Sunday, December 27, 2009

Bidazzled.com. Redefining Online Auctions

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.

So you know I am alway looking for ways to save money for the family on all kinds of things. Well I ran across a new site, launched in early November, Bidazzled.com is redefining the online auction market by offering savings of up to 90% on name brand merchandise all while funding a charity.

Commonly called Penny Auctions or Pay-Per-Bid auction sites, bids are purchased in advance and then used to bid on merchandise. The price increases a few cents with each bid placed and a few seconds are added to the countdown clock to give others a chance to bid. The auction ends when no other bids are placed. So if a new laptop ends at just a dollar, then you win the laptop for a dollar!

The best part about Bidazzled is that it was designed and created to fund a lung cancer charity (The Ruch Foundation: www.ruchfoundation.com ).

Highlights:

*Auction winners usually save over 80% off retail. *

*Nobody Loses: -If you don't win, you receive up to 50 Bonus Bids as a thank you for participating, and -You can purchase the auction item less the investment you had in the auction. -If you win, Bidazzled typically make an offer to buy the item back for either: -cash (paypal or check) - cash and bids -bids
In their first month, there have been 2 winners of Nintendo Wii's who have won with just their 5 free bids!


*** EXCLUSIVE OFFER *** * 15 Additional Bids to your readers if they use this code until January 15th (all they have to do is enter it on the registration page, there is no obligation or cost of any kind):
* Blog: BBP1202A

Bids cost $1 at Bidazzled and are available for purchase in bid packs as low as $25. You also receive bonus bids when you purchase a bid pack. The highest cost of a bid when you dilute the cost with the bonus bids you receive is only $.67 per bid and often much lower.

So, what have you got to lose?! Give it a try and if you like it, let me know, if you don't let me know too. That's how it works! Thanks!!


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Monday, December 21, 2009

Mead Johnson, Maker of Enfamil, Loses Multi-Million Dollar False Advertising Case Against Store-Bran

This is a sponsored guest post written by a Press Release on behalf of PBM Products. Post powered by Sponzai.

GORDONSVILLE, VA., December  2 , 2009PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of   Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula.  Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.


 


PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns against PBM’s competing store-brand of infant formulas, suggesting they do not provide the same nutrition as Mead Johnson’s brands.  PBM’s store-brand infant formulas cost up to 50 percent less than Enfamil® LIPIL®.  The $13.5 million in damages awarded by the jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of the largest damages awards ever for a false advertising case.


 


“This decision by a jury of the people confirms that Mead Johnson’s ads have been false in suggesting that there is a nutritional difference between our store-brand formula products and their products, when in fact the only major difference is price,” said PBM CEO Paul B. Manning.  “Despite Mead Johnson’s scare tactics, parents are assured that PBM’s formula products are as high quality and nutritious as Mead Johnson’s.”


 


U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer issued his written rulings yesterday following the November 10th jury verdict. Judge Spencer’s written rulings permanently enjoined Mead Johnson from making any false statements concerning PBM's infant formula, including the claims Mead Johnson previously made in Enfamil advertising that "It may be tempting to try a less expensive store brand, but only Enfamil LIPIL is clinically proven to improve brain and eye development," and "there are plenty of other ways to save on baby expenses without cutting back on nutrition."  The Court also ordered Mead Johnson to retrieve from the public domain all advertising or promotional materials containing these or any other false claims about PBM's store brand infant formula.  


The details of the decision and the complaint are posted online in full at:


 


·      http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/Order_Laches.pdf


·      http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/PBM_Complaint_MJ_III_LIPIL.pdf


 


The nutritional supplements under examination in the case are two fats, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), which Mead Johnson calls “LIPIL®” solely for marketing purposes and touts as promoting infant brain and eye development. PBM’s claim focused on Mead Johnson’s direct mailing to more than 1.6 million parents of an alarming blurry picture of a child’s cartoon duck next to a clear picture of the same image which suggested that anything other than the Enfamil LIPIL® blend of ingredients is inferior and will result in poor eye and brain development.  Other parts of the false advertising campaign consist of statements that only Enfamil LIPIL has been proven to confer visual and mental benefits on infants, and store-brand formulas are a “cut-back in nutrition” compared to Enfamil. 


