Off-Season in New Orleans ~ A Family Budget Vacation

The first week in March, the husband and I went to New Orleans by Amtrak without the kids.  We had 5 days to ourselves exploring all we wanted to see and do in the Big Easy.  There was sooo much more than just good drinks, we loved every bit of our adventure.  But...WE SPENT A TON!

The kids (6 and 3) haven't let us forget the fact that they want to go to New Orleans, too!  Soooo...things worked out well in their favor.  We are going to NOLA in the summer!  YIKES!  Yes...we are crazy.  Yes...we know it will be hot.  Yes... we know it's really balmy allll summer.  

However.... we are aiming for a Budget-Friendly Family Vacation.  By traveling to a destination with a summer off-season, we are more likely to accomplish that.  So far, I have planned the first 4 days of our itinerary  and we should come in waaaaay under budget :D

I recently did a review on RedWeek.com, and through them, I found a Timeshare Rental for only $60/night! Only $240 for 4 nights in New Orleans!  To top it off, we will be staying right at the end of the French Quarter, near the Market :D  So I can wake up, and walk the few blocks to Cafe du Monde for my Beignets and Cafe Au Lait!!!  My girls are gonna be soooo excited to finally get real beignets!

Please follow Housewife Survival Guide to stay current as we plan our vacation.  As we get nearer to our departure, I will post a full itinerary.  When we arrive, you will be seeing reviews of places and things we are enjoying, pictures included.

If you have any tips, advice, or suggestions... feel free to comment on this post to let us know.  I don't want to miss out on a great adventure.

First Impressions of Diet 1234

**** UPDATE ON MY 90 DAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE ****

Diet 1234 pills came in the mail Friday!!  I must say, I wasn't impressed with the package I received.  Seriously, all that was in the package was 4 tiny booklets and my 3 bottles of pills.  The tiny booklets would've been nice if they explained anything to do with taking these pills, but they didn't!  One booklet was a pamphlet for all the Creative Bioscience products, the others were Diet Instructions that didn't tell me a whole lot at all.  If I didn't know what I was doing, there'd be a TON of questions left unanswered.

What I would like to have seen: 

1. A more thorough information booklet about this particular product. 
2. Ingredients list in this booklet
3. Consistency within the instructions. (bottle says avoid extra caffeine, but instructions say unlimited amounts of black coffee is okay)
4. Just a snazzier "Welcome to Creative Bioscience" type booklets.  For a pricey supplement (my 90 day supply = $209 retail) I would expect to see a colorful paper or booklet that welcomes me and tells me what to do.  Just sayin' 

^ You can see in relation to a notebook, just how tiny the booklets are. ^

That all being said....

I have had much more energy and focus. My thoughts aren't as scattered while I'm working.  Also, I haven't experienced any side-effects.  I though I might have been Sunday evening when I felt a twinge of  a headache.  However, when I woke up Monday morning with a full on migraine and Aunt Flo at my house for the week, (sorry TMI but it's necessary) I realized it was all hormonal issues, not from the Diet 1234 supplements.

I'm keeping a spreadsheet online based on the tiny spreadsheet on the back of the little booklets received with my Diet 1234 supplements:

With this, I can keep track anywhere!

Be sure to scroll all the way to the right of the spreadsheet to see my daily notes (complaints maybe).

Please feel free to ask me questions in the comments below.

Wish me luck!

* ORIGINAL POST WITH MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND MY 90 DAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE * http://www.housewifesurvival.blogspot.com/2012/06/90-day-weight-loss-challenge.html

90 Day Weight Loss Challenge

Good Morning Everyone!!!! <3

As I am getting ready for work this morning, I couldn't wait to let you all know that I've been given the opportunity to take part in a 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge sponsored by Creative Bioscience.  This came at the perfect time in my life.

About 3 months ago, I started counting my caloric intake and being more active.  It helped that it was spring time and I could get out with the kids and have fun.  Immediately, 10 lbs melted off.  After another month of diet and exercise, I seemed to be at my plateau.  143 lbs may not sound like much to some of you, but I am only 5'2".  None of my clothes are fitting right, and for the first time in my life, my arms are getting fat!!!  That is just crazy!!!

