Author Archives: Fiona Bryan

MomActive announces partnership with Michele McGraw

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Today, I am excited to announce the formation of a new editorial partnership with Michele McGraw, who will bring her real life experience with healthy lifestyle change to MomActive.  In addition to the introduction of a 3 part running series that will begin this week and culminate with the Oct 2nd Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon (watch for more details tomorrow morning), we will join forces to offer support for our mutual goal of living a MomActive lifestyle. Whether you join us in running a half marathon, run a 5k or begin a new healthy lifestyle, we will offer full support along the way.

blogher_smile_300Michele McGraw ~ Partner/Editor

Michele has spent her life yo-yo dieting until 5 years ago when she lost 75 lbs and began a new healthy lifestyle for both her and her family. She has also spent the last 13+ years helping women find support online for their hobbies and lifestyles. MomActive is the perfect blend of new healthy lifestyle and her passion for offering online support. Michele is CEO of Mom Geek Media and creator of ScrapsofMyGeekLife.com, offering daily commentary, advice, reviews and shared experiences of how her real life and the digital domain connect. She is the host of the Digital Soul Hour, a technology webcast on MomTV on Wednesdays at 10pm ET. Michele is a work at home Mom of 4 kids ages 13, 11, 7 and 5. Her hobbies include digital scrapbooking, reading social media books, collecting gadgets, researching anything and dreaming about laying on the beach. She loves running, yoga and EA SPORTS Active

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Omega-3 Power Boosts Health

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By Stacey Colino for Live Right Live Well

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There’s something fishy going on. Omega-3 fatty acids, once found primarily in fatty fish, are being added to all sorts of foods, including fruit juices, soy milk, eggs, nutrition bars, cereal, yogurt — even infant formula. In fact, they’ve become the wonder nutrient du jour, largely because researchers are discovering more and more health benefits associated with them.


Health Benefits from Head to Toe

Long known for their heart-protective powers, omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure, reduce triglyceride levels, decrease the buildup of artery-clogging plaque and lower the risk of heart arrhythmia. In addition, researchers are now finding that omega-3s may be helpful in a wide range of conditions including acne, age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression, diabetes, macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Get Your Omega-3s

There are a few different types of omega-3 fatty acids, but the real powerhouses are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that most people eat fish, particularly fatty fish, at least twice per week. The best choices: fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring, lake trout, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. The AHA also recommends that people who have heart disease consume about one gram of EPA and DHA per day, possibly in supplement form. Those who need to lower their triglycerides are advised to ingest two to four grams of EPA and DHA per day from capsules.

But some experts go beyond the AHA recommendation, believing that even more people should be taking these supplements. “Those who consume less than the equivalent of two to three fish meals per week and no other sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3 eggs, should consider supplements,” says J. Thomas Brenna, a professor of human nutrition at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. And if you’re worried about contaminants associated with fish, you’ll be happy to hear that omega-3 supplements have been found to be free of heavy metals that have been a concern with fish.

So eat more fish and
consider omega-3-fortified foods and supplements. Says Barry Swanson, a fellow
of the Institute of Food Technologists and professor of food science at
Washington State University in Pullman: It doesn’t matter how you get your
omega-3s — “as long as you get these nutrients in your body, it’s better than
not consuming them at all.”

Stacey Colino

Stacey Colino has written for The Washington Post Health section and many national magazines, including Newsweek, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parenting, Sports Illustrated and Ladies’ Home Journal.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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6 Ways to Save: Reinventing Yourself

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By Nancy Kalish

In a tough economy, the tendency is to hunker down at your job — if you still have one — and hold on for dear life. But the truth is, now might be the right time to branch out and learn something new that will boost your employability. “For many people, especially those 40 and up, new training helps them compete with younger workers who are assumed to have the latest skills,” says Tory Johnson, CEO of the career-coaching firm Women for Hire and co-author of Will Work from Home: Earn the Cash — Without the Commute (Berkeley 2008).

