It seems like Blockbuster Video has been going bankrupt for several years now, but the end is looming larger with the chain's end-date acceptance of gift cards.

According to multiple sources within the company and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it announcement, Blockbuster gift cards become invalid as of April 6. After that date, your piece of plastic will only be useful as a windshield ice scraper.

To avoid getting left out in the cold, you'll want to use your card lickity split. Consider shopping close-out sales, (if you can find a brick-and-mortar outlet) or purchase online at Blockbuster.com to make the most of your gift card.

This isn't the first time we've seen gift cards trashed by a major chain, so here are five tips on how to avoid getting stuck in the future.


1. If you're hearing rumors of a potential demise, research the financial stability of a company. BBB.com and Forbes Risk List are two excellent places to begin looking. Another resource is ScripSmart, which provides consumer-minded information about gift-card purchases. ScripSmart also offers an alert system that pings subscribers whenever a gift-card issuer is in financial distress.

2. Avoid holding on to gift cards for small, locally owned restaurants or businesses. Their policies may change or, more likely, the recession will force them out of business.

3. If you're not likely to use it, then don't lose it. Sell gift cards right away on sites such as GiftCardGranny.com and get up to 95% of the cards value in cash.

4. Find out the type of bankruptcy for which the company has filed. Sometimes a company that's filed for a Chapter 11 will ask the bankruptcy court's permission to honor its gift cards. (Some states, like California, require firms in bankruptcy to compensate gift-card buyers.)

5. When in doubt, use a credit instead of a debit card to purchase gift cards. Then, if the retailer runs into problems, you can request your card issuer withhold payment until the matter is resolved.

____________________________________________________

Consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch, is available for an in-studio, satellite or skype interviews to share "Blockbuster Gift Cards Set To Go Bust" with your audience. As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com or you can also followhttp://twitter.com/#!/andreaworoch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.

Following a week of alien abductions on katyperry.com and all her digital properties, Katy Perry’s “E.T.” epic sci-fi music video (featuring Kanye West) has descended upon the masses. The music video is directed by filmmaker Floria Sigismondi who has created clips for David Bowie, Björk, and Marilyn Manson and who most recently directed the critically acclaimed film The Runaways.

MTV Networks will launch a daylong celebration today across its multiple screens and platforms to commemorate the premiere of Katy Perry’s “E.T.” music video, including the broadcast premiere of the video on MTV at 7:53pm ET, followed by TeenNick’s premiere at 10:53pm ET. Beginning this morning, MTV and MTV Hits will feature Katy Perry video blocks. At noon, MTV.com, VH1.com and LogoTV.com will debut the video. MTV’s afternoon series “The Seven” will feature an exclusive interview with Katy at 5pm ET. The broadcast premiere of the video on MTV at 7:53pm will include an exclusive introduction byKaty and MTV News’ Sway. Following the video premiere, MTV.com will feature a livestream event featuring Sway’s full interview with Katy on location in Europe, and fan reactions to the video. The next day, April 1, TeenNick, Logo and Tr3s will spotlight the video as part of TeenNick’s Obsess This musicblock, Logo’s NewNowNext PopLab and Tr3s’ “Fresca video”. VH1's Top 20 Countdown will spotlight the video on April 9 with a special intro by Katy herself. BET will also New Joint the video on April 1st marking the first time Katy has had a video featured on BET.

Beginning today, fans can also watch “E.T.” across the entire VEVO platform, including VEVO.com, VEVO Mobile (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android), VEVO connected devices (Google TV, Boxee) and on VEVO syndication sites like AOL, BET, CBS Interactive Music Group (including Last.fm), Univision and YouTube.

“E.T.” is the fourth single off Katy’s Grammy-nominated album Teenage Dream that hit No. 1 on the iTunes chart. The album, which has been nominated for Album of the Year Grammy, Best International Album Brit Award and just won a Juno for Best International Album boasts the previous three singles, “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Firework” which all peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Katy the first female artist in 11 years to score three No. 1 singles from one album.

If you're like most of us, your New Year's resolution was to get healthy - for some it means dropping pounds, a few or a lot - for others it means beginning an exercise program.  But if you really want either to be effective, you MUST change the way you eat.  If shedding the pounds is your goal, loading your cupboard up with weight-loss shakes and diet bars will probably get you the desired results - you may end up thinner, but will you be any healthier?  Just in case you were wondering... the answer is other than being pounds lighter.. NO.

In order to get healthy, it is imparative that we change the way we eat - and I admit, I am just as guilty as anyone.  It's time to change our way of thinking when it comes to eating - time to stop eating unhealthy food just because it's cheap.  America eats more food than any other country on earth and a huge number of us are malnourished not because we don't eat, but because of WHAT we eat - processed foods void of nutrition serving only the purpose of filling our stomachs not providing our bodies what we need to be healthy.

So what, exactly do we need to do to nourish our bodies and change the way we think about eating?  We have teamed up with Whole Foods Markets as part of their Health Starts Here™ initiative - a program that isn't about dieting, counting calories or carbs - it's about changing your mindset when it comes to eating.  Eating foods that nourish your body instead of merely filling your stomach and by nourishing your body, you will naturally lower your calories and eliminate the cravings for foods that only fill our tummies.

As part of its Health Starts Here™ initiative - Whole Foods Market is offering all customers nationwide the opportunity to take the Eat Right America (http://www.eatrightamerica.com/) 28-day Challenge and Online Nutrition Prescription Giveaway to help you kick start a healthy eating journey…for FREE!  Health Starts Here™ is a simple, mindful approach to healthy eating that’s rooted in four simple ways to build a better, delicious meal: whole food, plant strong™, nutrient dense, healthy fats.

Many of the chronic diseases in America are diet related. In most cases, these diseases can be reduced and often times reversed by eating the right foods. The Health Starts Here initiative is NOT about fad diets, rapid weight loss and unrealistic and unhealthy goals – it IS about making healthy choices every day that will impact health, vitality and well-being.

The offer is good January – March, 2011 (someone could join as late as Mar. 30 and still do the entire program – you just need to be registered by the end of the promotion to qualify).


