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Cooling Off Just Got Easier

by Lisa on January 22, 2013

With 4 daughters, I have had many treasured discussions about how our bodies change in our teen years, how they blossom into young womanhood. I wanted my girls to feel prepared for the new experiences, the emotions, the lifestyle shift.

I am now thinking that I will sit them down once more when they turn 42. I will tell them, “Guess what darling, it’s about to happen again.”

At least that’s about when it started for me. My cycles, my skin, my hair, my sleep patterns, my memory…all started to change. I knew age would bring new experiences, but I had no idea what I was in for.

A few months ago I announced to my family that Mommy was going through a phase. “I will get really hot all of a sudden…so hot I feel like I might throw up. It may seem like it’s cool to you, but my body is telling me it’s really, really hot and I will be miserable. It lasts for about 10 minutes, then it’s gone.” They all stared at me like I was informing them I was an alien from another planet…which is kind of how I feel sometimes.

I am working with natural remedies to help my body through this very special lady time, but when a hot flash hits, it’s no joke. I need relief and I need it NOW!

So when I heard about the products from Poise called Roll-On Cooling Gel and Body Cooling Towelettes, I was super excited. This could be just what I need to survive the next few years without moving to the arctic.

I practically ran to the local pharmacy and picked up both products. I brought them home, opened the packaging, laid them out in the bathroom and got them all ready for the moment. I knew it wouldn’t be long.

Sure enough, within the hour I had a hot flash. And it was a doozy. I tried the roll-on. I put it on my wrists and, I am not kidding you, I felt instantly cooler. I sat there in my bathroom chair with a feeling of hope. I wasn’t alone! Somewhere on this earth someone understands me so well that they created a product just for this moment. Ahhhh.

Even though I loved the roll-on, I wanted to try the towelettes also, so I planned to use them the next time. Later in the day I felt it coming on…that tenth of a second before BAM! You’re in full flash. I called for the towelettes and one of the kids brought them to me. I rubbed one on my chest this time and felt sweet cooling. Another score for Poise.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have made this discovery. My alien body can now find relief and not embarrass my family in public by suddenly shedding my clothing and fanning myself violently in 43° temperatures.

You’ve got to get a free sample and try it for yourself. Or click here to get a coupon.

And I also get to give one of YOU a $100 Visa gift card! Isn’t that COOL (pun intended)?!

 You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  • Leave me a comment answering this question: How are you approaching life’s changes confidently? (No duplicate comments.)
  • Tweet (public message) about this promotion–including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”–and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  • Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  • For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 120 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 1/22/13 to 2/19/13. Be sure to visit the Poise brand page on BlogHer.com, where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

 

A Wonderful Luncheon!

by L1s@ on June 17, 2012

I just adore getting to meet online friends in person!  Last week at the Invisalign luncheon I got to meet a bunch of local women who, until now, have been a tiny square gravatar in my mind.  It was delightful to meet so many of my imaginary friends.

I also had a surprisingly good time learning about dental health (something I know I don’t give enough thought to) and the new things Invisalign can do now.  They have come a long way since we used them for Grace 6 years ago.  I think they are the wave of the future for orthodontics.  It was really fascinating.

And their new teen program is just what I needed to know about.  Invisalign Teen has some special built in technologies that make it easier than ever to use their product.  I know I sound like a commercial.  I am just so thrilled that maybe this will work with some of our kids that we haven’t yet put braces on.  It’s a great alternative.  I know we’ll be taking Noah and Adam in soon to see if they can use Invisalign.

But back to the luncheon….we had a great time.  The doctor they brought in to speak was a hoot and a half.  And the White on Rice Couple shared some photography tips that made my day!  They were so personable and made me feel like I could do anything I wanted.  My favorite quote, “Your eyes are the lens and your heart is the shutter.”  {sigh}  I’ve always loved their photography, but now that I know how incredibly nice they are I love them even more.

They had a little photo contest at the end of the luncheon to spend 20 minutes and come back with your best picture.  I let my daughter Patience do it instead of me and here’s the photo she took with my iphone…

All in all it was a GREAT day!

Don’t forget to go over to Mom It Forward and enter the $1500 Invisalign giveaway!

You can stay informed about Invisalign on Twitter @Invisalign and go like their Facebook page.

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own. 

 

I had pretty crooked teeth as a young girl, not any real issues, but mostly just cosmetic.  I was bothered by it as a young girl.  I have always been grateful that my parents got braces for me.  I do think it helped me in my life.

Our kids ALL have had orthodontic issues.  So far we’ve had 5 of them in braces.  Yes, in case you’re wondering, it costs a LOT of money.  In fact James always says, “We never really thought kids were all that expensive, until we had to get them braces.”

Our oldest daughter Grace, like me, only had small crowding issues with her teeth.  So we looked into alternative options and we found Invisalign.  They were less expensive and perfect for her needs.  We took her in to our dentist and he agreed.  Invisalign was the way to go.  She wore her Invisalign aligners for about a year and we were very happy with the results.  We will definitely consider using it again for any of the other kids that qualify for the treatment.

When I got the opportunity to work with Invisalign I was thrilled.  Since we have already used it and really liked the outcome, I knew it would be a good match for me.  If I wasn’t currently paying for orthodontics for 4 kids I would even consider using it myself since my teeth have shifted significantly since those long ago braces.

If you’re wondering about the difference between Invisalign and traditional braces, you should check out their How Invisalign Works page for all of the information. And you can look at their self-assessment page to see if Invisalign is right for you or your teen.

And here’s something REALLY exciting.  They are giving away a….drum roll please….$1500 that you can put towards an Invisalign treatment.  Yes, you heard me right.  Do you need some smelling salts before I go on?