When I received an email from Creative Bioscience inviting me to the 90 Day Challenge, I knew it was meant to be.  The let me choose the product that would fit my needs and lifestyle.

After carefully reviewing their product line (like 3 times!) I chose Diet 1234.  With my daughter's summer activities and sports in full swing, I am concerned that my "sneaking extra calories" will derail what I've been working toward.  With Diet 1234, I am able to be a bit more relaxed with my calorie count and exercise program.  Diet 1234 helps keep fatigue and hunger at bay while dieting.  Suppresses appetite, boosts energy, prevents new fat formation, by enlisting nature's help with natural ingredients.

I will be sharing my continued progress with you wonderful readers.  Any pitfalls and/or successes will be right here for your entertainment.  Maybe there will be a pic or 2 for you to giggle at my chubbiness?

The best part, Creative Bioscience will give me a 90 day supply to giveaway in a Rafflecopter contest!  So one of you lucky readers will be able to try one of their products as well (winner's choice)....isn't that just FABULOUS!!!

Please check with your doctor before starting any weight loss plan.  Have your pre-existing conditions checked and discuss how this diet plan could affect you.

Are you a blogger as well?  Creative Bioscience wants to hear from you too.  There are still opportunities to be involved in this awesome challenge. 

Sign up here 

Leg shaving gone public...

I honestly didn't think I'd be sharing any information about leg shaving on my blog!  Yet, here I am....about to tell you alllll about my legs.  "Why?" you ask... because I am a BzzAgent and must review awesome products and share the news with my friends/family/followers (followers? I am not a cult leader...well, maybe I'll become a leg shaving cult leader...we'll see).


Here are the new Bic Soleil Savvy Razors I will be reviewing:

(Doesn't she look super excited to have soft legs?  Maybe she is on some crazy 

hallucinogen and these magical floating razors are giving her the giggles?)

I'm a brunette with very dark-brown, coarse hair on my legs (TMI?)  After I shave, you can still see the hairs just under the skin.  My skin tans very easily....on the upper half of my body!  For some reason my legs just don't really tan anymore.  So with this combination, if you look very very closely at my legs after I shave, they look prickly even though they aren't.  Don't get me started on the whole I just shaved shut the bathroom door before I get goosebumps and have to shave again thing (I am always shouting this at the husband and spawn).  That really drives me insane!  Not to mention the bumpies I get just because my hairs grow all stupid-like and so quickly that they can't possibly come out of the skin properly!!!!  

Okay... enough with the TMI.  Just stay tuned.  I'm due to receive a BzzKit on this product and will have a nice long blog coming soon.  Full of pictures of my legs before and after, too!!  I'll let 'em get extra furry just for this experiment ;)  Don't say I never gave you anything.  Because after this experiment/product review, I will have bared my sole on this whole shaving thing (legs too!).

Here is what I read about these razors...

You've got brains, a gift for never paying full price and (we hope you don't mind us stating the obvious) a show-stopping pair of legs. So it's only natural you'd want an effortless way to display all three.

Enter BIC^® Soleil^® Savvy^™ — an innovative razor that combines the convenience and priced-to-please savings of a disposable with the premium shave performance of a refillable cartridge system. In short, this shaving experience feels savvier with each stroke. Flexible blade technology and a pivoting head provide a flawlessly smooth shave.

Every Soleil Savvy package contains an easy-grip disposable handle and four replaceable, triple-blade heads. Show off your practicality and intelligence by saying no to pricey razor refills, and then show off your super-close shave to those legions of admirers. (Because we know you have them.)

They actually sound pretty amazing.  Just think about how much "greener" these are without 4 separate handles in the package!  

Lower your carbon footprint here!

What's in The Package?

• Each BIC Soleil Savvy package contains one disposable handle and four refillable cartridges
• The razor's handle includes a rubber grip for added control
• Triple-blade heads feature flexible blade technology and lubricating strips with Vitamin E
• Pivoting heads are made to follow a woman's contours and provide a super-close shave
• Available at grocery stores, drug stores and mass retailers (like Walmart) for a suggested retail price of $7.49

To be Continued.....