DreamWalk in my Chinese Laundry Platforms

Recently, as a #BzzAgent, I #GotItFree and got to test drive a pair of Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles. What inspired me to participate in this campaign was the fact that I have had three separate foot surgeries on both my feet. For me, wearing a pair of shoes, other than flats, can pose a real issue.

Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles
[JaguarJulie sporting Pucci-licious Color Club Nail Polish]

When my package arrived from BzzAgent, I noticed that the package stated these fit women's shoes sizes 6 through 10. I was wondering if I would need to cut them. However, once I opened that package I saw that they weren't the complete length of the shoe. You can see that they are the palest of pink colors. I might have suggested a light nude, like skin, color instead.

Feeling the insoles, there is a nubby texture which is the wicking fabric which helps to wick the moisture away from your feet and keep them dry. That is a good thing since I don't wear panty hose and my feet do tend to perspire here in Jacksonville, Florida.

IN MY CHINESE LAUNDRY PLATFORMS

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels

I dug in my closet to see what high heels I had left since I have been selling my shoes on eCrater and donating quite a few to Goodwill. Hmmm, when I pulled out the Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels, I didn't realize that I was going to be extremely trendy with my old pair of shoes. You see, the Miss USA Pageant outfitted all the contestants in Chinese Laundry metallic platform heels. Did you see that?

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

There you have it -- my pair of Chinese Laundry platforms with the DreamWalk insoles. Good thing the back of the insoles wasn't any wider -- it just fits in my heels!

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

Looking at the side of my platforms, you can see how well the insert fits this shoe. The shoes have a 1 inch platform with a bit over 4 inches of heel. Since the insoles are designed for heels 2 inches or higher, these are great for testing the product.

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

When you put the insoles into your heels, you peel off the plastic and place the sticky side down, aligning with the back of the shoe. I like how the insoles stay in place.

JaguarJulie in Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

Ah, there I am in my Chinese Laundry platforms sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles. Those insoles have an "ultra-soft gel arch" which cushions your foot and helps to shift all that pressure off the balls of your feet. Usually, in heels, you are pressing down quite a bit on the balls of your feet. Usually, after a long day on my feet, it is the balls of my feet which hurt the most.

The DreamWalk High Heel Insoles are "clinically proven to help prevent foot pain." That is a nice bonus for me because after a Morton's Neuroma surgery to my right foot, followed by a bunionectomy on the right and then another bunionectomy on the left, I know foot pain!! Another big challenge for me is fallen arches. I've gotten used to how my feet feel with no arches -- I surely have no idea how your foot would feel with arches! So, having an insole with a gel pad at the arch area, helps to cushion my step.

So? Where did I go with DreamWalk? I actually put on my shoes with those sporty insoles and headed for my local mall. I did my normal walk from one end to the other, stopping at Belk's, JC Penneys, Dillard's, and finally Sears ... and then back again.

Today, I got an email from BzzAgent -- they suggested "it’s time you pulled some fabulous pairs out of early retirement and hit the town." Well, I don't know if they knew that I myself have taken early retirement and don't usually hit the town on my social security income. However, I often go sightseeing at my local mall. It's a good opportunity to try out these insoles and get a little exercise too.

I survived the first go-around and I am contemplating a second visit to my mall in my DreamWalk high heel insoles. I've got another pair of black platforms which are similar in style to these -- I definitely would like another pair of the insoles to put in those shoes. I'd rather not pull the insoles from the Chinese Laundry platforms.

I must say that I did enjoy the cushion-like feel of the insoles. And, I'm glad I pulled those shoes out of early retirement to join me in my walk.

 Maybe some day, I will be dancing in them! A gal can dream ... first your walk, then you dance!

Ah, DreamWalk from Dr. Scholl's.

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil

Thanks to BzzAgent, I just got to try a 4 ounce bag of delicious Kashi™ Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil for free. Yep, I #GotItFree from #bzzagent. So, nobody has paid me for this review or possible endorsement. I am telling you like it is, straight from the proverbial horse's mouth: mine!

I am pretty selective when it comes to chips and crisps. My usual complaint is that the flavor isn't quite right and that they are way too salty for my healthy tastebuds.