Go to this page where they have partnered with Mom It Forward to bless someone with a good start on using Invisalign for themselves or their teen.

 

 

If you’re in the San Antonio area and would like to learn more in person, email me and I will send you an invite to a really amazing luncheon this Thursday.  Not only will you get to meet the Invivalign team, but also they are bringing in some hot and hip photographers to teach us how to get the best photos of our amazing smiles!

Have you ever wondered about Invisalign and if it’s right for you?

This is a compensated post, but my experiences are genuine and opinions are my own.

Facebook or Bust

by Lisa on May 18, 2012

Alright, I have crossed over to the dark side and created a Facebook fan page for The Pennington Point.  I didn’t want to do it.  It seemed silly.  But then I started doing a few reviews and thought I should have a fan page that reaches more than my “friends” so I did it.  I would love, love, love for y’all to go over and “Like” me.  Does that sound pitiful?  It feels a little pathetic.

Back in my day if someone begged other people to like them they would have been sitting alone in the cafeteria.  But that was the olden days when there was only one option for school lunch and no Jamie Oliver to stir things up.  Now we’ve got Facebook and a salad bar in the high school lunch room.

Hey…speaking of reviews…I have a new section here at The Point.  The Kids’ Blog has gone bye-bye and I now have a “Reviews” page.  It will focus on everything from movie and book reviews to product reviews.  I’ve got a lot of good stuff lined up for you.

So I guess a few changes never hurt anyone.  Unless you’re the Hulk.  That’s gotta hurt.  Yes, I took the older girls to see “The Avengers” while we were in Arlington last weekend.  But I won’t be reviewing that.  It was just too much fighting for me.  I closed my eyes for most of the last half so I don’t feel qualified to review it.

If you’re on Facebook come on by my new page and say hello.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. I’m sharing about our homeschool graduation ceremonies over at the HSBA Post today!

 

Oh Shoot!

by Lisa on May 15, 2012

I’ve been wanting to do this review for a month now and I keep thinking I will wait until I have completely finished the course.  But then I was learning so much that I decided to go back and watch the first few lessons over again and now I am feel I must break into 2 reviews….Part One is this, “Why I Love Shoot Fly Shoot” and Part Two will come when I have watched my last lesson and it will be called something like, “I am No Longer Afraid to Shoot in Manual.”

I’m talking about Shoot Fly Shoot.  It’s a photography website and I am in L-O-V-E with it.  These two very cool guys (the kind of cool I can never hope to be) are teaching me, the queen-of-the-inability-to-learn-anything-new, to understand my camera.  Even though I am only about half way through the lessons I am already taking better pictures and I cannot wait to see what else they will teach me.

I have been using an SLR for several years, but I never felt like I was getting the full benefit.  Their lessons are so clear and they make me feel like I can actually learn something even though I am old and my brain has a limited capacity.  Each video lesson not only teaches the concepts, but then they take a camera in their hand and SHOW you what to do.  I don’t have to be listening while juggling with my camera and trying to figure out what they mean with every step.  They actually do it with camera in hand…plain and simple.  Maybe they should have called it, “If We Can Teach Lisa We Can Teach Anyone.”

My daughter Patience and I have both grown in our photography from watching these lessons.  I took some indoor photos last week that were SO much better than what I have been doing.  Pretty soon y’all will be asking me how I did it and I will tell you to go ask mega-cool Kevin and super-hip Josh because my lack of ability to learn photography is only overshadowed by my inability to teach anyone about it.

If you want to learn how to take better pictures go check out Shoot Fly Shoot.

And I will let you know more when I finish the class.  Maybe I’ll include a few before and afters so you can see the huge difference in my photography.  And who knows, maybe some of their coolness will rub off on me in the end.  First I need one of those knit caps and a graphic tee with a snappy saying on the front.  No?  You’re right.  It will never work.

A Mother’s Day Treat

by Lisa on May 3, 2012

I’ve been thinking about Mother’s Day coming up.   It’s that special day when we all stop and thank our mom for going through the agony of birth and the torture of putting up with us.  Not that my kids have ever been anything but complete angels….oh no.  They make my heart sing.

Of course, I expect to get a lot of cards on Mother’s Day.  With 9 kids….the creativity never ends.  I do love a good card.  One of my favorite gifts from the kids is a card with all of their poetic thoughts captured forever.  I am not one of those moms that keeps everything my kids make, but I do have a big box of cards in my closet that I love to pull out and remember that moment.

That’s why I am really excited to tell you about a new website called Treat.  Treat helps you make that connection of sending a card to someone but makes it incredibly easy!  You can go to Treat, create a card with their text or change it to your own words, then they will actually mail the card for you.

If I had a dollar for every card I bought then forgot to mail I could take a mini-vacation.  I was so excited about this that I joined Treat and sent 3 cards already.  You can even add your own photos to your card.  This will add a new dimension to the weird things I take pictures of.  My mom may be getting a really interesting Mother’s Day card this year.  I have gone a little Treat crazy.

You can even…wait for it….add a gift card with your card.  Life just got a little bit easier.

And here’s the really good news….Treat wants to give one of you a VIP account!  That means you can also go card crazy and start surprising everyone with your ability to actually get a card off in the mail.  I love sending sweet notes without leaving the comfort of my recliner.

You have 3 ways to enter:

1. Tweet about this giveaway using the hashtag #TreatMom

2. Follow treat on Facebook

3. Follow Treat on Twitter

4. Tell what would be your favorite Mother’s Day treat.

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  I will choose a winner by random.org on Saturday night at midnight.  Yippee!  I love giving y’all stuff!

This post is sponsored by Treat.com.