Savings for rescue groups ends at the end of May!

Woofs and meows to to rescues! Save  15% off of wholesale prices!

Shop online at the wholesale site:

http://www.bigpawdesigns-wholesale.com/

and use coupon code rescuemay  at checkout.

If you don’t have access to our wholesale site yet send an email to info@bigpawdesigns.com!

I was excited to hear from one of my contacts about some beauty recipes – I have not had much time for anything lately – so a little self spa treatment was just what I needed!

Do-it-Yourself Beauty Recipes: 

Breakfast Moisturizing Face Mask: Mash 1/2 banana well with a fork, combine about 1/4 – 1/2 cup rolled oats, and drizzle about 1 TB almond milk to the mixture to create a paste. Apply to face using a circular motion as a scrub and then leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse and remove with a warm washcloth and follow up with the Soothing Facial Moisturizer: drizzle 3-4 drops lavender essential oil into approximately 1 TB coconut oil, mix, and apply to face.

Hair Growth-Stimulating Treatment: Brew a cup of green tea. Add 1 TB mustard powder and 1 TB cayenne pepper, the contents of 1-2 vitamin E capsules, and 1 TB jojoba oil to the tea and mix well. In the shower, apply mixture to the scalp and rub in gently, using the pads of your fingers for a few minutes. Allow to sit while washing your body. Rinse and follow up with natural, chemical-free shampoo and conditioner. Perform treatment weekly until you notice hair growth.

These are compliments of What Would Julieanna Do? airs weekdays from 7:00 to 7:30 pm ET/PT on Veria Living.  Hosted by Julieanna Hever, What Would Julieanna Do? is a lifestyle-oriented talk show focusing on everyday topics as “getting your kids to eat better” and “treating menopause” to “rekindling the spark in your marriage” and “getting back in shape for your high school reunion.”

Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T., also known as “The Plant-Based Dietitian,” is an author and advocate of the benefits of following a whole food, plant-based diet. As host of What Would Julieanna Do?, Julieanna regularly features recipes like the Breakfast Moisturizing Face Mask, the Hair Growth-Stimulating Treatment and many other similar, helpful, do-it-you

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.

Time is almost up – Get Healthy, win Recipes and even snag a copy of this fitness lifestyle book to get keep your New Year’s Resolutions going! Read more and enter…..

End this year and start the New Year right with this giveaway. Everyone is a winner as the sponsor is generously giving away a set of healthy recipes to get you started. See details below!  Then – you also have a chance to win a copy of his book “Get Skinny in 6 Weeks” and a $40 Amazon code to help you buy fitness wear or gear to get you started.

Here is a little more about the book, recipes and giveaway….

A little about the Book

Imagine having the energy to perform at your peak throughout the day, the inner strength to tap into your true potential, and the ability to permanently lose weight— all while having absolute confidence in who you are and what you can accomplish.

If you are thinking about losing weight but don’t know where to start, let “Get Skinny! The Six-Week Body Challenge” be your guide. It is available on Amazon too! Unlike other fitness books on the market, this six-week body challenge won’t leave you feeling confused about what you need to do to permanently lose weight and change your life.

“Get Skinny! The Six-Week Body Challenge” gives you the true feeling and experience that comes from working with an elite personal trainer one-on-one. For the next six weeks, you will be guided through several fun and challenging exercise and nutrition programs as if you were actually meeting with an elite trainer at your local gym. You’ll be pushed to reach for your true, inner potential while being praised for your efforts. There are even targeted goals and weekly check-ins to help keep you motivated.

In the end, you’ll be able to laugh and have a good time, make mistakes in a safe and comfortable environment, and personally connect with your trainer in a way that will allow you to achieve lasting and permanent success, forever changing the way you look at fitness!

Who is Scott?

Scott Schmaltz is a veteran of the fitness industry with more than 10 years of personal training experience. He holds a board certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner, a degree as a nutritional consultant, and seven certifications in personal training and rehabilitation.