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil in a Bowl

So, what a pleasant surprise when I chomped down on the first Kashi Hummus Crisp. Ah, all natural hummus crisps! There it is! Take a closer look.

Note the very round shape. That's what I noticed first. Then, the healthy tannish color. The thickness is pretty much spot-on - not too thin and not too thick. The crisps also have a nice texture with little bumps and ridges.

When I poured some of these into my bowl, I was noticing that there were a lot of perfect crisps; i.e., not too much breakage.

By the way, I didn't eat that whole bowl of crisps. However, I did have quite a few. Looking at the nutrition facts, 27 crisps is the recommended portion for one serving.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 120 - Calories from Fat: 30
Total Fat: 3.5g - 5%
   Saturated Fat - 0g
   Trans Fat - 0g
   Polyunsaturated Fat - 1g
   Monounsaturated Fat 2.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg - 0%
Sodium: 180mg - 8%
Potassium: 90mg - 3%
Total Carbohydrate: 21g - 7%
   Dietary Fiber - 4g
   Sugars less than 1g
Protein: 3g - 5%
Calcium: 2%    Iron: 4%

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Campbell's Creamy Gouda Bisque with Chicken Soup

My second serving of Kashi Hummus Crisps was the next day for lunch. I had a bowl of Campbell's Creamy Gouda Bisque with Chicken Soup.

My favorite soups are in the orange color range. And, this particular soup was a perfect pairing with the hummus crisps.

In this picture, I show twelve individual crisps arranged around my bowl of soup - rather like the hour spots on a clock! That's kind of the message too; i.e., Kashi Hummus Crisps are perfect around the clock - either alone or paired with soup!

These crisps also come in Sundried Tomato, Basil and Feta along with Caramelized Onion. Both of the alternative versions would be great with this type of soup!

What makes these crisps so tasty? Well, they are made from chickpeas and whole grains. The seasoning really hits the spot with nutty extra virgin olive oil [the only kind I personally use], savory sea salt [I've been using more sea salt lately], and a healthy sprinkling of parsley! A positive for me is that Kashi left out the artificial ingredients and left in "the good-for-you goodness!" For a healthy snack, I fully expected them to have fiber; i.e. 4 grams of fiber; however, the 3 grams of protein is an added bonus!

Thanks BzzAgent!

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Bzzkit: 4oz. package, 5 coupons, info card

Time flies when you are having fun! I've had a lot of fun with Bzzagent. I've been with them for over ten years! Holy moly, but that is longer than my last marriage.

Each time that I have received a Bzzkit, it's been a little like opening a present at Christmas. In this particular Bzzkit, I received the 4 ounce package of Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt and Olive Oil. Included were 5 coupons to save $1.00 on any two Kashi All Natural Hummus Crisps.

For sure I will be using that first $1.00 coupon and sharing the others with 4 of my closest friends.

That Bzzkit info card says, "For those about to bzz, we salute you. Oh, and give you this awesome stuff. To keep the great products coming, get the conversations started on BzzAgent.com." And, so on and so forth! bzz bzz

Well, thanks to BzzAgent, I #GotItFree and I also added something nutritious to my snack menu! I will be working my way through the other flavors, but find it pretty hard to top the great taste of Sea Salt and Olive Oil.

Have you tried any of the Kashi Hummus Crisps yet? Which is your favorite healthy taste?

Benjamin Moore Aura Paint in Action

On Friday, October 12, 2012, I received my Benjamin Moore Aura Paint BzzKit from BzzAgent. This has to be the fastest BzzAgent project that I have ever participated in over the past 8 years! On Saturday, October 13, 2012, I drove to my neighborhood Benjamin Moore dealer, Mandarin Paint Center. I was quite impressed with all the Benjamin Moore displays and products in this dealer's store. Check out the photo!

Benjamin Moore Dealer, Mandarin Paint Center - Jacksonville, Florida

While I was waiting for Steve Taras to finish with a customer, I browsed the nicely stocked and organized showroom. It was impressive to see all the supportive product literature on the shelves! I took some time to focus on the color of paint I wanted. I had already found a teal-like Affinity color that I liked from the color sample swatch wheel that was in my BzzKit. When I saw the color samples for the Historical Collection, I settled on HC-137, Mill Springs Blue.

