic athletes during the opening ceremonies in London, members of Congress are now upset the clothing will be made in China.  Here’s what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to say about the blunder:
  “I am so upset. I think the Olympic committee should be ashamed of themselves. I think they should be embarrassed. I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again. If they have to wear nothing but a singlet that says USA on it, painted by hand, then that’s what they should wear.”




Here's what the LA TIMES reports,


"A similar controversy arose in 2008, when Reuters reported Team USA’s uniforms, again designed by Ralph Lauren, were made in China.


The current uniform controversy comes amid this week’s declaration of a “Make it in America” initiative, unveiled by Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer on Wednesday, a combination of legislation on building up infrastructure, simplifying Internet regulation, adjusting tariffs and more.


Then there's the proposed All-American Flag Act, which would mandate that American flags purchased by the federal government would be made domestically, in response to a census bureau report that revealed $3.6 million was spent on importing flags in 2011."


This year's uniforms can be seen on Ralph Lauren’s site, available as a full set for men at $1,945, and $1,473 for women.

The turmoil over the U.S.'s imported Olympic uniforms has grown to include nearly all officially-sanctioned Team USA items, according to an NBC Chicago investigation.

Of the 345 items listed on the TeamUSA.org store Friday morning, 30 were clearly listed as having been made in the United States.

What do you think of Team USA's move to import its gear?

Click here to read and watch the story >>> http://4.nbcla.com/PT7x03

Click here to read about Romney and outsourcing in 2002 > > >  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/mitt-romney-olympics-outsourced-uniforms-burma_n_1677791.html?1342479612&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

What do you think of all of this? Big deal or much ado about nothing?

3 arrests made in fraudulent coupon ring

source: Help Make My Film

Finally!  The arrests that so many of us in couponing have been looking and hoping for.   How many of us have suspected this coupon fraud being done while we watched this being bragged about on a certain couponing show and are in awe of how these people get away with this in public!

Now the Phoenix police say they have seized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons and $2 million in other assets from the homes of three women linked to a widespread counterfeiting and forgery operation.

Officer James Holmes said officers served several warrants Tuesday morning at the Phoenix-area residences, and 40-year-old Robin Ramirez, 42-year-old Amiko Fountain and 54-year-old Marilyn Johnson were arrested after an eight-week investigation.

"We used undercover and covert operations to make purchases and to identify the three suspects," Holmes said.

Read the rest of the article HERE. Video found HERE.

The next photo is going to show a REAL coupon (on the top of the image) vs. a FAKE coupon (on the bottom of the image).

A counterfeit coupon for a free bag of Doritos chips up to $5 is still circulating, primarily through e-mail. It was not created, authorized or distributed by Frito-Lay. Frito-Lay says, "We have notified retailer customers of this fraud and are working with authorities to identify the source of the fraudulent coupon. You should not knowingly use a counterfeit coupon. We sincerely apologize for the disappointment and confusion this has caused. Please watch for valid coupons and sales in stores, magazines, Sunday newspaper ads, and on our credible websites."

So you ask, what is the difference between the two and how can I make sure that I have a REAL one?  Read all about real coupons, fake coupons, how to know the difference, how to keep from being taken in by fake ones and more information about appropriate couponing HERE, at the Coupon Information Corporation.  Follow them on TWITTER.

One thing that you as a fellow couponer may or may not know, is that you CANNOT buy coupons. It is illegal.  When I first started couponing and was using a major couponing website I was encouraged to buy coupons and told where to buy them and to this day, it is still posted there.  I refuse to have anything to do with this group or their activities online.