The Eat Right America 28-day Challenge encourages participants to take a 28-day pledge to the five cornerstones of healthy eating:

1) A large salad every day

2) At least a half-cup serving of beans/legumes in soup, salad or a dish once daily

3) At least 3 fresh fruits a day

4) At least one ounce of raw nuts and seeds a day

5) At least one large (double-size) serving of steamed green vegetables daily


As an added form of support, Whole Foods Market shoppers are eligible to receive a free online Nutrition Prescription membership, which is an individualized nutritional assessment that offers guidance for a personalized healthy eating plan to achieve optimal health through Eat Right America. The personalized tool includes:

· Nutrient analysis

· Health risk evaluation

· Daily eating plan

· 30-days of step-by-step email support


Challenge participants will receive a daily email for 28 Days with four themes to follow to becoming a Nutritarian (one who eats lots of nutritious foods!):

· Day 1 to Day 7: Start the process of adding health-promoting foods to your way of eating.

· Day 8 to Day 14: Moderate you intake of certain foods (e.g. meat, eggs) and switch to healthier options.

· Day 15 to Day 21: Challenge conventional myths you may have been told such as benefits of milk, olive oil, snacking, meat protein, etc.

· Day 22 to Day 28: Overcome cravings and adopt the eating plan that has been specifically designed for you.

You can change your way of thinking and and re-configure your plate - simply visit your local store in person or visit your local Whole Foods Market Facebook page to access the free Nutrition Prescription certificate and to get more information.

I will be visiting my local Whole Foods Market later this week where I'm going to be given a guided shopping trip to help me choose the right foods for my personal program.

This should be lots of fun so follow my adventures and get healthy with me!

(If you do not have a Whole Foods Market near you, it's still possible to participate!  Simply use the code: CERANC006 at www.eatrightamerica.com to begin your 28 day journey with me!  If you do have a Whole Foods near you, be sure to stop by as the January/February edition of "The Whole Deal" [available free at your local store] has lots of great additional information, menus and recipes to help you with the program.)


- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

-  Follow my journey on the Health Starts Here Program & catch up on previous posts.

Recently, Oprah proclaimed that “choosing the right bra can change your life. The right bra can reverse aging; it can make you look 10, even 20 pounds lighter.” Unfortunately, most women have not found the right bra for them: they are stuck in a traditional bra with uncomfortable elastic bands around the body, straps that are constantly slipping off the shoulders and, the worst part – back fat and bra bulge.

Every woman has been on the hunt for their perfect bra, but until now, their options have been limited. The Unbelievabra by Shapeez is an all-in-one bra and body shaper that provides superior breast shaping and support while eliminating bra lines and back bulges. Based in the USA and manufactured in North America, the Unbelievabra is a breakthrough in garment technology. Made from the company’s patented ‘smooth-back’ design (no back bands or closures), the Unbelievabra is constructed with breathable cool-tex lycra that fits snugly to the body providing a close, lean, and supportive fit. It also wicks moisture away from the body keeping you cool, dry and light.

“Your bra should be like your best friend: always offering support and comfort, while helping to make you look good. However, traditional bras rarely meet these expectations,” says Staci Berner, Creator of the Unbelievabra by Shapeez. “Although women can share similar body types every woman has a different body shape. Traditional bras are not made to fit a variety of body shapes and don’t do even the slimmest bodies justice,” says Staci.


Introducing the Unbelievabra, Your Multi-Functional Bosom Buddy
The Unbelievabra by Shapeez is the ultimate answer to a common and conspicuous fashion dilemma – bra lines, back bulges and a muffin top. “Your bra should not make you look heavier than you are. Even slim girls are affected by this. If you are wearing a traditional elastic band bra, you will have back bulges which will ultimately add pounds,” says Staci. “On the same vein as panty lines, visible bra lines (VBL) is a major wardrobe faux-pas. It enables women to wear clothes which fit precisely the way the designer intended, without the outline of the top being ruined by unsightly bra lines and bulges.


Fashion Meets Function
Designed to provide a woman with superior breast shaping, lifting and support, the long line styles of the Unbelievabra are also an effective tummy smoother to instantly slim your waistline and smooth out the dreaded muffin top. “It’s the perfect way to get a natural ‘nip and tuck,’” adds Staci. “The right shapewear can instantly slim and flatten your problem areas, taking inches off your figure. Our products are helping to pave the way for a healthy and positive outlook on women’s bodies giving women more self confidence right off the hanger”.

The Unbelievabra distributes the weight of the breasts across a wider area on the back which promotes better posture and may help to reduce shoulder and back pain.


The Ultimate

The Ultimate is an all in one garment that supports and shapes your breasts, slims the torso, and seamlessly removes all visible bra lines and back bulges with our patent pending "SMOOTH BACK" design. Retail Cost: $85.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Superior breast shaping and support
• Underwire, molded foam cups
• Made from breathable cool-tex lycra that wicks moisture away from the body, keeping you comfortable
• Medium firm control to slim your tummy, waist, back, and hips
• Lightweight and silky next to your skin
• Long length to tuck into pants and skirts with a NO ROLL Hem
• Shoulder straps will never fall down
• Perfect to wear with your low-rise fashions to get rid of the dreaded "MUFFIN TOP"

The Shortee

The Shortee is a cropped version of the Ultimate and provides great back-smoothing and support without the tummy control. The Shortee has a shorter, curved front to eliminate any rolling or riding up and is waist length in the back to give you the smoothest appearance from every angle. The Shortee bra makes a great alternative to the traditional sports bra! Retail Cost: $75.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Superior breast shaping and support
• Underwire, molded foam cups
• Made from breathable cool-tex lycra that wicks moisture away from the body
• Cropped length
• Lightweight and silky next to your skin
• Shoulder straps will never fall down
• No roll hem

Tankee Long

The Tankee Long was designed to be worn under sleeveless tops and has the body shaping and support features of the Ultimate, however, it boasts a lower back neckline and cut-in shoulders. The Tankee was designed to be worn under sleeveless tops and makes a great T-shirt bra. Retail Cost: $85.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Invisible under your sleeveless and tank top fashions
• Dropped neckline
• Cut-in back shoulders
• Same great breast support and shaping as our best-selling Ultimate Unbelievabra
• Moisture Wicking Cool Tex Fabric

Tankee Short

The Tankee Short is a cropped version of the Tankee Long and provides seamless back-smoothing without the tummy control. It has all of the back smoothing features of the Shortee with the addition of a lower back neckline and cut-in shoulders that make it invisible under all your sleeveless and tank styles. Retail Cost: $75.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Invisible under your sleeveless and tank top fashions
• Dropped neckline
• Cut-in back shoulders
• Same great breast support and shaping as our best-selling Shortee Unbelievabra
• Moisture Wicking Cool Tex Fabric