You might even consider training for a new career in a field that’s in-demand more than your current one. But before you do, consider the costs of retraining. Just because you invest time and money doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a job. Ask about a program’s job-placement assistance — and track record — before signing up.” Here are four great ways to gain more skills without spending much: 

Explore the possibilities Check out a current list of the 50 most in-demand occupations, learn how much they pay and exactly what training is needed at Career Voyages, a Web site run by the Department of Labor. There, you’ll get an in-depth overview of many growth industries, such as health care or homeland security, and can even see videos of what being a pharmacy technician, for example, is really like.  

Fill in your gaps Do you want to work in an office, but your computer skills are rusty — or nonexistent? Take a class to catch up. Find free or cheap courses at your state’s unemployment office, community college or YMCA. CareerOneStop, a government program, also offers free skills development workshops and training courses. You can also find free online tutorials for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and many other popular office products at the Microsoft Web site.

Take online classes at top universities — for free Learn how to create your own iPhone app from Stanford University, market yourself and your business with Web 2.0 tools from Utah State or explore Introduction to Computer Programming, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or any of the other 1900 courses offered by MIT. You can find many other free courses at the Open Courseware Consortium. You won’t get academic credit, but these classes are great things to put on your resume or mention at a job interview.

Get your degree online If the lack of a college diploma is holding you back, you can complete it from home, at night, on weekends or whenever it’s most convenient for you, with an accredited online college or university. Bonus: A virtual school is much less expensive than a brick-and-mortar one, and many offer financial aid. You’ll find several hundred listed at eLearners, offering degrees in almost every field. One caveat: Before enrolling, check out the university’s career services program to make sure they actually place students in companies you’re interested in.

Consider an externship If you’re able to work at little or no pay for a short period, an externship (an internship for people who are no longer students) could be your foot in the door at a company or industry that’s new to you. Simply go online and search “externship,” and you’ll find thousands of listings in almost any field. Most externships last from three to six months. In that time, you’ll gain valuable experience to add to your résumé, new contacts and an idea about whether this industry is right for you in the long run. Also consider targeting a particular company you’re interested in and pitching yourself as an extern. 

Temp while you train In this case, you can earn while you learn. Some temp agencies provide great afterhours training to their workers. For example, Kelly Services, one of the biggest temp agencies in the world, offers registered temps online courses such as “Basics of Selling,” “Mastering Cold Calls” and “Presentation Skills” through its Kelly Learning Center. If you’re an accounting or finance professional, the Robert Half recruitment agency provides free continuing professional education to registered candidates (aka temps). It offers hundreds of online courses covering accounting, financial analysis and budgeting and financial management. 


Copyright © 2009 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.


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Youthful Skin Forever

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By Elizabeth Parker for Live Right Live Well

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Cleopatra was known for soaking her skin in a rose petal and milk bath to keep it soft. The ancient Greeks used honey and the Romans olive oil as natural skin moisturizers. So what’s the real deal? Here, eight skin care essentials from the experts to increase your chances of having great-looking skin:

1. Protect your skin from the sun “The absolute most important thing you can do is protect your skin from the sun,” says Dr. Jennifer Reichel of the Pacific Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Seattle. Repeated exposure to the sun — at any time of year, not just summer — can cause wrinkles and age spots and give skin a leathery look. Fortunately, “most skin care products have an SPF in them,” says Reichel. “Use ones that have an SPF of 15 or higher.”

2. Don’t smoke Smoking can be ruinous for your skin. The constant puckering of the lips creates lines around the mouth, and years of smoking can eventually give skin an unattractive yellowish cast, according to Reichel.

3. Nourish your skin from within Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins A, B and C, as well as green tea and soy extracts. This will help nourish your skin from the inside out and can be particularly beneficial to people who are concerned about wrinkles, according to Dr. Diane S. Berson, spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology and assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell University.