Benjamin Moore Aura HC-137 Mill Springs Blue Color Sample
Benjamin Moore Sheen Chart and Sales Receipt for one gallon of Aura paint

The HC-137, Mill Springs Blue, is shown in the photo above - it is the middle color in the three-color sample. What was curious? The Sheen Chart coincidentally seemed to match my color! If you can see by the sales receipt, that one gallon of Benjamin Moore Aura HC-137 Mill Springs Blue sells for $54.99! Fortunately for me, I #GotItFree [that's I got it free folks!] from BzzAgent!

Now, it was time to put that Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint into action! The intended room for my paint project? Why the garage! You see, I have had the entire interior, including ceiling, of my home painted ... except for the garage. I don't know many garages that would be painted with $54.99 paint!

Garage Wall before - October 13, 2012 AM

Saturday, October 13, 2012, was the perfect day for painting. It was cooler than previous days with a slight breeze. I had to remove items from the overhead shelf and then brush clean the walls and baseboard. I took my time applying the paint with a roller, edging in the ceiling and baseboard area as I went. That paint was a "absolute treat" to work with and apply to the walls. It felt like a paint custard.

Garage Wall after - October 13, 2012 PM

Check out that painted wall! Now, look at the before shot. See all those defects on the wall? The Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint did a FANTASTIC job of covering the defects and imperfections on that garage wall. I probably would have needed to paint two coats with any regular paint. And, I probably should have primed that garage wall first before ... but NO need to do that with Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint -- that primer is already in the paint!

On Sunday, October 14, 2012, I continued with the Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint and painted the back wall. I had just enough paint to finish that second wall. After I finished with the walls, I opened up the pint of Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint and Primer in Eggshell Finish. I painted the baseboards and then opted to paint the door and door molding.

I am so thankful that I had that pint of paint in white! The door looks brand new; plus, the baseboards look pretty incredible for a garage!!

Garage before - October 13, 2012 AM

Take another look at the overall view of the garage interior BEFORE! That's a lot of wall space, not to mention the challenge of trimming those walls! I think the toughest was the far left -- hot water heater!

Garage after - October 16, 2012 AM

Here's an overall view of the garage interior AFTER. The left side wall was actually painted with another color from another brand of paint that I used on my interior. I'll tell you about that wall in a separate blog post as this is about Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint!

The proof is in the pudding ... and in this case, the proof is on the walls! Look at those garage walls! Do you like the color? I love the teal color as I am a Jacksonville Jaguars fan -- that's one of their primary colors.

Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint
HC-137 Mill Springs Blue - A Spent Paint Can

Looking back on the painting experience, I was thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to try Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Interior Paint. It went on the walls like butter, so to speak, in that it did a great job of immediately covering the wall imperfections. There were no areas on those garage walls that required touch-ups! It was interesting in the clean-up that my paint pan had paint that sort of peeled off.

What a joy it was to test out Benjamin Moore paint in my garage. Normally, I would not ever spend $54.99 on a gallon of paint for a garage. However! Since I #GotItFree, I couldn't be happier. I am a happy camper folks. Thank you Benjamin Moore. And, thank you BzzAgent!

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount. And remember to include the hash tag #Aura.

Check out the offerings on Amazon for Benjamin Moore Aura Paint. Amazon has a lot to offer for Benjamin Moore Paint. Try it; you might just like it!

Benjamin Moore Aura Paint BzzKit

I just received my official BzzKit for the Benjamin Moore Aura Paint campaign. This has got to be one of the better BzzAgent campaigns that I have participated in the 8+ years I have been a BzzAgent!

Benjamin Moore Aura® Paint Official BzzKit
Photographed by BzzAgent JaguarJulie

As you can see in the picture, there is even a sample pint of that Benjamin Moore Aura® paint! In the official BzzKit you get:

• One pint of Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint and Primer - my sample is of the Eggshell Finish.
• Benjamin Moore Aura® Paint Official BzzGuide flyer
• Benjamin Moore "transform your home with color and paint" flyer
• Benjamin Moore Affinity Colors - color sample swatch wheel
• A coupon for one free gallon of Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint
• Five coupons for $5.00 off one gallon of Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint
• Material Safety Data Sheet [MSDS] for Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint and Primer in Eggshell Finish

I know a lot about MSDSs, having working as the Marketing Manager and then Marketing Director for a few companies who produce terpene chemicals and printing chemicals. I learned how to read an MSDS and use the product safety information when producing product data sheets for these companies!