Lacee Long

The Lacee Long, our most versatile garment, is an elegant bra, body shaper and lace camisole in one. It has all the features of our original Ultimate with the addition of beautiful scalloped lace across bra cups and bottom hem. Layer it under your favorite outfit and look 360° fabulous! Retail Cost: $110.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Underwire molded foam cups
• Lace covered cups hide cleavage
• Silky non-binding stretch fabric
• Moisture-wicking nylon/lycra draws moisture away
• Medium-firm control slims tummy, waist, back, and hips
• Adjustable non-slip shoulder straps
• No back bulges or visible bra lines

Lacee Short

The Lacee Short is an elegant back-smoothing bra with beautiful lace covered cups. It has all the features of our original Shortee with the addition of beautiful scalloped across bra cups. The Lacee Short is also great for layering to promote 360° of fabulous! Retail Cost: $95.00 Available Colors: Nude & Black Size Range: 32A-44D

• Underwire molded foam cups
• Lace covered cups to cover your cleavage
• Lightweight and silky non-binding four-way stretch fabric
• Moisture-wicking nylon/lycra that wicks away moisture
• Adjustable non-slip shoulder straps
• Eliminates unsightly back bulges and visible bra lines

Shapeez® Partners with Feel Your Boobies® in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Shapeez® is making an important fashion statement and social statement by partnering with Feel Your Boobies®, a breast cancer non-profit organization whose mission is to create an annual reminder campaign that utilizes unexpected and unconventional methods to remind young women to “feel their boobies.” Starting on March 1st and running through May 31st, Shapeez will be donating 5% of its retail sales to support the Feel Your Boobies campaign. For information on how you can donate, please visit http://www.unbelievabra.com/.

We are lucky enough to be able to offer a Shapeez Giveaway to our readers!

One lucky reader will win one (1) of your choice of the above Shapeez bras! (winner will receive a a [nontransferable] coupon code for a one time use on a complimentary item)

Giveaways on Pink Lemonade are now easier than ever to enter!

Simply Leave us a comment here at Pink Lemonade - share with us what your biggest "bra challenge" is - be it slipping straps or the dreaded back bulge - what is the thing you hate the most about your current bra.

This contest ends Wednesday, April 6th at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - enter now!

Please note:

entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.

Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! - Giveaways are open to those with a US shipping address ONLY.

Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.

Please note:  Pink Lemonade received no compensation of any kind for this post/giveaway

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The winner of our Shapeez giveaway is:  #37 - ferriz

Congratulations!  I will be in touch with you shortly with details for claiming your prize.

Consumers are feeling sticker shock from higher grocery prices and unfortunately, there is no relief is in sight. U.S. food costs will rise as much as 4% this year after a surge in prices for farm goods.

Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, says that consumers do not have to absorb this increase if they follow her website’s “Strategic Shopping” methods. CouponMom.com is free and has over 3.4 million money saving members.

“It's possible to fight the rising cost of groceries without sacrificing your favorite foods,” says Nelson, “if shoppers follow our strategies, they can save a lot of money, even thousands of dollars in a year’s time.” She estimates that she has saved over $85,000 with her savings strategies since her son was born 17 years ago.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed food prices are on the rise. The bulk of the increase is expected in the last half of the year, but consumers are already seeing rising prices.

Sara Lee and Con Agra are starting to increase prices on items such as frozen meals and deli meats, and some companies like Kraft are reducing the size of packaging to cut costs, according to consumer expert Jean Chatzky.

To save big at the grocery, and eliminate these increased costs, follow some simple coupon saving strategies from the Coupon Mom:

(1) Plan your meals and shopping lists around featured sale items.

• Use your store's weekly sales ad flier to plan your menus for the week. Then, write your shopping list around the items and brands that are on sale.
• Make a detailed plan. This will save the time of making unplanned trips to the store during the week—which can ruin your budget.
• Planning ahead also helps avoid impulse buying.

(2) Know how your stores' savings programs work.

• Once you know your stores' rules, you can combine them to pay the lowest possible prices for your items, such as using two coupons with a "buy one, get one free" deal. Combining strategies can result in free items.

(3) Use grocery coupons, ideally when the item is on sale.

• Buy the Sunday newspaper—75 percent of grocery coupons come from the newspaper. Buy two to three copies per week to save dramatically.
• Go on-line to http://www.CouponMom.com to get the best deals and coupons.
• Many stores offer electronic coupons that go directly on your store discount card.

(4) Stock up on common items when they hit their lowest price.

• Don't buy a year's supply, just enough to last until the next sale (two to three weeks).
• Boneless chicken is on sale every other week at Stephanie's grocery store, so she buys two weeks of boneless chicken every other week to store in her freezer. This habit saves her family of four $325 a year on this one item.

(5) Be flexible about brands and stores.

• Buy the brand that's on sale with a coupon, or get the store brand if it's less expensive.
• Shop at the store with the best prices for your items that week.

Stephanie Nelson has been on every major national talk show and taught millions how to save money with coupons. Some of her appearances includes Oprah, Dr. Oz, Today Show, The View, CBS Early Show, CNN, Good Morning America, The Doctors, Fox, NBC Nightly News, and Fox Business. She has also offered advice to the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Ladies Home Journal, Washington Post, Associated Press, First Magazine, Guidepost, USA Today, MSN.com, AARP, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Parenting, Woman’s World, Quick & Simple, Yahoo.com and AOL.com. Her book, The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half, released in 2010, became a New York Times Best Seller in its first month of publication.

The rising costs of corn, wheat and other commodities, including gasoline, is causing increases in virtually everything consumers buy. Wheat is needed for loaves of bread while corn feeds cows, pigs and chickens for our meat. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices of fruits and vegetables already are up 3%, milk is up 10% and beef up 13% from a year ago.

Don’t let rising prices at the grocery deflate your budget. Go to http://www.couponmom.com/ today and start saving thousands of dollars.

What’s happening with the most important meal of the day?


The Food Channel ® (foodchannel.com) presents its “Top Ten Breakfast Trends for 2011.” By partnering with CultureWaves® (http://www.culturewav.es/) and the International Food Futurists®, The Food Channel has been able to identify the most significant food trends in breakfast for 2011, from energy drinks and fresh coffee prepared at home, to oatmeal served all day long.