Scott has run personal training departments and corporate wellness programs for companies including Gold’s Gym, Snap Fitness, and Health Partners Insurance. He is the author of “Get Skinny! The Six-Week Body Challenge” and a writer for different online health and wellness blogs. He’s also the creator of Custom Workout Videos, which produces and sells online exercise and nutrition videos (CustomWorkoutVideos.com).

About the Recipes and getting the recipes

Can food really help you stay young? Currently Scott has recipes that are available to buy on his site. But he will be upgrading his website Custom Workout Videos soon and the recipes will only be offered on special occasions.     According to a study from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people who want to maintain their health and get active – MUST EAT RIGHT.

As a companion to his book, Scott created these 15 recipes that combine good health with good eating. He spent so much time with these recipes. Not only do they have to TASTE GOOD and USE GOOD INGREDIENTS. But, the ingredients have to be 1) inexpensive to buy, and 2) quick and easy to make.

Scott has decided for to give the recipes away as a complimentary gift to get you started! Thanks!

15 hand-selected recipes come in  in a durable, kitchen-ready binder – guaranteed to be quick and easy to make. Everyone who emails will get a set of recipes. While the binder of recipes does have a limited number, but if they do run out – a PDF version will be sent to you.  We will let you know when they run out by putting a blurb on this post.  But still – everyone will get somethin!

To receive your copy – Just send an email to SCOTT@CUSTOMWORKOUTVIDEOS.COM with your full name and mailing address and a note you are requesting the recipes you saw on Retail-Therapy-Lounge.com. Once he gets your email, you can rest assured – They’ll Be on Their Way

A special thanks to Scott for sponsoring these recipes and giveaway. Find out more moves and tips on fitness and nutrition by getting social with Scott Schmaltz. His book, “Get Skinny: The Six-Week Body Challenge” launched on April 1st and is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. You can also find him and some great tips on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have a large white “pup” in our house, so this was quite a treat to see his puppy likenesses on film!  Christmas and Santa are great on thier own – but add some furry paws and it becomes even better.  The little girl singing and the Christmas message is first rate too.   We were listening to Holiday music in the car the other day and one of my kids said “Hey that is the song the little girl sings in the white dog movie!”  This is a cute one – grab one for the holidays!

From the creators of the #1 live-action, direct-to-video Disney Buddies franchise, comes “SANTA PAWS 2: THE SANTA PUPS,” an all-new heartwarming and hilarious adventure starring a brand new litter of the most adorable talking Great Pyrenees pups! Premiering on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital on November 20, 2012, “SANTA PAWS 2: THE SANTA PUPS” is the perfect film for the entire family to enjoy this coming Holiday Season!

The film will be available for purchase at retail stores nationwide as a 2-Disc Blu-rayTM Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S., a 1-Disc DVD for the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S., and via High Definition Digital for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S..

About the Film:

The North Pole has a new litter of playful pups! However, when the frisky foursome—Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble—practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s Helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell—or risk losing Christmas forever!

About The Pups:

This cute litter consists of three female pups and one male pup. HOPE is the daring tomboy who wears a backwards red cap and rarely looks before she leaps. JINGLE is the diva with a bell on her collar who loves to sing, but can’t carry a tune. CHARITY is the girliest and most self-centered of the pups, with a mistletoe barrette, who has yet to learn the meaning of her name. And NOBLE is the mischievous only brother and self-appointed leader who is distinguished by a cheeky black spot around his eye.

About the Cast & Filmmakers:

“SANTA PUPS” stars Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), Danny Woodburn (Mirror, Mirror; The Search for Santa Paws), Pat Finn (Spooky Buddies), Kaitlyn Maher (Treasure Buddies, The Search for Santa Paws), Josh Feldman (The Closer), George Newbern (The Father of the Bride), Obba Babatunde (Broadway version of Dream Girls) as human characters.

The pups are voiced by Marlowe Peyton (Applebaum) as Jingle, Tatiana Gudegast (Spooky Buddies) as Hope, Aidan Gemme (Treasure Buddies) as Noble, and G. Hannelius (Treasure Buddies, The Search for Santa Paws) as Charity. And additional canines are voiced by Tom Everett Scott (Air Bud) as the voice of Santa Paws, Bonnie Somerville (The Ugly Truth) as Mrs. Paws, Richard Kind (Santa Buddies) as Eddy, the head elf dog, Trevor Wright (Air Buddies) as Baxter the scruffy mutt and Josh Flitter (Santa Buddies, The Search for Santa Paws) as Brutis, an unlikely friend for the Pups.