Browsing my BzzGuide, I've learned a few things about Benjamin Moore Aura® Paint:

• Aura® was introduced in 2006
• It's the first product launched on the Gennex® colorant system
• It offers high performance with low odor and low VOCs
• The Color Lock® technology delivers truer hues and richer colors
• Paint and primer are combined in one paint; you don't need more than 2 coats
• Over 3,600 colors from which to choose

Drop back by in a few days as I will be picking out my paint and then starting my painting project. As luck would have it, I totally painted the interior of my home, including the ceiling. However, I didn't paint the garage! Yes, I am going to paint the interior of my garage with Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint and Primer!

At the moment, I am torn between two colors! I am thinking a teal or an eggplant. Looking at the color wheel, I like two really bold Affinity Colors -- fiji AF-525 and kalamata AF-630. I'm thinking I may settle on the teal range of colors since I do support the Jacksonville Jaguars and think a teal garage will be more appealing to a buyer!

Learn more about Benjamin Moore Aura® Waterborne Interior Paint. Check out the videos on How to Prepare Walls for Painting and How to Paint a Wall. Check out the offerings of Benjamin Moore Paint at Amazon.

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount. And remember to include the hash tag #Aura.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Pineapple and Mangosteen

I have been testing out the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser in Pineapple and Mangosteen for about a week. As a BzzAgent, we are privileged to get to sample great products like these ... and then spread the word of mouth on the product to our friends and the world via social media and the internet.

This is my second recent experience with a Glade Expressions product. I've blogged previously about the Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray. I really am loving the fine quality of the Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill
in Pineapple and Mangosteen

While I really do also love the Pineapple and Mangosteen fragrance smell, I am not wild about the presentation of this product. As you can see from the product image, I am testing only the refill and not the actual Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser unit. For the past 3 weeks, I looked in my local stores for the oil diffuser, but could not find the actual unit, only the refills. Using my coupon, I #GotItFree -- I got it free and found it at my local Publix grocery store.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen
On my kitchen counter top next to my JOY !!

I don't believe the actual oil diffuser unit would change my opinion of this product. The Pineapple and Mangosteen fragrance is very fruity and true to life in regards to the quality of the actual pineapple smell. It works well in my kitchen where I placed it on my kitchen counter top next to my JOY angel candle holder. I wouldn't want to use that type of fruity smell in the other rooms of my house. Personally, this oil diffuser product doesn't appeal to me, and I doubt I would want to purchase it again.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen
Glade White Tea and Lily Fragrance Spray
Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin Spray
Glade Holiday Evergreen Potpourri Spray

Check out the picture of the 4 different Glade fragrance products! You can see how the two newest products compare physically with two older Glade fragrance mist sprays. I really LOVE the fragrances of white tea and lily and the holiday evergreen potpourri. The Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance appeals to my senses as well. You see, I am more into fine florals than fruity smells. And, I really do appreciate the traditional fragrance mist sprays -- both in the traditional spray cans and in the newer Glade Expressions Collection mist sprays.

By the way, you can see that I added a pink ribbon to the Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray. I really feel that white container is a tad bit too white and needs a little dressing up. A pink ribbon seems like the appropriate thing to do for being "in the pink" during the month of October in celebration of my Cancer Awareness.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill Package
in Pineapple and Mangosteen

Checking the outer packaging of the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen, it says I should expect 30 days of fragrance on this refill. To activate the diffuser card, I pushed it into the bottle until I heard a click. The package shows that I have a goldish-brown tone diffuser base that is recommended to accompany this refill.

There is a caution that is important! It says "do not use in small, confined pet areas with adequate ventilation." That is good to know because I would think this item would be good for areas with pets.

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount. Hey! I got that Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen free!

Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been enjoying a new fragrance sensation from Glade. It is the Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray.

It is described, by Glade quite artfully:

Escape into a relaxing Italian villa with the clean and refreshing fragrance Cotton & Italian Mandarin. A breezy blend of cotton, honeydew and sandalwood complemented by sparkling citrus creates a captivating fragrance that’s not to be missed.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray in container with product label skin.