“In our breakfast survey of Food Channel readers, one thing quickly became clear. Most of us still recognize breakfast as the most important meal of the day,” said Kay Logsdon, editor of The Food Channel. “It’s all new, though. Now it’s OK to eat chocolate for breakfast, and we are eating our morning meal in two parts—grabbing that first cup of coffee at home and adding to it with something at the office. ”

The Food Channel Top Ten Breakfast Trends in 2011

1. Oatmeal in Overdrive—oatmeal is becoming a real mainstream staple

2. Chocolate for Breakfast—with its healthful benefits, chocolate is being promoted as a breakfast product

3. Fast Foods Battle Over Breakfast—the breakfast daypart has become the key battleground in the quick service restaurant category

4. Haute Coffee Comes Home—to save money, caffeine-seekers are opting to brew their own coffee at home

5. Ethnic Invasion—global influences start to creep into the morning meal

6. Beverage Choice Choke—breakfast drink menus keep expanding beyond coffee and O.J.

7. Hot Pizza in the A.M.—pizza is predicted to be one of the hottest menu items for breakfast

8. Breakfast Ingredients All Day Long—breakfast ingredients work their way into other parts of the daily menu

9. The Breakfast Two-Step—a pattern of people fueling up with caffeine and protein in a two-stage process

10. Eggs Crack the Top Ten—eggs to hatch a big comeback this year


Read the complete Top Ten Breakfast Trends in 2011 at http://www.foodchannel.com/.


Also check out the Top Ten Foods to Watch in 2011. They include sausage, moonshine, grits, fin fish and the latest in antioxidant-heavy fruit.



About The Food Channel®


The Food Channel is a place for great food inspiration, the latest trends, the most compelling stories, and original perspective. This website offers insightful original content that is distributed everywhere foodies interact with culinary creativity by influencing, contributing to, learning from, gaining inspiration through, and being a part of the experience around great food. For more information, visit foodchannel.com. Follow The Food Channel on Twitter at twitter.com/foodchannel or twitter.com/aford, or on Facebook at facebook.com/FoodChannel.

“MINNIE’S MASQUERADE” PARTY AT A SIMON MALL NEAR YOU!



Hosted by Radio Disney AM 1310
 
Disney Junior, a new multiplatform destination for kids age 2-7, is celebrating the debut of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade" with fun, interactive family events hosted by Radio Disney AM 1310. The Radio Disney Road Crew will give away Disney Junior themed prizes at each event.


Local area kids and families can enjoy themed activities including do-it-yourself masquerade masks. Kids are invited to sing and dance to the tunes from their favorite Disney Junior series including "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Handy Manny," "Imagination Movers" and the new hit adventure series "Jake and the Never Land Pirates."
 
"Minnie’s Masquerade" events are at the following SIMON Malls:
 
 
Saturday, April 2


Stoneridge Mall 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Hilltop Mall 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m.
Stanford Mall 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.


Saturday, April 9

Coddingtown Mall 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Great Mall 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

"Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade," premieres MONDAY, APRIL 11 (9:00 a.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

About Disney Junior:
The new Disney Junior programming block on Disney Channel reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s animated and live action series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior is available on basic cable in more than 99 million U.S. homes (via a daily block on Disney Channel) and to millions of other viewers on 25 Disney Junior channels (fka Playhouse Disney channels) and free-to-air broadcast partners around the world. It is also seen via subscription video-on-demand and a broadband website, DisneyJunior.com. In 2012 Disney Junior will add a basic cable and satellite channel in the U.S.


About Radio Disney:
Radio Disney is the #1, 24-hour radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free phone line to the Radio Disney studio. The network's current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Selena Gomez & The Scene, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Willow Smith, Jonas Brothers, Taio Cruz and Allstar Weekend. The network is available on over 35 terrestrial radio stations and is also available via RadioDisney.com, Sirius and XM satellite radio on channel 115, iTunes Radio Tuner, mobile phones and on the Radio Disney iPhone and Android Apps.

After a long and cold winter season, spring is finally here and that can only mean one thing…. It’s time for everyone’s favorite, spring cleaning! Before you break out the old vacuum cleaner and dust buster, many tech savvy home owners are now turning to their mobile devices to aid in the often daunting task.

With that in mind, Appitalism.com, the first site to combine a social community with an online store to help consumers quickly and easily discover, discuss and download the best digital content for all devices, recommends the following fun and simple apps that will make this year’s spring cleaning a breeze.


Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule ($.99 for the Apple iPhone) - Designed by working parents, Clean Freak uses the "divide-and-conquer" approach to keeping the home clean. Break down your chores into bite-sized tasks, and do an item every day. Check an item you've completed off the list, and Clean Freak will show you how many days since a task was last done. Completing all items advances the rotation, and you are able to configure less frequent tasks in the "every 2/4/8 rotations" sections.


Organizing Your Home ($1.19 for the Android) - Unless you have some magical powers like Mary Poppins, you know that cleaning and organizing your home at times, is a painful process. With Organizing Your Home, that task will become much easier. Inside you will find practical tips and techniques to rid every room in your house of clutter and keep it that way.


House Maintenance Schedule (Free for the Android) - House Maintenance Schedule" is a calendar application to log date of routine maintenance done to your home, and to remind you about the due date of the next maintenance. As a reference, it also has an easy-to-follow, month-to-month guide for maintenance works needed by you home


About Appitalism.com
Appitalism.com combines a social community with an online store, enabling consumers to discover, discuss and download digital media from a catalog of over ten million premium apps, songs, books, games and videos compatible with a broad range of digital devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs and eBook readers. Simply put, there is no better way to discover and download apps and digital content than on Appitalism.com

Watch what happens when kids ‘kidnap’ their workaholic parents


“Kidnapped By The Kids” on OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK Monday, April 4 at 9:00 p.m.

As parents everywhere struggle to balance the overwhelming demands of work and family, “Kidnapped By The Kids,” a new series premiering Monday, April 4 (9-10 p.m.) on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, explores what happens when the kids are in charge. Can mom or dad learn to be a better parent from their child? In this forced work sabbatical, it’s goodbye to cell phones and hello to family time with the kids at the helm.


In each episode, a workaholic parent is whisked away for a week of quality time with their kids, and given an eye-opening wake-up call. No computers, no blackberries, no contact with the office, just much-needed one-on-one family time. Not only do the parents find out what they’ve been missing, they walk in the shoes of the stay-at-home parent. The heart-warming journey culminates with a commitment ceremony where the kidnapped parent promises to stay connected to the family.

