Happy New Year!

And welcome to 2010!

I don't make resolutions.
I used to. I even had this cute system where I'd put all my resolutions on paper and seal it in an envelope, and at midnight of the new year I'd read all my prior year's resolutions. But for the most part, I'd just end up feeling bad about all the things I *didn't* accomplish - instead of looking at what I did accomplish. So several years ago, I banished resolutions as we know them.

Instead, I just have "plans". Plans can change, which means things are flexible and fluid. And that also means, if I need to focus on something else instead of one thing I had hoped to change, I don't have to beat myself up for it next new year's eve.

One plan I have this year is to try and post at least once a week with something interesting that people will want to read about. And I'd love a few more followers too!

So with that said, here's a post for the new year....off to a good start already! :)

Last Chance for Uppercase Living!

It's with a heavy heart that I announce my "retirement" from Uppercase Living. I love, love, love the products - but my life is moving in another direction and there's just not room for direct sales right now. So, if anyone is interested in taking a peek at the catalog before I go inactive on January 1st, my website is http://claudine.uppercaseliving.net/ and you can order online until the 1st.

There's currently a sale going on too! Select expressions are 40% off and you can earn free shipping with a $50 or more product order. Hurry! Time is running out....

Ron & Frank's Giveaway #2!!

UPDATE WITH WINNERS!!

Thanks to all 5 of you who entered...I did random.org and even though I have no idea how to post the results here (screenshots didn't work), you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that it selected number 5 and number 4. So congrats to Becky and Sandy, you've got some hot eggnog mix coming your way! :)

Remember a little while back, the nice people at Ron & Frank's (http://www.ronandfranks.com/) sent me some samples to share with those of you who visit my blog? Well, I've saved the best for right now because with this Giveaway #2, you can enter to win the most awesome flavor of their hot beverage selection. EGG NOG! If you love egg nog flavor but can't deal with the fat and calories of the real stuff, check this out...20 calories, 0 fat and 1 g. protein!!

I wanted to wait until the holidays were upon us, and today I realized I better get moving on this contest because time is ticking....can you believe it's already December?!? We woke up to our first snow of the season yesterday, so even though winter doesn't officially begin until the Solstice on the 21st, it sure feels like winter. :)

So, on to the contest....

I was trying to think of something super cool and fun to make you do in order to be entered to win. This time, I'm taking the contest up a notch by offering TWO WINNERS. Each one will get a package of Ron & Frank's Skinny Gourmet Egg Nog Mix, no sugar added with splenda. For 20 calories a serving, that means ZERO weight watchers points and a whole lot of creamy, egg noggy goodness. Believe me, hot egg nog is to DIE for. TO. DIE. Trust me on this.

Back to my plan, I was trying to figure out how you could win... and for some reason, the holiday preparations have sucked the smarts out of my brain. So, all you have to do is leave me a comment with your favorite hot beverage and your name/email address. Check back on Friday to see who the winner is. The contest will close at noon EST on Friday, December 11th.

Easy peasy!

Now do me a favor and please go check out the Ron & Frank's website too....gotta show them some love for sending us free contest goodies!! http://www.ronandfranks.com/ And maybe place an order while you're there. ;)

Watch This Space...

Word on the street is, there's a new contest coming to this blog in less than a week and you could be the lucky winner if you pay attention! Keep your eyes peeled.....

;)

ZERO point breakfast or snack

Even if you're not following the Weight Watchers point system plan, you can surely appreciate a good-for-you breakfast. My newest favorite is a container of Fiber One yogurt (I like key lime) mixed with 1/2 cup Fiber One original cereal. It's like a little parfait, and is SO delicious and filling. Imagine my surprise when I plugged it into the points calculator, only to discover that the entire bowl has ZERO points.

You heard me right! No points. And yet, it's a yummy, filling, fiber-packed bowl of breakfast goodness. I eat this every morning for breakfast and it keeps me hunger-free for at least 2-3 hours (something a plain old bowl of cereal never did).

Plus, it doesn't just have to be just for breakfast. This bowl is great as a go-to snack when you are out of points or just want something sweet with no points wasted. I'm not a Weight Watchers expert by any means, but to me, this just makes sense!

Visit the Fiber One website and print a $1 off coupon for a 4-pack of yogurt to get you started.

http://www.fiberone.com/Product/Yogurts.aspx

Have you got any good low point go-to snacks you want to share?? Hit me with a comment!

Coughing Stinks

I have bronchitis.

And asthma.

It's not pretty.

My 5 year old has been coughing for 2 weeks now, and my husband just started coughing too. Oy.

The good news is that I stumbled upon a cough syrup that actually WORKS, and it tastes fantastic too. Seriously, I can't get over this stuff. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I did receive a sample bottle of this magical elixir from the wonderful people at Boiron. But after we went through that bottle, I bought another THREE bottles today (I don't like to run out of things). I just wish I had thought to look for a coupon before I bought these guys. Oh well, my loss is your gain...print out two of these $1 coupons http://www.boironusa.com/files/boironwebcoupon.pdf and then head over to Walgreens, where you can score $6 in Register Rewards (free money!) if you buy two bottles.

Bottles of WHAT??

I'm getting to that....

It's called Children's Chestal Honey. It is a homeopathic cough syrup with a bunch (9 actually) of random active ingredients that I've never heard of - and honey. No artificial color, no high fructose corn syrup. And I'm not kidding, this stuff tastes just like a spoonful of honey. YUM!

And the best part is that it works. For about $6.99 a bottle (minus the $1 coupon I found), it's a great deal. Trust me on this one.

Disclaimer: Be sure to check the bottle to make sure there's nothing in it that you or your kids can't have, and please check with a doctor if you have concerns about your health. The honey in Chestal is filtered to ensure its safety for children 2 years of age and older.

Ladybug or Impostor?

Is anyone else starting to get really disgusted with the ladybug infestation this fall? I keep finding dead (or pretending-to-be-dead) ladybugs lying around my house in the strangest places. And I have no idea how they are getting in! They are probably taking the same route the wasps take this time of year, but that's another story for another time.

This story involves me, leaf blowing the yard, and an innocent looking tree...at first glance, the tree looks like any other which hasn't lost it's leaves yet. But upon closer inspection, I found thousands of ladybugs! At first I thought it was kinda cool, then I got a little creeped out by the sheer amount of them climbing all over the trunk and base of the tree. Ewww! What *are* those things?!?

Well, it turns out that these aren't ladybugs at all. Nope. These impostors are actually called Asian Lady Beetles...and their specialty is swarming. In late fall (yep, it's late all) they look for a place to hibernate and try to work their way indoors or to a warm spot. You can tell a lady beetle from a ladybug primarily by the color. Ladybugs are red with black spots. Lady Beetles are varying shades of orange, with or without black spots.

So what's a girl to do about this? Not much, really. They'll be gone once it gets cold enough, and being in Indiana I know that could happen any day now. They aren't as bad here as I've heard tell in other parts of the country, so I guess I'm lucky in that respect. I do vac them up, as needed. And my 5 year old thinks they are cool. So as long as the majority of them stay outside, I'll deal.

Wanna tell me your lady beetle story?? Hit me with a comment!