 


PBM successfully argued that these advertisements were false and misleading especially since PBM store- brand infant formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil.  PBM infant formulas are formulated to contain DHA and ARA, and are sourced from the same supplier in amounts which equal or exceed the DHA and ARA in Mead Johnson’s Enfamil LIPIL®. 


 


This decision marks the third time PBM Products has sued Mead Johnson for false advertising claims. On the prior occasions Mead Johnson admitted that it made false claims about PBM’s products.  It is also the first false advertising case to focus on the issue of DHA and ARA nutritional ingredients in formula, which were introduced into the market in 2003 and have become a staple in recent years by many brands as key components for infant development.


 


“This jury verdict should send a significant and clear message to Mead Johnson about the way it conducts marketing and advertising for its brands,” said Manning.  “This lawsuit also demonstrates our complete commitment to defending our products and the valuable brands of our retail partners.”


 


“As a parent and supporter of children’s medical research, I take a personal responsibility in assuring our customers that the products we produce are healthy and nutritionally equivalent to brand names like Enfamil® LIPIL®.  It is important, especially now, for parents to know that there are lower priced yet highly nutritious store-brand formulas that will provide the same benefit to their children as any national brand name formula product,” Manning added.   


 


The U.S. infant formula market is estimated at $3.4 billion and the global market is estimated at $7.9 billion.


 


All of PBM’s formulas, and for that matter all of U.S. infant formulas, are subject to the exacting standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pursuant to the Infant Formula Act of 1980.  This legislation vested FDA with the authority to ensure that all infant formula products sold in the United States provide the necessary levels of identified nutrients required for the growth of healthy babies. For more information, visit this FDA link.


 


PBM Products was represented by the law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.  Partners from the firm’s advertising practice, Harold P. Weinberger and Jonathan M. Wagner in New York, led the team.  


 


About PBM


PBM is privately owned and based in Gordonsville, VA.  PBM companies specialize in manufacturing, distributing, and marketing consumer food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products. For more information, visit www.pbmproducts.com.


 


Enfamil® LIPIL® are registered trademarks of Mead Johnson & Co.



 

Friday, October 16, 2009

Book Review: The Sugar Camp Quilt

The Sugar Camp Quilt
by: Jennifer Chiaverini
Elm Creek Quilts Novel Series, book seven

The Sugar Camp Quilt is the seventh book in the series, but is completely new in the way it is written. This book is set entirely in the past, in fact, pre-Civil War, but the Underground Railroad is alive and running through Creeks Crossing.

In the Runaway Quilt, through the journal of the family member, we met some of the past people in Creeks Crossing, including the Wright's, and the Nelson's, and Doctor Granger. This book goes back to the time when Doctor Granger is a young boy of sixteen just starting his training as a doctor, and although he is mentioned in the book, he is not actually around for most of the events, save one small time frame during the passing of Uncle Jacob. Most of the story revolves around Dorthea Granger, who we met in the Runaway Quilt as Dorthea Nelson. This tells us of her life and introduces us to Mr. Nelson.

Dorthea is somewhat shelter and has no idea that people don't believe the Bible the way she was raised and that anyone in their town could actually think Slavery is right is beyond her. This book opens her eyes to the fact that people she just assumed to be like her because they lived in Creeks Crossing are in fact slavecathers, and she is appauled to say the least. It is her coming of age story in the time pre-civil war and the quilts factor in again in the story line.

I loved the book. Again the quilts were wonderful and to read a young girl, much like I would think I might have been, so completely unaware that people out there could hate each other this much and not believe that all are created equal, was wonderful to read. I think you will enjoy this one also!

Weather is better there

So what's the weather like?

Here? It sucks! Winter is breathing down our necks and it is like 40-50 degrees, the girls have been sick all week, and decided that it would only be right to share, so I have been sick most of the week! It's too early in the school year to be this sick, and off work this long!
The trees are rapidly changing colors, and losing their leave, not even enough time to have the traditional fall leaf-gawkers going, it is moving too fast. I want something better.