“Kidnapped By The Kids” features parents with very diverse professions: a pastor whose kids never see him because he’s too busy ministering to other families, a mother whose second job as a longshoreman keeps her away from home every weekend in addition to her 80 hour workweek, and a couple who work all hours of the week to run their recently opened beauty salon.

“Kidnapped By The Kids” is produced by Love Productions. Executive producers are Richard McKerrow and Pete Tartagilia. Co-executive producers are Emily Sinclair and Benny Reuven.

Are Our Kids Getting Fatter and Hungrier?



Advocate Reveals Connection Between Obesity and Hunger and How to Stop the Trend

If the war against childhood obesity was a race, America would still be at the starting line.

Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. About one out of every three children or teens is overweight or at risk of being overweight. Because children's bodies are still developing, the damage to organs triggers medical problems extending throughout their lifetimes, according to a report issued by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Task Force on Childhood Obesity.

Nearly 75 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2019, and that condition will drag down the economy and impoverish the nation. What’s worse is that our nation is growing fatter at the same time it is growing hungrier. Another study by New York’s Food Research and Action Center describes another dilemma -- a new definition of hunger that actually describes how families can become obese at the same time they are going hungry.

“The term the scientists used is ‘food-insecure,’” said Erin Baker, founder of Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods a (http://www.erinbakers.com/) bakery that combines the appeal of baked goodies with nutritional benefits to help fight obesity. “It describes the condition that hits a huge sector of the population. Low-income people tend to seek out cheaper food which in most cases is fast food, the result is a high calorie diet with poor nutritional value -- just a lot of empty calories void of fruits, vegetables and grains.Baker’s own journey started with being 20 pounds overweight and not feeling well most of the time as a result. She regarded food as an afterthought, but soon embarked on her own personal campaign to change her food and feel better. That campaign, combined with her 17 years in the natural food market, has inspired her advocacy of the fight against childhood obesity. She recommends the following steps for people who want to help reverse the trend toward obesity in their families’ lives:


Fruits, Vegetables, Grains -- Providing a diet that includes six to nine servings of fruits, vegetables and grains per day will change your family’s life. It will give them more energy, enable them to exercise more effectively and truly give everyone the fuel they need.


Preparation -- It’s easy to let the fast-paced nature of American life become the tail that wags the dog with regard to you and your family’s nutrition. Each meal should be thought of as sustenance, and you should ask yourself every day, “What is this meal doing for my body and my family’s bodies?”


Food as Fuel -- The cooking show revolution on cable has America’s mouths watering for tasty new dishes, but if you want to actually be healthier, you should also regard your food as the stuff that fuels your body. You wouldn’t try to fuel your car with garbage. It wouldn’t work. Why do you think your body is any different?


“I hear all the time about how people just don’t have time to prepare decent meals anymore, and how they’d never have time for lunch if it wasn’t for the drive-though,” Baker said. “What we feed ourselves and our families is killing us, killing our kids and one day soon, it might actually serve to cripple our nation. Our families need to eat the right foods to truly satisfy the appetite…this will curb the tendency to eat the junk foods that cause obesity. There is a fine line between being unhealthy and being sick, and we have a whole country just about to cross that line. But in the face of these new studies, we really need to focus and change our habits now and start eating healthier.”


About Erin Baker


Erin Baker started baking and selling cookies at 9 years old, and she loved it so much that she made it her life's work. Erin created the “Bakers Breakfast Cookie” which she describes as a “portable bowl of oatmeal” to address the growing demand for healthy grab and go foods. Since 1994 Whole grain oats, pure fruit and honey have been the primary ingredients in her shelf stable products, making her a pioneer in the bakery industry. Baker’s product line includes Breakfast Cookies, Home-style Granola, Breakfast Cookie Minis and Organic Brownie Bites, all of which are handcrafted and baked to order…and yes her name is really “Baker”!

As we wrap up the month of March, R&B singer Timothy Bloom is celebrating it being “Music In Our Schools” month. Check out this new video with Timothy as he talks about the importance of music in schools, how it helped him become the artist that he is today, and his advice to kids in school today.

Pick up Timothy Bloom’s EP, The Budding Rose, featuring his single “’Til The End of Time,” available on iTunes now!

Monthlong festival hits 70 markets across U.S., serves as reminder of small changes people can make for good while supporting budding green-genre filmmakers

Whole Foods Market®, the leading retailer of natural and organic foods, announces the arrival in Northern California of its nationwide traveling “Whole Foods Market Do Something Reel” Film Festival. The festival will launch April 1, 2011, and travel to 70 cities across the U.S. in celebration of Earth Month. Showings in Northern California include San Francisco, Sonoma, Petaluma, Redwood City, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa.

The film festival is a collection of six provocative, character-driven films that focus on food, environmental issues and everyday people with a vision of making a world of difference.

“Through our Whole Foods Market Do Something Reel Film Festival we want to raise awareness of environmental and food issues, and support filmmakers who are creating films that inspire people to question the impact our choices have on our health, body and environment,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. “We see film as an inspirational medium that can spark an active dialogue and encourage people to take action locally.”

Whole Foods Market is creating a grant program for filmmakers in the green film genre. A portion of all tickets sales from the “Whole Foods Market Do Something Reel” Film Festival will go towards a film production and development grant that will encourage filmmakers to continue making stories about the environment and the choices we make as consumers. Grants will be awarded for filmmakers at varying stages of development - from conception through completion.

Unlike larger destination festivals, “Whole Foods Markets Do Something Reel” Film Festival will be held in movie theaters across the country in communities near Whole Foods Market stores. The festival will also feature filmmaker discussions, either in person or via Skype.