In addition to Cotton & Italian Mandarin, the Glade Expressions^® Collection includes:

• Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice
• Lavender & Juniper Berry
• Pineapple & Mangosteen 

It is because of BzzAgent that I am able to sample this lovely fragrance mist spray for free. I have been a BzzAgent for over 8 years and have been privileged to spread the buzz and word of mouth on many fabulous products.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray with product label skin peeled away.

In my professional marketing career, I have worked for a company that created flavors and fragrances from terpenes derived from alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. I first had my sense of smell fine-tuned at Glidco Organics, later Millennium Specialty Chemicals. Because of my refined "tastes" and "sense of smell," I have an appreciation for fine fragrance smells.

I can tell you that Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin has a very fine floral fragrance that is quite appealing. This particular fragrance has quickly become one of my favorites as it almost reminds me of the type of celebrity fragrances that I like to wear. I've not tried the other 3 selections, but I would like to also try Lavender & Juniper Berry.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray in an attractively styled white container.

What I've noticed with the spray container that you have to squeeze a bit harder than I would like to activate the mist spray. However, this can be a good thing, as I need to exercise the grip on my right hand.

A suggestion that I would make to Glade is to provide the containers in something other than white plastic. I'd like to see skins of floral decorations to complement the actual fragrance. As you can see, from the three pictures I've included, the product labeling peels off like a skin to reveal the solid white container. I really like how the top side of the container is styled to reveal a peek at the fragrance refill that slips inside from the bottom.

Pretty cool to actually get to sample a new fragrance mist and then tell everybody about it. Have you tried the Glade Expressions^® Collection? I recommend the Cotton & Italian Mandarin. Personally, with my rather filled business and personal life, the thought of escaping to an Italian villa is quite appealing. I AM overdue for a vacation, you know?

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount.

Holy Purple Cow COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion

Hello Ladies and Interested Men! Holy Purple Cow! Hold those presses and mascara-less eyelashes for COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara! I had heard tell that BzzAgent Jono was actually wanting to participate in the hoopla to achieve a blast of volume and more dramatic lashes with COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara!

Speaking for myself, I initially thought, "well it is about time!" when I heard that there would be a BzzAgent campaign for a mascara. Yeah, I couldn't wait to get in on the campaign and try that COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara for myself.  Hey, my eyes are truly an important feature; those eyelashes better look great. I don't use false eyelashes; nope, no way -- nothing false about my eyelashes [well, or me for that matter!]

It is now a good week since the purple tube arrived and I am truly digging this mascara!  First of all, hello to my fellow Squidoo lensmasters in the quest for the purple star award.  I am giving the purple star award today to this pretty purple tube of COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara!  OMG, it is the prettiest purple color.  Don't take my word for it, look at that picture!

I wanted to let you know all the players in my mascara lash-off.  We've got Maybelline, the COLOSSAL Volume Express, in that vivid yellow tube.  That's what I had just been using before switching to the COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara!  The rest of the previous players include:

• Maybelline VOLUM Express Turbo Boost in very black
• COVERGIRL exact eyelights in black ruby
• CLINIQUE high impact mascara
• LANCOME PARIS L'EXTREME

There is just one mascara missing from the previous line-up, and that would be the pink and green tube of Maybelline.  That one fell out of the mix about 6 months ago!

Since it is early in the testing, I will need to follow-up with my adoring public in the near future.  At that time, I will give you my scoop on how much I am enjoying the COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion mascara!  And, if you live nearby, knock on my door and I'll give you a $2.00 off coupon to try some of this fabulous mascara in the pretty purple tube!  Ah, but you better hurry!  The coupon expires on 9/30/10.

Gotta have it? Well, do not waste a minute ... here it is at Amazon, along with some other great COVERGIRL masacaras!

Olay Simply Ageless speaks to me!

Oh Joy for COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless! Yes indeed. Over the years, I've been using a variety of Oil of Olay products. Can you imagine my joy when BzzAgent announced recently that a new project was available? A project to try COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless beauty products? Why, I was on it like white is on rice ... or so "they" say.

Here is a picture of those beauty products that were included in my BzzKit.  My kit included #225 foundation, #230 blush, #230 corrector and #220 eye concealer.