The film is directed by Robert Vince, written and produced by Robert Vince and Anna McRoberts, original music is by Brahm Wenger (The Search for Santa Paws, Treasure Buddies), Animal Coordinator is Mark Forbes (We Bought a Zoo, Treasure Buddies) and the choreographer is Mark Swanhart (Cirque du Soleil, Celine Dion in Las Vegas).

Stay connected with the latest news and information about “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups.” “Like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheDisneyBuddies
View exciting trailers, games, video clips and more at www.Disney.com/SantaPups

Download some fun activities from the Santa Pups:

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.

Carmex Lip Conditioner features 13 lip-loving ingredients to keep your lips soft and smooth all winter long.  This was great – for the two seconds I could try it before my kids swiped it!  It has a light orange scent and not a mediciny smell as some balms can have.  And the kiddos liked it – was gentle on thier lips – no complaints form the peanut gallery on this one! I actually would say I like this better than the normal balm.  Nice move Carmex!

Buy It

You can find it in drug stores nationwide – and drugstore.com also has it for under $2.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.

Finally cool weather has hit so I could try these cute gloves out. We have had such a heat wave lately and these things had just been sitting on a shelf with a sad look.  I think it actually went below freezing. Not only do these go with everything – they have just about every color in my wardrobe, but they also are super comfy.  I love the moisture locking factor too.  And they also have a flip mitten to make the ease of getting my keys out by just pulling the flap back great too!  I would say these go on the holiday list for sure this year!

Remember the happy feeling you had as a kid when it was snowing and you were ready to put on your homemade mittens and run outside to play. What a great time! Now that you’re an adult and winter isn’t always that fun, try a pair of Grandoe’s Homespun knit inspired gloves to lighten your mood. They are simple and cute, the way your childhood mittens were, made with knit materials in fun patterns and colors.

The Homespun Glove ($35) is a fun extended length glove with a little gathering on the sides. The length of this glove and the fleece lining will keep your hands toasty warm and comfortable. Another great style, the Homespun Cozee ($35) glove, has an aloe treated snowfleece lining to soften your hands as you wear them. The lining (polyester) is also extended giving the glove a small cuff. Homespun Cozee has whipstitch detail giving the glove a more homemade appearance. The microsuede palm is water resistant. The Homespun Glove and the Homespun Cozee are both available in women’s sizes S-XL and are knit with polyester yarns. If you want more adaptability in a glove, there is also the Homespun Flip Mitt ($35). This style has open ended fingers with a mitt covering that flips up or down.  Flip it up for accessibility, flip it down for warmth. The Flip Mitt has a soft fleece lining, microfleece cuff and a pretty frosted faux fur trim on the edge of the mitt. This style is available in sizes S-L.

Each of the Homespun gloves are available in four unique patterns: Moose Tracks, Snowflake, Rainbow and Lavender.  The styling and features create a happy feeling while providing warmth and comfort.

Buy It

You can buy these gloves in your preferred color or pattern for $35 online.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.

Get your walk on and keep your Holiday pounds in check.  I love these new pedometers – they are affordable small and simple to use. Depending on your goals you can get just steps or calories burned too. I think these would make great stocking stuffers. I have been using mine for about a week now and they are a hit so far.  Really one step (no pun intended) set up.  I think the step only one would be good for my parents just to get them out hte door – not too overwhelming – while I prefer the distance and calories options. Now onto another class party with cookies and festivities!

About

The Sportline 345DS Calorie Tracking Pedometer, the 340DS Step + Distance Pedometer and the 330DS Step Pedometer will all ensure every step you take is a step toward better fitness.  These three new pedometers are sleekly designed devices with proprietary MoveTrac™ technology and digital sensors.