The six films chosen for the inaugural “Whole Foods Market Do Something Reel” Film Festival support the company’s mission and cover a broad range of provocative topics. They include:


“Bag It!” – In this highly entertaining and eye-opening film, filmmaker Suzan Beraza follows Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic-reliant world. Jeb is not a radical environmentalist, but an average American who decides to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with plastics. www.bagitmovie.com


“Lunch Line” – This deeply affecting film from filmmakers Mike Graziano and Ernie Park follows six kids from one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago as they set out to fix school lunch – and wind up at the White House. Their unlikely journey parallels the dramatic transformation of school lunch from a patchwork of local anti-hunger efforts to a robust national feeding program. www.lunchlinefilm.com

“On Coal River” – A compelling and transcendent narrative on the human costs of coal and strip-mining, this provocative film from filmmakers Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Woods follows the journey of a former coal miner and his neighbors, residents of Coal River Valley in West Virginia, as they transform from so-called victims to fearless and informed experts on mountaintop removal. www.oncoalriver.com


“PLANEAT” – This visually stunning film from filmmakers Shelley Lee Davis and Or Shlomi tells the story of the scientists, farmers and chefs tackling one of the greatest problems of our age: Western culture’s love affair with meat and dairy. Through an extraordinary personal and mouthwatering culinary journey we discover the wide range of medical and environmental benefits of eating our veggies. www.planeat.tv


“Urban Roots” – Filmmaker Mark MacInnis tells the powerful story of a group of dedicated Detroiters working tirelessly to fulfill their vision for locally grown, sustainably farmed food in a city cut off from real food and limited to processed fast food. This group has taken on the enormous task of changing this reality. www.urbanrootsamerica.com


“Vanishing of the Bees” – Narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Ellen Page, this cautionary tale from filmmakers George Langworthy and Maryam Heinen reveals the mystery of the disappearing bees, and the links to industrial farming and our attitude toward the natural world. Starring in this real-life drama is a commercial bee farmer who sounded the alarm when his bee colonies collapsed and his business was decimated. www.vanishingbees.com


As part of the Festival, Whole Foods Market will also stream the documentary, “Dig It” on www.dosomethingreel.com on Earth Day, April 22. This energetic, call-to-action film features the members of the band Pearl Jam as they participate in tree-planting actions and beautification efforts in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The festival is presented in association with Applegate Farms and RiceSelect™, with additional support from EVOL Burritos, Food Should Taste Good, and Siggi’s.

For additional information about the festival, a complete schedule of events in each of the 70 markets and details about the grant program, please visit www.dosomethingreel.com. A calendar of Northern California showtimes is listed below.


About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFMI), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s nearly 60,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has more than 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.



Northern California Theaters and Showtimes:


SONOMA – Sebastiani Theater, 476 First Street, tel. 707-996-2020

BAG IT  4/17/2011  1:00pm  $9.00

LUNCH LINE  4/16/2011  2:00pm  $9.00

ON COAL RIVER  4/2/2011  1:00pm  $9.00

PLANEAT  4/16/2011  3:30pm  $9.00

URBAN ROOTS  4/2/2011  3:00pm  $9.00



REDWOOD CITY – Fox Theater, 2221 Broadway Street, tel. 650-369-7770

BAG IT  4/30/2011  4:00pm  $10.00

LUNCH LINE  5/1/2011  2:00pm  $10.00

ON COAL RIVER  5/1/2011  4:00pm  $10.00

PLANEAT  4/30/2011  6:00pm  $10.00

URBAN ROOTS  5/1/2011  6:00pm  $10.00

VANISHING OF THE BEES  4/30/2011  2:00pm  $10.00



SAN FRANCISCO - Landmark Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Avenue, tel. 415-267-4893

BAG IT  4/25/2011  7:00pm  $10.00

BAG IT  4/26/2011  7:00pm  $10.00

LUNCH LINE  4/25/2011  8:30pm  $10.00

LUNCH LINE  4/26/2011  8:30pm  $10.00

ON COAL RIVER  4/18/2011  7:00pm  $10.00

ON COAL RIVER  4/19/2011  7:00pm  $10.00

PLANEAT  4/18/2011  8:30pm  $10.00

PLANEAT  4/19/2011  8:30pm  $10.00

URBAN ROOTS  5/2/2011  7:30pm  $10.00

URBAN ROOTS  5/3/2011  7:30pm  $10.00

VANISHING OF THE BEES  5/9/2011  7:30pm  $10.00

VANISHING OF THE BEES  5/10/2011  7:30am  $10.00



SANTA CRUZ - Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, tel. 831-423-8209

BAG IT  5/5/2011  8:30pm  $9.00

LUNCH LINE  5/3/2011  8:30pm  $9.00

ON COAL RIVER  5/5/2011  6:30pm  $9.00

PLANEAT  5/4/2011  8:30pm  $9.00

URBAN ROOTS  5/3/2011  6:30pm  $9.00

VANISHING OF THE BEES  5/4/2011  6:30pm  $9.00



SANTA ROSA – Summerfield Cinemas, 551 Summerfield Road, tel. 707-539-6767

BAG IT  4/26/2011  10:30am  $7.75

LUNCH LINE  4/27/2011  10:30am  $7.75

ON COAL RIVER  4/25/2011  10:30am  $7.75

PLANEAT  4/22/2011  10:30am  $7.75

PLANEAT  4/24/2011  10:30am  $7.75

URBAN ROOTS  4/28/2011  10:30am  $7.75

VANISHING OF THE BEES  4/23/2011  10:30am  $7.75



PETALUMA – Boulevard 14 Cinemas, 200 C Street, tel. 707-762-7469

BAG IT  4/6/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

LUNCH LINE  4/20/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

ON COAL RIVER  4/13/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

PLANEAT  5/4/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

URBAN ROOTS  4/27/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

VANISHING OF THE BEES  5/11/2011  7:00pm  $9.75

If any of your kids are fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, then keep reading -- I think this may be of interest!

Cartoon Network and Twentieth Century FOX are coming together once again to provide Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans exclusive on-air and online content from the set of the latest film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, the sequel to the 2010 surprise movie hit. Building off of the success of the co-branded promotion for the first film’s debut release, Cartoon Network will provide an exclusive look at the new film through behind-the-scenes content, interactive opportunities, photos, on-set videos and more. The promotion launched online the week of March 7 at www.CartoonNetwork.com/wimpy and will continue throughout March.
“After Kidscreen recently recognized our 2010 campaign with a Best Integrated Promotion award, we could not be more excited to deliver Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans even more content this time around, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” said John O’Hara, executive vice president and general sales manager of Cartoon Network Ad Sales and Marketing. “As Cartoon Network viewers engage themselves with our offerings across linear and digital platforms, it’s imperative that our Brand Activation and Media Partnership division continues to deliver these types of custom opportunities to our marketing partners.”