4. Keep clean Regular cleansing and moisturizing is a must. But you don’t have to go crazy, notes Reichel. Just wash your face once a day, more often if you’ve been especially active. Mild soap and water are fine, used with a washcloth. “I don’t advocate scrubbing,” Reichel adds, as this can irritate skin. After patting your face dry with a towel, apply a moisturizer that suits your skin type. Look for products that contain poly hydroxy acids (PHA), which can help skin retain moisture and thus look less dry.

5. Exfoliate! Dead cells on the surface of your skin can give your face a dull look. Exfoliants are rich cleansers that contain sand-like granules and chemicals, such as glycolic or salicylic acids, which remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Once or twice a week works well for most women, less if it causes skin irritation or redness.

6. Stick with what works If you’ve found skin care products that you like, stick with them, advises Reichel. Changing brands too often can cause skin irritation. Also keep in mind that expensive products are not necessarily better than cheaper ones, adds Berson. And be wary of too-good-to-be-true claims.

7. Consider Retin A If your skin has already suffered from sun damage or has some wrinkles, talk to your doctor about Retin A, which has been shown in studies to reduce wrinkles and brown pigmentation, says Reichel.

8. Include a dermatologist in your skin care routine “Every woman should have a yearly check-up with her dermatologist,” says Dr. Peter Goldman, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. A dermatologist can offer the best guidance for maintaining youthful-looking skin and the most up-to-date treatments for sun-damaged or aging skin, such as light chemical peels or treatments with intense pulse light (IPL) and fraxel repair lasers. But even more important, a dermatologist will help safeguard your health by checking for pre-cancers and skin cancers.

So permission granted
to pamper your skin. With a little special care, skin care products you love
and a dermatologist you trust, you can keep a healthy glow no matter your age.

Elizabeth Parker

Elizabeth Parker is a Los Angeles-based writer who has written for numerous national publications.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy

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By Jessica Goldbogen Harlan for Live Right Live Well

The next time you’re tempted by a bag of potato chips, check to see if your kids are around — because the old adage “do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work when it comes to teaching children healthy eating habits.

In a recent study, 120 children, age 2 to 6 years, were invited to shop for play food in a play grocery store stocked with everything from fruits and vegetables to sodas and junk food. What did the kids purchase? The same stuff they see their parents buying and eating.

“Parents need to be aware that the choices they make do have an impact on their kids, and kids start to learn food behaviors and patterns at a very early age,” says study leader Lisa Sutherland, Ph.D., of the Hood Center for Children and Families at Dartmouth College, in N.H.

Melinda Johnson, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, agrees. “Your child isn’t going to end up eating better than you do,” she says. So if you want him to eat well, “you have to eat the way you want your child to eat.”

To raise a kid who grows up loving broccoli and whole grains, consider the following:

Be a good role model As the study shows, kids will mirror your own eating habits. So let them see you eating whole-grain toast at breakfast, enjoying a piece of fruit for a snack and filling up on veggies at dinner. If you can’t give up your cookies and soda, try to eat them when the kids are in bed and keep them out of sight in your cupboard.

Combine favorites with the unfamiliar “Don’t just always serve their favorite food,” advises Johnson. “At a meal, mix their favorites with what you’re trying to challenge them with.” And don’t give up after the first time your child rejects a food. “Don’t force them [to eat it], but keep offering it to them,” says Sutherland. “You might have to [offer] new things eight times before a kid will eat it.”

Follow the “Rule of Three” At each meal, try to include at least three of the following food groups from the USDA food pyramid: grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat/beans. A snack can consist of two food groups.

Make grocery shopping a fun learning experience Let young children pick out their favorite fruits; older kids can learn math concepts, like finding the best value or comparing nutrition labels.

Involve kids in the kitchen Letting your children help with the cooking can give them a better understanding of food, notes Sutherland. Johnson agrees: “The more kids get involved, the more likely they’ll eat and appreciate the food once it shows up on their plate. Plus, you’re teaching them cooking skills.”