How about here? Arizona - landscape design in Scottsdale AZ The average temperature is around 80 degrees, even in the winter, and that would mean none of this getting sick stuff! I could handle that!! Especialy after dealing with this all week! I want no more colds, no more flu and a nice relaxing place to live. I think I could handle Arizona.

What about you? Are you a winter person or a summer person?

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Handknitted Fancy Fur Scarf



As you can see, I have been working hard and have a new item to add to the "a TAMM creation" line.
This is a wonderfully soft, Fancy Fur scarf. The yarn I used was made by lion Brand, and was called Fancy Fur. This particular one is black, with kernels of purple, blue, navy and turquiose throughout.
The scarf is 42 inches in length and 4 inches in
width, which makes it a nice length that both adults and children can wear. Both my daughter and I tried it on last night and like the length on me, wouldn't get into anything, hit about mid-chest, and on my daughter it hung longer and just looked so nice.


As you can see, although this is not the greatest model picture, we had someone else that just had to get into the picture too, but it looks great.
I have limited amounts of this yarn right now, unless I can find more somewhere, but it seems this confettie type of Fancy Fur is not being carried where I shop, so unless I find it online and at a good price, I am limited to the TWO scarves have.

The scarf is listed at $14.00 with FREE SHIPPING in the US, only $1.00 ships it to Canada. Time involved in making this, just over three hours.

I have some more of the yarn, but it is in the process of becoming a matching purse! I have had this idea for a knitted purse for a long time now, and I loved this yarn, so I decided to go for it and make the matching purse. Not sure how long it will be before it comes out, as there is no pattern for this purse, it is all in my head, but I am looking forward to it coming out!
Thanks for checking out what I have to offer!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Bamboo Knitting Needles

I taught myself to knit a number of years back, can't read a pattern to save my life, can't do a purl stitch techicnally, but I can do the basic knit stitch, which will make a fine blanket or scarf. So the Christmas before last I made these crazy Fun Fur scarfs for alot of family. They loved them, and I thought this past year that it would be tacky to make them the same thing again, boy was I wrong, in fact I got dejected calls from family when they didn't get a new scarf, so I guess that means that I will be making more scarves this year.

I was at the store and I could always use another set of needles. I was looking at the selection, you have your choice of steel, plastic or bamboo. Now I have had the steel and plastic, and of the two I like the steel much better, the tips on the plastic are too easily broken. I had read in one of my knitting novels about bamboo, and the idea in the story was that they were better. Well, the price was okay, they were only about a dollar more than the regular ones, so I thought I would try them. Let me tell you! I am in heaven! I will never use another plastic needle again! The tips on the steel needles are very pointed, almost to the point of being sharp, which is nice for certain tight knits, and the plastic are not as sharply pointed, but theses bamboo are almost blunt compared to the others and I thought there is no way this will work, but after doing a few rows I found they were nice. The steel tips can make your fingers sore after awhile, but these bamboo needles felt so comfortable and smooth in my hands, that I loved working with them! I am sold! In fact, I may never buy another pair of steel needles either, but I know for sure that the bamboo have become my favorites and I will be using them for most all my knitting.
Now, I just have to figure out what colors I gave everyone the other year, and make them something different this year!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Looking for a watch?

If I am not reading, I'm writing, and if something is up and I can't be reading or writing, I'm probably surfing the web! Which is great for me, and in turn you, because I find all kinds of fun, strange and amazing things. This one qualifies as amazing, I think.

Have you ever wanted a Rolex of your very own? Thought it couldn't happen? Well, not anymore. I found this website, www.bestoftime.com and they are a Rolex dealer, new and used Rolexs and even better, they have discount prices! What more do you want?

How about being an official accredited business by BBB, Better Business Bureau with an exceptional A+ RATING the highest possible rating a business can get!
Want even more than that, well how about the Worlds best selection of ROLEX watches at the absolute lowest price. All Of There ROLEX Watches are 100% Genuine Certified & Authentic. With a 3 year warranty and free fedex shipping.