The Mommy Bloggers

Dear Mommy Blogger,
In as much as the blogging industry has turned to "All about Mommies and Mommy Issues," at 52 I still remain a woman waiting for grandchildren and interested in your blogging world but far enough removed from it to give a little holler to you and tell you that life will return to normal again.  In this picture it shows the child sitting there while the mommy is on the computer.  As a child I am glad that I didn't have to wait for the cell phone to not be in use, the computer to not be in use, the pinterest to not be capturing my mom's attention and the iPad to not be in use.  I also am not missing getting up from the sofa and turning down the commercials for my grandmother who didn't like listening to them.  Running to the rotary phone and  dialing instead of pushing buttons, shifting gears in my car on my first driver lesson from my parents, competing with kids for use of the tv, changing radio stations or putting cotton in my ears from different desires in music, using a cell phone to find out where my kid is, wondering why my kid is inside of the house instead of outside playing with friends, scanning the Internet for gluten-free products or vegan foods for my kids who refuse to eat or can't eat what the family eats, fighting the Dr's for vaccinating my kids and a whole lot more stress that you seem to blog about.  Granted, I use this blog for my own personal venting, joys, triumphs, product reviews, sharing about my family and friends, Avon products, talking about my dog, showing pictures of the foods my husband and I make together and so I have a whole different world from you.

But the fighting and competing about raising kids, working moms vs stay at home moms, coupon moms vs non coupon moms, single moms vs moms with partners and lifestyles and all the other arguments, problems with children exposed verbatim and pictures of kids who have done wrong at home exposed, whose blog is the best in this area and that area...  it gives me a headache!  There's some on the Internet about this:

The Rise of The Mommy Blogger [INFOGRAPHIC]
Mommy Wars
Watch Me Break Mommy Blogger Commandment #1


Two posts about this that I really love:
Mommy Monster
Momma’, Walk Humbly with Thy God

the rest you can "google" because this is a small point here.

We BABY BOOMERS are all grown up now and having grandchildren and offering a hand of help (if you will) to encourage you, soften the blows, listen, be enlightened, learn, share, grow with you, etc...  because your world is way different than the world in which we grew up.  Please try to get off that computer the next time you find that you feel all alone and helpless and bake something, take a kid or two with you in the bedroom and read together... real books not Kindles or Nooks, or make a cheap craft together, start writing a book together, record (oops, there are no more tape recorders), create a song together, do homework together, teach other make up tips, or look for some of us "empty nester bloggers" online and see how we came through your period of time and ask for our help if you can't ask your own mom or mother in law.  We are not so far removed from you that we can't understand what you are going through because we've been there!

Photoshop Abuse: When is enough, "enough?"

Above is the ad that was banned in the UK of Julia Roberts because of photoshop abuse.

While using post production techniques such as Photoshop image editing software is standard in the advertising industry, L'Oreal clocked some serious overtime on Julia Roberts' face in a Lancôme ad, and now that image has been pulled by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA declared that "the ad must not appear in its current form again" on the basis that it's "misleading."

"Misleading" isn't strong enough a word. Take a look at this image. Then take a look at another picture of Julia Roberts' face. I think the terms "ghostly" and "surreal" are more fitting.

L'Oreal also had another of its ads pulled by the ASA; this one for its Maybelline line of cosmetics and its use of otherworldly alteration on the model Christy Turlington.

See Related Slideshow: 10 Tech Company Photoshop Disasters
 


One blogger has spoken out against the abuse and shown some great examples of this abuse in, "5 Blantant Cases of Photoshop Abuse."

Rea teens: Julia Bluhm, 14, stood outside the magazine’s Midtown headquarters and led a protest against the industry’s fervent use of Photoshop, before hand delivering her petition with 25,000 signatures.

Miss Bluhm said during the protest: ‘I know much how much pictures in the media have an effect in the self esteem of girls and their body image.’


Please click to read Mashable's outstanding article about Julia's success, "Seventeen Agrees to Feature 'Real Girls' Following Online Petition."    Also, "Meet Julia Bluhm, feminist media activist."  And finally these are, "Posts tagged 'Julia Bluhm'.



I applaud all of today's men and women fighting the abuse of Photoshopping and more within the movement to present the real (girl) woman!