What makes the new trio of Sportline pedometers unique is the proprietary MoveTrac™ Technology that complements the new Move100™ health and wellness initiative designed to get people moving at least 100 minutes every day. MoveTrac is a new feature that monitors all-day movements by capturing every second an individual is active, whether those actions are from regular daily movements or more structured exercise routines.

“Wearing a pedometer with all-day tracking features is a great way to set and chart progress on your way to reaching new health and fitness goals,” said Dan Kinsbourne, senior vice president, marketing of EB Sport Group. “It’s natural to want to know how far you’ve walked, how many minutes you’ve moved or the calories you’ve burned during an exercise routine.  But being able to monitor and quantify your activity throughout the entire day provides people with a much better view of their actual lifestyle.”

Each new digital pedometer offers a different design with popular, functional features and provides an easy to manage, accurate monitoring system.

The 345DS Calorie Tracking Pedometer:
The Sportline 345DS Calorie Tracking Pedometer is small in size but this monitor packs impressive features in its new sleek design. Powered by a triple axis accelerometer, the 345DS monitors your steps, distance, calories burned and total minutes of movement all day long.   It also has an auto stride length setting feature that automatically adjusts for the differences between walk and run stride lengths.

Sportline 345DS Calorie Tracking Pedometer MSRP $24.99
Step + Distance + Calories Burned + MoveTrac™
Motion Sensing Accelerometer
Auto-Stride Length Setting
Counts to 1 Million Steps
Single Button Operation

Features for the 340DS Step + Distance Pedometer and the 330DS Step Pedometer include:

Sportline 340DS Step + Distance Pedometer MSRP $19.99
Step + Distance + MoveTrac™
Motion Sensing Accelerometer
Auto Stride Length Setting
Counts to 1 Million Steps
Single Button Operation

Sportline 330DS Step Pedometer MSRP $14.99
Step + Move Trac™
Motion Sensing Accelerometer
Auto-Stride Length setting
Counts to 1 Million Steps
Single Button Operation

The Sportline 345DS Calorie Tracking Pedometer, the 340DS Step + Distance Pedometer, and the 330DS Step Pedometer can be purchased at sporting goods stores across the country or online at www.sportline.com.

Buy it and Get Social

You can buy these sporting goods stores across the country or online at www.sportline.com. Also be sure to check them out on Facebook.

Sportline is the performance brand leader in Personal Fitness Monitors.  Sportline products are designed to instill motivation, increase safety and bring greater enjoyment to all levels of fitness enthusiasts.  The company offers a comprehensive range of multi-functional pedometers, many featuring triple access accelerometer technology for unmatched accuracy.  Sportline is the exclusive marketer of Any-Touch Technology and the brand behind the DUO and SOLO Heart Rate Monitor collections. For more information, visit: www.sportline.com.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.

I love wine – and it makes a fast and easy gift over the holidays – or really anytime.  But unless you get a good wine guy at the store – how the heck do you know what to buy? I was excited when one of my contacts sent this new wine buying guide over – looks like a cool tool! Let me know what you think!

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The Bordeaux Wine Council has just released a great new selection tool that helps you find the perfect Bordeaux wine for any occasion. Below is a video that shows you  how quick and easy it is to use this new tool, and what’s best is that all 100 wines selected by the Bordeaux Wine Council are priced under $35. Here is where you can find the tool.

I think Spongebob looks good in red – or maybe it is the santa hat!  Just in time to get some goofy Christmas movies out for the season – you will want to add this one to your movie collection!

SpongeBob SquarePants: It’s a SpongeBob Christmas!, which released on DVD Tuesday, November 6th. In the DVD debut of Nickelodeon’s first-ever full-length stop-animation special, Plankton vows to get his Christmas wish – the Krabby Patty formula – by turning everyone in Bikini Bottom bad by feeding them his special jerktonium-laced fruitcake. John Goodman guest stars as Santa Claus. Don’t miss the popular SpongeBob SquarePants song, “Don’t Be a Jerk, It’s Christmas,” written by Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob) and Andy Paley.

Buy It

You can buy this now on Amazon – just in time!

Disclaimer: I was not paid or did not receive any compensation, but did receive samples to review and test out. The opinions in this post are soley mine.