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Bender Ball-As Seen On TV

December 21, 2008 By

bender-ball When I was in better shape (meaning, about 40 pounds ago), I spent about 3 days a week working on my core strength. If you aren’t familiar with the term, “core” refers to the band of muscles that run from your sides under your ribcage to the front on either side of your belly button. It’s these muscles that support your body and help you stay upright. When they are weak, you don’t stand up straight, which leads to backaches. If you stand sideways in front of a mirror and notice that you are leaning forward slightly, it’s more than likely because you have a weak “core”.

Mine is so weak right now after three children and all this weight gain, I’m practically falling on my face. And believe me, I’m not happy about it. There are several different ways to strengthen your core muscles, and one way is by using a small inflated ball under your back. Laying on a ball forces your muscles to automatically engage to keep you from rolling off.  Also, instead of just lifting yourself up off the floor like with a traditional “crunch” exercise, laying on an exercise ball means you work your muscles while lifting up, and also while laying back.

I got a Bender Ball kit to review from Family Review Network, it’s sold on TV infomercials. It comes with a little straw thing that you insert into a hole in the ball and then use to blow it up. I did a Google search of “Bender Ball” to see what consumer reviews were saying about it, and one thing I noticed was many complaints that the ball “didn’t blow up all the way”. It’s NOT SUPPOSED TO. It’s supposed to be squishy so that it gives with your weight as you lay on it. If it was blown up all the way, you would bounce off of it!!

To be honest, I’m too overweight and too weak for this to work. I could get the ball under my lower back, but I couldn’t move. At ALL. Which just motivates me that much more to burn off some of this dang fat so that I can FIND my core muscles so I can strengthen them!

The basic Bender Method Kit is $9.99 on VHS and $12.98 for DVD, and includes a manual that explains the method, the Core Training DVD, and a bonus Buns & Thighs DVD. The Bender Ball site also has a Total Core Training Kit that comes with more DVDs.  I know from experience that core training works, you’ll feel like you are standing up straighter and your stomach will pull in.  I hope to be able to have that experience again soon!

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Win Bratz Kids: Slumber Party for Wii!

December 9, 2008 By

This giveaway is closed. Congratulations to the winner, Ginny from Mom of 2 Dancers!

bratz kids slumber partyThanks to The Game Factory, I have a copy of Bratz Kids: Slumber Party for the Wii to give away.

Yasmin is hosting a sleepover. As our 4 girls look through Yasmin’s photo album, they remember all their craziest times together and embark on an adventure based on each of the memories in the album! The game features:
*13 mini-games and activities involving fashion magazines, cooking, memory-games and photo-sessions.
*Customize your character with tons of accessories, clothing and styling options including hairstyle, make-up, manicure, clothes, shoes and jewelry.
*Customize your character’s bedroom – pick everything from wallpaper, curtains and carpets to furniture, plants and more!
*Save up to 4 personalized Bratz Kidz profiles and bedrooms, and play with up to three friends in the multiplayer setting.

WIN IT: For one entry, visit The Game Factory site and browse the games, then come back here and leave a comment on this post with your real first name or blog alias, valid email address, and the answer to this question- what is one other game you saw on the site that you think would be fun to play? Open to U.S. 18+, one entry per email address. Enter by December 16th at 6:00 PM ET.

EXTRA ENTRIES: I’ll give you one extra entry for each of the following that you do. Please leave the extra entry in a separate comment.

1.Post this button on your blog and get one entry into every giveaway! Let me know in a comment so I can keep a list of everyone posting the button.

Table for Five Holiday Gift Guide

Copy and paste to link to me using this badge:

2. Link to http://table4five.net on your blogroll.

3. Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, by posting the link to StumbleUpon, Digg, Kirtsy, Twitter, or posting it on a Forum. You must leave your username for that site in your comment so I can check. This is a great way for non bloggers to earn an extra entry! Links are at the end of the post.

4. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post and to www.landsend.com. Please include that it ends Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 6:00 PM ET.

For more chances to win, stop by Family Review Network for a list of other members giving away this cool game!

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Weiman Cleaning Products Get Your Whole House Clean

December 4, 2008 By

I recently received new cleaning products from the Weiman company to review, from Family Review Network. My kitchen has never been so sparkling clean! And the best part is, I get to give away a prize pack containing Weiman cleaning products and the very awesome DirtTamer wet/dry vac, prize value is $100!

Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes clean, polish, and protect all kinds of stainless steel surfaces, includingweiman stainless steel wipes my kitchen sink and faucet. I recommended them to my friend Kellie who has a stainless steel refrigerator. You just pull a wipe out of the container, wipe the surface, then buff it dry with a clean cloth, and you get sparkle and shine instead of smudges and smears! The suggested price is $5.49 and the wipes are available at Ace Hardware, Kmart, Target, True Value, and Wal-Mart.

weiman glass cook top cleanerWeiman Glass Cook Top Cleaner has turned out to be the answer to my prayers as far as keeping the top of my glass cooktop stove clean. It’s the nation’s top rated brand of glass cook top cleaner according to AC Nielsen! It’s a creamy white liquid that you squirt on to the surface, rub in gently with a lightly damp cloth, then wipe off with a clean damp cloth. The first time I used it, I could not believe how much brown greasey gook came off the top of my stove. I could actually SEE myself in the top of my stove when I was done! The suggested price for a 10-ounce bottle is $4.99, and it’s sold at Home Depot.

Perfect Planet Squeeze and Clean Floor CleanerPerfect Planet Squeeze and Clean Floor Cleaner has an all-natural, plant-based formula with no petrochemicals, ammonia, alcohol, bleach, or phosphates. It’s biodegradable and can be used regularly on most floor surfaces including finished hardwood, laminate, linoleum, vinyl, ceramic tile, and marble. You squirt a little out onto your floor then go over it with a damp mop, no rinsing required. The smell is fresh, and on my laminate hallway floor, it left a nice shine. The suggested retail price for a 27-ounce bottle is $3.99, and can be purchased at www.weiman.com, and at select retailers such as Jewel-Osco and Menards.

Immediately following this post, I’ll be reviewing the FilterStream Dirt Tamer and then announcing the giveaway for a prize pack worth $100.00, so check back again!

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