“I'm very excited about the partnership between Cartoon Network and Twentieth Century Fox to promote the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, Rodrick Rules,” said Jeff Kinney, author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series. “Cartoon Network was a dream to work with, and they worked hard to bring Greg Heffley's world to life in an interactive format for their audience. I'm thrilled that kids who visit Cartoon Network's site will get to see Rodrick's band, Löded Diper, in all its glory. Cartoon Network has done an amazing job of bringing a great Wimpy Kid experience to their audience!”The custom Cartoon Network online destination for Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans will feature key movie artwork and famous hand-drawn illustrations found from the book series. Fans will be immersed in Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley’s world, where they can access “Greg and Rowley’s Secret Web Page” and “Löded Dipers’ Webspace.” Each section is developed in a dedicated tone and style reflecting the characters’ personalities. The web site will also feature Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules behind-the-scenes video, on-set videos, pictures and interactive elements, with new content rolling out at the start of each week.

On March 24, during Cartoon Network’s Thursday night lineup, Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans tuning in were rewarded with exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the new movie. One piece was custom-produced by Cartoon Network and featured a musical look at Löded Diper, the band fronted by older brother Rodrick.

By the way... Here's Me "All Wimped Out" - the little miss wimped me out at:
http://www.wimpyourself.com/



About Cartoon Network


Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animated and live-action comedy series for young adults 18-34.


Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

March is National Nutrition Month and there’s no better time than now for you and your family to commit to more wholesome snacking options!

Luckily, Yoplait is here to help! To give Yoplait a hand in expanding its community on Facebook, and to keep up with all the exciting news and offers we have in store for fans, be sure to use this link to “Like” Yoplait on Facebook today.


Explore the many nourishing options that Yoplait has to offer - with varieties like Yoplait Light, Yoplait Original, Yoplait Fiber One, Yoplait Kids and Yoplait Delight Parfaits. Each product offers different benefits, and loads of variety, to make eating well a no-brainer. Here are five great ways to ‘get your snack on’ with Yoplait this March!

1. Start spring off right with Yoplait Light’s Two Week Tune Up Plan – Replace breakfast and lunch with a cup of your favorite flavor of Yoplait Light, a whole grain and a piece of fruit and you could lose 5 pounds in two weeks. Go to Yoplait.com for full diet details.
2. Get more calcium with Yoplait Original style yogurt - Now with two times the calcium of the leading yogurt (50 percent of the Recommended Daily Value) in one convenient 6-ounce cup*, Yoplait Original style yogurt is committed to women’s health, offering a product that has even more of the calcium women need for strong, healthy bodies. Grab a free cup while supplies last during the Million Cup Giveaway on Yoplait on Facebook!
3. Try the newest flavor from Yoplait Fiber One – Yoplait Fiber One’s new Blueberry flavor yogurt is packed with filling fiber, calcium, vitamins A and D, real fruit and the great taste of blueberries. With only 50 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat, this deliciously creamy yogurt won’t break your calorie bank.
4. Stress less over snack time with Yoplait Kids yogurt – With a wholesome and fun snack like Yoplait Kids yogurt in the fridge, you can feel good about what your children are eating at snack time. Yoplait Kids provides an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, and has 25% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt**. With yummy flavors, and favorite friends like Dora and Lightning McQueen on the packages, Yoplait Kids is a hit with moms and children alike.
5. End the day with a Delight Parfait from Yoplait – Even with two luscious layers providing a double shot of rich and creamy yogurt, these 100 calorie indulgences from Yoplait contain only 1.5 grams of fat per serving. Now available in two new flavors, Chocolate Éclair and Cherry Cheesecake, you can enjoy a dessert that’s 100 percent guilt-free.

*Leading yogurt has less than 25% Daily Value calcium per 6 oz.

**Yoplait kids has 9 grams of sugar per 3oz. the leading kids' yogurt has 13 grams of sugar per 3oz.

***Coupon offers for Yoplait yogurt are not valid in all states.


As a member of my blog spark I am eligible to win a prize pack from Yoplait for posting this information.

It's been four weeks... 28 days since I began this experiment into health thanks to Whole Foods Market and their Health Starts Here program.  This was a 28 day challenge and when we began this adventure I wasn't sure if I really wanted to participate.  I mean, what if I started, all confident and touting the virtues of HSH only to crash and burn in a puddle of chocolate ice cream or unbaked cookie dough three days into the program?  Plus, I've never really been a veggie person - I enjoy a good salad now & then, but massive amounts of veggies in place of meat?... well, let's just say it was not my idea of dining nirvana.  And to think that I was putting it all out here for virtually untold numbers of people to read - failure would be humiliating.

But I started out nonetheless - with little expectation other than to give it a try and see how it worked out.  I had nothing to lose - I was many, many pounds overweight, tired to the point of exhaustion most of the time and had absolutely no motivation to do much of anything at all.  What could it hurt??

As I told you after my first week, the sugar cravings were massive, but I withstood them and came out the other side.  Sure, I still "want" that cocoa I used to have every morning or the Girl Scout Cookies that I happen to have seven cases of in my living room for my daughter to distribute - but they don't seem to be working that magic trance over me.  I'm not walking, arms outstretched while they call my name so in my opinion, I've beat the sugar addiction.

Veggies were another obstacle I had to face head-on.  I don't remember eating too many veggies as a kid - maybe the occasional candied carrot (which made me hate carrots) or creamed pea or corn but as a whole there was definitely not a rainbow on my plate when I was growing up (this could just be due to the fact that I refused to eat the veggies too - I simply don't remember).  So with a refrigerator stocked two produce-drawers full to the brim of more veggies than I'd ever eaten in a month, I began the new foray into semi-vegetarian eating.  The rules were that I had to include a huge portion of green veggies every day in addition to a very large salad daily.  At first I was so sick of salad that I though I would die if I had to eat another because I was eating them twice a day (not the best idea I've ever had).  But then I discovered that soup was a marvelous (and tasty) way to get loads of veggies (and the daily serving of beans I was supposed to eat).  It even made the evil dark-green leafy veggies which I detest pretty much palatable so I didn't feel guilty about not working those into my meal plans.  I've had such great luck with the soup that I now make a big crockpot full (six quart size) at the beginning of the week and it lasts about 8-10 days (depending upon how many times per day I use the soup as a meal).  I've discovered that it's also good if you drain most of the liquid off and put it atop a serving of quinoa for a healthy, high-protein meal.