How can they do this you are asking? Well, Best of Time offers genuine Rolex watches at substantial discounts to the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Because they are an independent dealer of new and pre-owned Rolex watches, they can avoid manufacturer's pricing controls and forward greater discounts to the customers. Their prices are incredible for the world’s best luxury Rolex watches, due to the fact that they receive Rolex watches in specific quantities and have a very low markup so the savings is passed directly to you.

The best of all, they are physcially located right in the US, Atlanta to be exact. So check it out and let me know what you think, could you finally be the owner of a wonderful timepiece?

Handknitted Barbie Accessories

We have offically entered the "Barbie" Phase of life here in our house, and in honor of that, and more importantly by request of my daughter (and model), Maeve, I have added to the TAMM line.


This is a hand-knitted bedroom set for a Barbie house.It consists of a hand-knitted double Barbie blanket. What is a double blanket, well, it is a blanket that will cover two Barbies nicely. As my daughter got FIVE Barbies for her birthday and only one bed, she requested that they get to sleep together, so a Double Barbie Blanket. Also in the set is a double barbie pillow, hand-knitted and stuffed for maxium comfort.This set it done is a very pretty light blue, white and lavender verigated yarn.


As a bonus for my daughter, and since there wasn't much yarn left, I made this cute little hand-knitted halter dress for the Barbie. It is done in the same verigated yarn.I am going to be adding these to the "a TAMM creation" line for sale, and I have a number of yarns to do these with at home, so if you have a Barbie girl in your house that needs dressing, let me know and I can make up your favorite colors.

The other idea that has come to my head involves this cute little halter dress, it was really easy to make, and I didn't have a pattern, but I am thinking with a really soft, lightweight cotton, I could make this into a top for my daughters! Now it would take little time to make it, but I think I am going to try it!

So tell me what you think? Do you like them? Oh....all Barbie accessories will be on sale with FREE shipping.Would you buy a hand-knitted halter top for your daughter?

Book Reviews : The Necklace Triology

The Necklace Triology


By: Kat Martin
http://www.katbooks.com/




1. The Bride's Necklace
http://www.katbooks.com/thebridenecklace.htm

2. The Devil's Necklace http://atammcreation.blogspot.com/2007/12/devils-necklace.html


3. The Handmadien's Necklace http://www.katbooks.com/thehandmaidens.htm





I love to read, and reading books in a series is probably my all-time favorite, and since I am working on my writing skills, I want to review some of my books

Monday, July 27, 2009

Do you have a favorite scent?

Do you have a favorite scent? Something that evokes a fond memory? Maybe a perfume that you love?

Diffenrent scents hold different meanings for me. Like the smell of cinnamon takes me back to childhood and fond memories of baking with my grandmothers. It makes me feel warm and safe.

Now when it comes to perfume, Lauren by Ralph Lauren is my all-time favorite. I used to save up in college to buy it, and wore it when I was dating my husband. So for me, that scent alone brings back the memories of that time when our relationship was new through to our wedding, because I wore Lauren at our wedding.

What about you? What is your scent memory?
Let'sTalk Perfume.

New Blog

Last fall, I took a job that I had desired for a long time, I began working at the Primary School that my children attended. I love my job, and it has been so special for me to be in the same building with my kids at different points in their lifes, I continue to love my work.

With that change in careers came a hugh change in my computer time! Before that, I was working in an office, and had lots of time on breaks and lunch to be on the computer and to do blogging and what-not, but when I moved to the school, I had no computer time. I would only get on for morning messages from teachers and such, then it was all about the kids. By the time I got home, it was the kids on the computers with homework, so I basically disappeared off te computer for a year.

I am happy to say that I have established myself a more healthy routine and I will again have some computer time. Still nothing like I used to have, but I will have time each day to focus on myself and my computer time. So, to celebrate, I have a new blog about me, my ramblings, and will be writing there.

This blog will continue, as I will now be able to once again create new items for this line. The job change, not only but an end to my computer time, but I had even less time to work on projects and create things for the "a TAMM creation" line. I have managed to work on a few things this summer, and look forward to doing more, and working this back up to at least where it was before if not higher.