I really like the line of Oil of Olay products, so I was pretty excited to be accepted into this project.  In the past, I've mostly used liquid foundation.  Once or twice in the past, I had tried compact type makeup, but not really been that excited about how it was difficult to apply.  Thus far, I am finding application of the COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless [CGOSA] to be almost flawless.  On the flip side of the swirled makeup is a round, spongy applicator that is kept separate in the compact ... that is good.  I don't like my applicator to be parked on top of my makeup.  ;)

Living in Florida, the weather can be quite hot and humid.  And, if you are a menopausal or postmenopausal lady, you're already packing a little extra heat.  Add being a blonde, well then you are over the top on the hot stuff scale!

I like a type of makeup that doesn't make me feel like I am wearing a mask.  And, I like a type of makeup that still lets my skin breathe while providing the extra values of protection from the sun AND anti-aging oh yeah!  So far, I will score these new beauty products high on my like scale.

The breakthrough formula, "infused with Olay Regenerist serum, the Simply Ageless Collection of foundation, blush, concealer, and corrector is formulated to stay suspended over fine lines and wrinkles for flattering, flawless coverage at any age." It won a 2009 Beauty Insider's Choice Award too!

What I am hoping to tell you about is verification of the clinical results which have "shown to provide significant improvement in skin condition in just four weeks."

Oh, since I've now gotten a bit of a tan, I am finding that the #225 foundation is a bit too light for me. It is important to note, that you should probably go a shade darker when picking this foundation. I have another tip for you! As I was in a bit of a hurry the first time I put on the foundation, I actually got a bit on my eyelashes. Well, would you know that when I went to apply my mascara, I found that my mascara applied BETTER! That was an extra bonus.

You'll have to check back with me to hear how I'm doing with the anti-aging benefits! I fully expect to report back that I really do look like I am JUST 39 years old. Oh yeah!

I am a Brand Ambassador -- How about YOU?

I have been a Brand Ambassador for more than a decade. It is thanks hugely to the impact of the internet and digital, social media which has brought Brand Ambassadorship to the forefront. My previous blog post, I love my brands and love brands in public - neat project, introduced my readers to Brands in Public -- brands that I support. It also discussed how I have been a BzzAgent for many years and that the Brands in Public project is a co-project between BzzAgent and Squidoo. Since that blog post, I followed up with Brands in Public on Twitter to spotlight the buzz on Twitter about this project.

That article is a Twitter List of what people are saying on Twitter -- about brands, branding, brands in public -- and where people are openly debating whether this new project is brand ambassadorship or a form of brand jacking or brand hijacking. When I caught that stream of consciousness, I must admit that I was bewildered to say the least. I wondered if maybe it was sour grapes or someone having an axe to grind with this project or with Seth Godin, Squidoo and/or BzzAgent. It seems that there are always going to be naysayers when there is a 'good' thing or something new or another way of 'looking at something.' And, from my years of online brand ambassadorship, I have seen that many people just HAVE to take the other side of the argument, to agree to disagree!

After another sleepless in Jacksonville night, I was up early to make some coffee, feed the plethora of cats, and then pen a new article, Brand Ambassador. I celebrate the brands; I celebrate what I do; I celebrate BzzAgent; I celebrate Squidoo; and I celebrate brands in public!

Amazon in Public | Crate & Barrel in Public | The Gap, Inc. in Public
Hermes in Public | KitchenAid in Public | L'Oreal in Public
Oracle in Public | Reality Check in Public | Wikipedia in Public

I love my brands and love brands in public - neat project!

Something new for me would be Brands in Public -- I Support. You see, recently BzzAgent and Squidoo launched the project of Brands in Public whereas certain Squidoo lensmasters were invited to create brand pages for brands they love. It was a first come, first served basis, limited to 15 lensmasters. Thankfully, I got the go-ahead to participate late on Friday, September 18, 2009. Initially I selected 3 brands, from what was left on the availability list, on which to create an unofficial brand page:

• Amazon in Public
• L'Oreal in Public
• Wikipedia in Public

I have a few more pages to add to the project and hope to get those produced before this Friday! I'm working on Crate and Barrel, Gap, Hermes, Intel, KitchenAid, Oracle, and Guy Kawasaki's Reality Check. A great selection of cool brands!