Allow for occasional junk Insisting that your children eat only healthy foods can backfire, leading to lunch-swapping and overindulging when you’re out of sight. Instead, teach them a healthy balance by allowing them to have the occasional treat, even if it’s something that’s not good for them. Johnson recommends a blend of 90 percent relatively healthy food and 10 percent junk food and other treats.

So put away the potato chips and instead invite your child to the kitchen to help you prepare a healthy snack, such as whole-wheat pita with hummus and carrot sticks. Not only will you both benefit today, but it will lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy eating for your child.

Jessica Goldbogen Harlan Jessica Goldbogen Harlan is an Atlanta-based writer and recipe developer specializing in nutrition and healthy eating. Jessica is the cooking equipment guide for About.com (online) and has written for numerous publications and Web sites, including Pilates Style, Arthritis Today, Clean Eating, Lime and iVillage.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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The Answer to Maternity Active Wear ~ Jakfish Eamon Hoodie Review and Giveaway

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JakfishStamp (2)It’s hard finding comfortable active wear when you’re pregnant. Sure, you could resort to wearing oversized shirts that don’t fit anywhere but over the growing bump or you could wear your regular clothes until they stretch no further and your belly pokes out from underneath your shirt every time you move. I’ll admit I’ve fallen victim to both fashion crimes in the past, but never again! Why? Because now I know that there is a company out there that makes active wear for pregnant women!

eamon_hoodie2_copyI was recently sent the Eamon Hoodie from Jakfish to review. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first and was pleasantly surprised when the package arrived. The Eamon Hoodie is made of a lightweight Polartec Power Stretch. It has a body hugging 4-way stretch that wicks away moisture, is highly breathable and is wind and abrasion resistant.

The hoodie is extremely comfortable. I have worn it both with and without other tops, and have been comfortable each and every time. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and have a 17 month old as well, so it’s not often that I am sitting still. Despite the cold weather we have been having here in the Midwest, it’s also not often that I wear a long sleeved top. I’m always hot and it’s not uncommon to see me running around at home in a tank top. I feared that the Eamon hoodie would be too warm for me, but it wasn’t. In fact, I almost forgot that I was wearing something with long sleeves.

Some things that I love about the hoodie…
The side zips. They are so practical! I don’t need to open them all the way yet, but I have half zipped them to give me some more room to move. I love that the zippers stay in place. If I want it to be half zipped, it stays that way!
The hood. Let’s face it, it has been cold here in the Midwest and you need to have something on your head to stay warm. I’m not a big fan of wearing hats though, so the fitted hood works great for me!
It’s lightweight. You can wear it alone, with something underneath or something over it. I didn’t get sweaty or too hot, no matter how I wore it or what I did while wearing it.
It fit. Compared to some of the other options that are out, there it was nice to be able to wear a hoodie that didn’t expose parts of my belly when I lifted my arms and wasn’t so big that I felt like I was swimming in it. This top stretches and moves with me and I wasn’t constantly pulling and tugging on it like I do with some other tops that I have.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the hoodie. It’s great to wear no matter what you’re doing, whether that’s running around trying to catch up with a toddler, going for a walk outdoors or just taking it easy at home. Thank you to both MomActive and Jakfish the opportunity to do this review.

All Jakfish clothing is made in Vermont and is specifically designed to fit women throughout all the stages of pregnancy, while retaining all of the characteristics active people expect from performance clothing.  The clothing is made from Polartec® fabrics and in 2008, two Jakfish products won the Polartec APEX Award which is judged on innovation, design, style, workmanship, fit and functionality.

Enter to win a Jakfish Eamon Hoodie! Simply visit the Jakfish website and then come back here and let us know which item caught your eye!