The rules seemed steadfast and complicated at first, but actually they are pretty simple:  Try not to eat anything white (bread, rice, flour, etc), eliminate sugar of any kind including artificial sweeteners, try not to consume processed foods but if you do - don't eat anything that 1) has sugar in the first five ingredients or 2) has anything in the first five ingredients that a third grader can't pronounce.  Include a large (double size) serving of green veggies every day, Eat a giant salad (made with lettuce other than iceberg) daily, Eat a serving of beans daily.  Try to think of meat as a condiment or side dish instead of a main dish and try to include it infrequently, instead relying on other sources of protein (nuts, quinoa, veggies, etc).  It's really pretty simple when you start doing it on a daily basis.

So how did my 28 days go in terms of weight loss??  Well, I am more than pleased to say that I have lost 20 pounds to date - not too shabby.  As for the exhaustion?  It did take a while for my body to get rid of all the "gunk" that was corsing through it so it was well into the third week that I found my energy - in fact, the last few days of that week I had so much energy that I cleaned my house from top to bottom and caught up on backlogged laundry and took the puppy for a walk and homeschooled my oldest daughter.  Now I know that most people could do that without any problem, but for me just the school would have been enough to send me for a two hour nap.  I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long, long time! 

Was the experiment a success??  An overwhelming one.  Will I continue to eat this way??  Without a doubt.  Do I recommend this program to others??  Yes, YEs, YES!!

I have even been so motivated that I've added a very interesting hypnosis program into the mix - but that's another post :-)

There's still time to sign and take your own 28 day challenge.  For info on how to get started, see our Health Starts Here Post.


- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

-  Looking for the original post with the details about how you can join the Health Starts Here program for FREE? Visit our Post "Health Starts Here"

-  Follow my journey on the Health Starts Here Program & catch up on previous posts.

We've all seen the movies, the TV shows - where a sideshow hypnotist puts an unsuspecting audience member into a trance and inevitably makes them cluck like a chicken or run around doing something totally out of character.  Yes, I suppose a hypnotist could do something like that if they wanted to, but hypnosis has a much more serious side.

Hypnotherapy has been proven to help with everything from phobias and stopping smoking to healing your body and losing weight.  My dad was always really interested in self-hypnosis - I remember there being several "hypnotize yourself" LP's in our home record player.  Did it ever work for him?  I'm not sure but my guess is that he never got to the level he was hoping for as they did end up collecting dust after a few years had passed.  I had pretty much forgotten about his delve into mind-control... until the other day - I was watching the Dr. Oz show and he was talking about how his introduction to hypnosis when in med school had changed his life.  The guest that day was Paul McKenna, a world famous hypnotist who had helped millions of people change their lives for the better.  If you'd like to watch the segment, here are the links (you'll be amazed!):

Hypnosis For Weightloss, Pt 1.

Hypnosis For Weightloss, Pt 2.

Hypnosis For Weightloss, Pt 3.

Hypnosis For Weightloss, Pt 4.

Even though I have been quite successful with my healthy eating and weight loss efforts to date, I do still have a few cravings and sometimes have that hungry feeling even when I know I've just eaten and should not be.  So I decided to give Paul's program a try - after all, he's helped millions, what did I have to lose?

I hopped on over to Amazon and picked up a copy of his book I Can Make You Thin.  The book also comes with a CD that guides you through a 28 minute "guided imagery" or hypnosis session.  The way the system works is you read the book (pretty small, about a 2 hour read) and then you listen to the CD every day for two weeks initially and then as often as you feel you need to after that.

McKenna's weight loss program is simple and seems to be common sense - 1) Eat when you feel hungry  2) Eat whatever you want  3) Eat consciously and enjoy every mouthful and  4) Stop eating when you feel full.  Now this may seem like a no - brainer but how often do YOU eat when you're not really hungry?  or eat way past the point of comfortable fullness?  How about shoveling food in because it's mealtime and you've got stuff to do so you eat as fast as you can & don't even realize how much you've eaten?  The only rule he has that I have any issue with is #2, "Eat whatever you want" - I totally understand that when you deprive yourself of the foods you love you'll feel like you're never satisfied, but whatever you want?  What if what you "want" are chocolate cream eclairs every day for lunch?  Just because you're hungry when you start and only eat until you're full well, I'm guessing you won't lose much that way.

I eagerly poured over the pages of the book and loaded the CD onto my iPhone so I could listen nightly before bed.  I have to admit, I was a bit leery the first time I listened to the CD - I mean, what if I ended up clucking like a chicken every time I heard the word egg or ran out into the street in my knickers??  So the first night, I listened without really trying too hard, mostly just making sure that there weren't any weird suggestions in the mix.  The next night I let myself truly immerse in the sounds that were pouring from my earbuds, relaxing me until my mind was ready to soak in the suggestions coming from the man with the pleasant British accent.

McKenna's program tells us to give it two weeks for the suggestions and program to really take hold, but after just one week I can tell you that it really works!  Listening to the CD nightly is actually quite enjoyable - it is so very relaxing and, although I am aware of everything that is happening around me, I can definitely tell that once I'm a few minutes into it I do have some other state of consciousness - be it in the gap between awake and asleep or in that real state of hypnosis that you see in the movies.  Not sure, but it's really quite pleasurable.  Whatever state you're brought to, it's easy to leave it as I always come out or "wake up" when told to and I have had to stop once or twice to suggest to the puppy in her crate next to me that she be a little quieter.  As for the four golden rules?  Well, 1, 3 & 4 while they are common sense things, they are definitely great rules to follow to ensure that you don't overdo meals.  #2 can be followed easily if you make the conscious decision to choose healthy foods as the foods you want to eat (think fruit, veggies & nuts over sweets, meats & processed foods).  Also, I do suggest listening to the CD with earphones or earbuds as quite often he is speaking different things into each ear & it just wouldn't be quite the same coming through regular speakers.

So to sum everything up:  This is overwhelmingly a great addition to an already established weight loss effort or healthy eating plan.  It's very effective at eliminating cravings and helping you make better decisions about when to eat and importantly, when to stop eating.  And No, you won't cluck like a chicken or run out into the street in your knickers!


- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade




Please note:  I received no solicitation to do this product review - I purchased this product with my own money for my own personal use.  I also received absolutely no compensation of any kind for doing this review.  I hope that everyone who tries this program and is satisfied with it will leave me a comment to let me know.

If you do decide to purchase this book - please do so using the link to the left - I do receive an affiliate commission for your book purchase through Amazon.