Have you participated in this project and created your own brand page? Well, you are cordially invited to add it to the special brand plexo list.

For more information on the Launching of Brands in Public, be sure to check out Seth Godin's blog post. There's a lot of great information there about brands in public! And, I would think that there is a pretty cool incentive to participate!

The first 100 brands that sign up will benefit from a share of the $500,000 in house ads Squidoo will run across the site promoting the service and the first partnering brands. Sales are handled by BzzAgent, so you'll be in good hands--please give them a call if you have any questions about the service.

P.S. I happened to see some source code which is interesting! target="_new" -- I've heard all the chit chat about the topicability of target="_blank" and no follow stuff too! But, now "new" -- this is interesting!

A Delicious Guiltless Grill Dinner of 750 Calories

A Delicious Dinner of 750 Calories, and I'm Enjoying a Guiltless Grill. My hubby and I invited our neighbor to join us for dinner at Chili's to sample their Guiltless Grill new entrees. Since she had a prior engagement, we opted to make it a date night out for just the two of us.

We were totally blown away by the mob of people on a Friday night at Chili's -- it would be difficult to tell that we are in a recession based on the number of people eating out. We decided to check out the Chili's on Baymeadows -- it ended up being about a 20 minute wait to be seated. I let our waitress Anna know that I was a BzzAgent and would be writing about my experience.

My selection was the Guiltless Carne Asada Steak medium-rare with the steamed broccoli with grated parmesan cheese and carrots. Hubby loves salmon, so he selected the Guiltless Grilled Salmon with the steamed vegies. Our meal was delivered promptly to our table. What surprised me and hubby most was the cut of meat! My steak was over an inch thick and maybe a little too rare, but I don't like to send steaks back, so I ate it.

Well, to conduct our own kind of 'study,' we decided to stop at another Chili's on San Jose Blvd. on Saturday night after the FCNMHP Hard Hat Party. I was unsuccessful convincing my hubby that he should really have the salmon so that he could compare it to the previous night's entree. Both hubby and I had Guiltless Carne Asada Steak. This time, we ordered it cooked medium. The cut of the steaks was obviously different from the previous nights in that they were just about half the thickness. However, they had a terrific marinated flavor and were extremely tender. We were happier with Saturday's dinner. And, I would definitely recommend the Guiltless Carne Asada Steak cooked medium to medium-rare. If you prefer the fish, hubby was happy with the Guiltless Grilled Salmon.

I took some time to let the manager know that I was a BzzAgent -- taking time to explain what exactly that means along with explaining how I would be bzzing about my dinner.

The Guiltless Grill offers healthier entrées for less than 750 calories each. The other entrees available on the Guiltless Grill menu include:

* Guiltless Buffalo or Grilled Chicken Sandwich
* Guiltless Cedar Plank Tilapia
* Guiltless Honey-Mustard Glazed
* Guiltless Chicken Platter
* Guiltless Black Bean Burger

Visit chilis.com to find Chili's restaurants locally and to checkout their new menu.

Positive Results with AVEENO® Positively Ageless™

When I received my Official BzzGuide for AVEENO® Positively Ageless™, my interest was piqued as I read about the ingredients in the moisturizer I was about to sample. Hmmm, the letter that came with my package said AVEENO® "has used everything from oatmeal and soy to lavender and chamomile in their ACTIVE NATURALS® line." Well, all those sound good to me.

A different kind of ingredient made me stop and read further, "shitake mushrooms help prevent collagen breakdown." Shitake mushrooms? Hey, wait a minute, I think I heard something about mushrooms in moisturizers this past week on one of the NBC talk shows. Checking out the facts in my BzzGuide, I learned that "shitake mushrooms were first cultivated in Asia over 1,000 years ago and have long been recognized by herbalists for their medicinal purposes." Count me in as someone open to trying something new, especially if it has a history of that many years!

As a BzzAgent, I've been trying the daily moisturizer with SPF 30 since the first week of March 2007 and can report that my skin is looking brighter and feeling softer. I love the container, but more importantly, how great my skin feels and looks. Now you can try a sample for free!
I'm taking this product on vacation with me to use as my facial sunscreen product.