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Subscribe to MomActive HERE

2. Fan MomActive on Facebook HERE

3. Tweet the following Tweet:

Pregnant? Enter to win the Eamon Hoodie from Jakfish @momactive http://bit.ly/clDTvv

or

I just entered to win a $106 Jakfish Eamon Hoodie from @momactive http://bit.ly/clDTvv


~Entries must be received by 12am EST March 12, 2010 ~

MomActive would like to thank Michaela of Mama Michie’s Musings for guest reviewing.  Michaela was compensated for this review via free product, the opinions stated above are hers based on her experience.  We wish her the best of health with her pregnancy!

Join me as I muse about my life as a wife, student and a SAHMama of a rambunctious toddler with another on the way. At Mama Michie’s Musings, you will find anything from teething to bugs, sleepless nights to stretch marks, reviews and giveaways and sometimes even more serious topics. It all depends on what’s on my mind and how much sleep I got the night before!

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Michele Obama Launches “Let’s Move” Initiative

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Michele Obama’s initiative to combat the childhood obesity epidemic launches today. The effort, pegged “Let’s Move“, will focus on “four key pillars”: Educating parents about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in schools, making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families and an increased focus on physical education.  Whether you agree on the extent to which she has used her own children in as an example or not, you have to admit that this is a good thing.  Our kids are growing up eating junk food, watching TV that encourages them to eat junk food , and they are also getting outside to play far less often than they did while you and I were growing up.  Drive down any street, anywhere in the country, and the number and variety of fast food joints, where half of the food options contain more fat and calories than most of us need in an entire day, is overwhelming.  I’m not a “Big Government” fan but I do think that convenience has become the norm and it will be interesting to see what impact this initiative will have.

I couldn’t help but laugh when reading the following excerpt from ABCnews.com:

To help parents, the first lady said she’s working with the Food and Drug Administration and major food manufacturers and retailers to make it easier for parents to identify healthier foods by placing nutrition labeling on the front of the package.

Did we not have that earlier last year with the Smart Choices Campaign, in which Froot Loops donned the fabulously attractive and trendy green Smart Choices check mark?  I wrote several fiery posts here and on momactive.com blasting the program and the greedy scoundrels behind it.  If you missed it you can read about it right HERE and HERE. The quacks behind this ridiculous marketing effort have since stopped labeling foods with the Smart Choices check mark because the guidelines were so laughable that the FDA announced that it was looking into the “scientific criteria” used to designate foods that manufacturers who participated (read PAID) to take part in the labeling program.  The uproar surrounding the whole thing created a massive PR disaster for all involved and served as a lesson putting the big corporations on notice that consumers aren’t as stupid as they’d like to think we are.  I would love to hear what Michele Obama thought about Smart Choices.

What Michele Obama is trying to do isn’t exactly new.  I grew up with the Kennedy era President’s Council on Physical Fitness (which was actually just a renaming of the President’s Council on Youth Fitness started by Eisenhowerin 1956).  Remember the test?  The one where you have to try to touch your toes and where they measure your arm fat with the calipers?  I remember very clearly that I outran every boy in my class but I didn’t like the arm fat thing…  In any case, “Let’s Move” is similar to past government efforts, but perhaps the effort to increase nutritional education and improve the availability and cost of healthier foods will achieve a reduction in our country’s obesity rates.  Those of you that watch the show on MomTv will remember our discussion last week about a study that showed people responded more positively, and as a result purchased a greater amount of healthier foods more often, when given access to a reduction in the cost of healthy food choices in addition to nutrition education, versus those who only received the nutritional information.

Will “Lets Move” make a difference?  Let’s us know what you think!

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Sex Does a Body Good!

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Today we welcome Kelly Loubet from Childhoodclothing.com!

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Sex… for some of us… that word alone is enough to make us blush. For others… it ain’t no thing chicken wing. The reality of it is… whether it’s with that special someone or all alone in the bath tub… sex is an important and healthy part of our lives.

Not only does sex sometimes provide partnership… sex does a body good in many ways! I had no idea that there were so many benefits beyond… well… stress relief for one. Stress relief is a benefit of healthy sex! I knew that… anyone that’s had “it’s been a crappy day” sex knows that! Let me list some of the more interesting ones I found. (Thanks Web M.D.!)