I'll be back in about 10 days to give you my feedback!

POSITIVELY AGELESS™ is a new line of anti-aging facial care products from AVEENO®, the leader in ACTIVE NATURALS®. These products contain a breakthrough formula, with Natural Shitake Complex, that works with your unique skin, accelerating your own cell renewal process. In fact, 73% of women saw reduced lines and wrinkles in just 4 weeks, revealing healthy, younger-looking skin.

DAILY MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 30. A nourishing daily moisturizer that visibly reduces the signs of aging and helps prevent future damage with advanced sun protection.

Reported in julie3jax's Stylehive: Post 21053 and Post 21054 on March 14, 2007.

Have you found Squidoo yet

Have you checked out Squidoo yet? Well, it's been a matter of just weeks since I was first introduced to Squidoo by BzzAgent. I've already created 8 uniquely creative lenses and feel that Squidoo has "taken over my life!" But, I mean that in a good way. You can check out my lensmaster profile, JaguarJulie, to see what I've written!

The lens that I've created are as follows--yes, you do see a theme--Hungarian and proud to be Hungarian:

• Made in Hungary: Not Just Goulash!
• Gulyás Goulash: Hungarian Goulash
• Hungarian Spaetzle: Size Matters!
• Hungarian Gypsies aka Roma
• Nagy, the Hungarian Name
• Satu Mare
• Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Squidoo FAQ: "A lens is one person's (lensmaster's) view on a topic he cares about. More specifically, a lens is a single web page filled with information and links that point to other web pages, to continually updated RSS feeds, or to relevant advertising."

In September 2014, Squidoo transferred all the lenses in their portfolio to HubPages. Squidoo is no more.

Bzz Bzz - An Award Winner - Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner

Bzz Bzz -- An Award Winner -- Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner! Well, before I tell you about this award-winner, let me first introduce myself to you. I'm a BzzAgent! Yes, that's right. I've been a BzzAgent for a few years now.

So, what the heck is a BzzAgent anyway? I'm an "agent" participating actively in the "Word-of-Mouth" revolution ... "Where People Own Marketing."

The official word on this ... "In the past few years, BzzAgents and other word-of-mouth advocates have proven that honest opinions are more powerful than interruptive marketing messages ... Members of the BzzAgent network are making history by participating in the most important 'reality marketing' experiment ever conducted ... By Bzzing, we're all changing the rules of the game. Word-of-mouth has long been considered the most effective form of connecting people to products, but, until now, nobody has really captured its essence and power."

One of the BzzAgent project I'm participating in today, is something that is making my life a little easier around the house. I've always dreaded cleaning the shower and making sure it's free of soap scum, mold, and mildew; I tend to have a mold allergy--so this is important for me--to have a mold-free home. I was a tad bit skeptical about the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner, if it could deliver. But, each day, I'm a little more impressed with the product ... let me tell you more about it ...

It seems that this time of the year is the time for many awards. You know what I mean with all those award shows on television? Well, I've found another award winner to tell you about. It's the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner! Yes, it is an award winner too! It received the iParenting Media Award, the "Top Innovative Product" of the year award 2004 plus it has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval ! Wow, imagine that.

I always wanted a maid to help me clean around the house. Now, I've pretty much got that for my bathroom shower with this shower cleaner!

As you can see in the picture at left, this is the actual unit showing the dispenser with the bottle of cleaning solution. Notice the blue oval button near the bottom of the unit? You simply press that button when you are ready to leave your shower. The unit automatically begins to beep and will commence operation after you have left the shower. At the bottom of the unit is a 360-degree spray nozzle that turns to spray all the walls of the shower.

The Scrubbing Bubbles® product is a special patented formula. It is recommended to be used on a daily basis to tackle soap scum plus those nasty mold and mildew stains. You should see a sparkly clean shower after 14 to 21 uses. So, with each refill bottle lasting up to 21 cleanings, you should have a clean shower after just one bottle's use!

OK, don't take MY word for it, check it out for yourself. See what others are saying about the Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner by visiting AutomaticShowerCleaner.com.

This is a product of S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.; so you know it's a good product! Hey, want to check out BzzAgent for yourself? Well, take a look at bzzagent.com and tell them I sent you!!!