Sex boosts your immunity. Having sex a couple times a week increases the antibody Immunoglobin A, which helps you fight colds and infections! Who knew!?

Sex burns calories. I knew this… but it’s still fun! Did you know that 30 minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more? Get to it!

Sex boosts your self esteem. Great sex makes you feel like a rock star. If you already felt like you were amazing before… having sex only makes you feel better.

Sex eases pain. While having a sexual encounter… endorphins are flowing and the hormone oxytocin is released. Oxytocin is responsible for that warm, fuzzy, “nothing could ruin this moment” type feeling. You know.. that feeling you get after you… um… finish?

Sex helps you sleep better. That same oxytocin that’s released during the big “O” is also responsible for  making us feel sleepy. Healthy sleep habits promote weight loss and help to control blood pressure.

I was given the opportunity to test drive an amazing little product from Eden Fantasys recently. I was looking for something beyond the standard vibrating… uh… dildo? (I can’t believe I just said “dildo”) I wanted to try something new and fun! The lovely Nicole Ibarrondo, marketing extraordinaire, took some time to discuss with me what my * cough * needs were. Together, we decided on this little beauty: The Nea.

When I first opened the package, I was surprised to find an elegant black box. I’ll admit… I was expecting something trashy! The Nea is so far from trashy! Inside the jewelry like box was the Nea, a charger, an instruction booklet, and a sweet little travel bag. I travel a lot… I knew that I could get through airport security unembarrassed with my Nea. Yes… I have been stopped in possession of a less discreet item.

Holding it is almost like holding a computer mouse… only smaller. It’s contoured to hit all of your external hot spots. I find that the Nea is best used for direct clitoral contact. (I totally said that without blushing) The two buttons on the bottom control the speed of the vibration and the pulse modes. There are FIVE pulse modes and let me tell you that each one is well… perfect… no matter what your mood. Not only that… but the Nea is quiet! It’s nearly silent!

My favorite part about the Nea is the fact that it’s re-chargable. That’s right! No more stealing batteries from the T.V. remote just to get your kicks. I bet you want one now… Well Eden Fantasys is giving away a $25 gift certificate toward the purchase of your choice so check out Childhoodclothing.com to enter the giveaway!

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Smart Moms Comparison Shop ~ UrbanStone

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Who doesn’t like to know if they are getting the best shopping deals possible? Comparison shopping is just plain smart. If you like to compare shopping prices take a look at UrbanStone.  This is a site that will be of interest to our UK readers.  Urban Stone.co.uk allows you to search for almost anything you could possibly want to compare the prices of.  Everything from clothing, accessories, electronics, appliances, computers, you name it.
In our family, we desperately need an extra freezer.  With three kids that are starting to eat us out of house and home I’ve been preparing meals in double, sometimes triple, batches and shopping in bulk at Costco.  I’d love to have a freezer chest in the garage. I searched the appliances category on UrbanStone for a freezer and pages upon pages of freezers popped up!  I was happy to see that I could narrow my search to freezer chests and from there I was able to narrow my search by size, price range, defrost types, and even by energy efficiency.  Once I honed in on what I wanted there were six stores to compare and the prices ranged from £281.00 – £440.00 That’s a huge difference in price!! This would be the perfect site for someone building house or renovating a kitchen, you could compare the costs for dishwashers, freestanding cookers, hobs , kitchen hoods, microwave ovens, gas and electric ovens, and refrigerators. Not only can you comparison shop for the best prices but most of the products have been rated and reviewed by actual customers.  So you get a great price and a proven product. My husband is one lucky guy, I may drive him batty with frugality but I sure have saved him some serious money of the years!
So, what are you in the market for?  Search UrbanStone and compare before you head out to make any purchases!

*I was compensated for this post.  All opinions are mine and based on my experience.

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