Genie Bra- Big Disappointment

*This review is my own unbiased opinion and I am not being compensated.*

I admit I have trouble finding a bra that gives me a great fit and support. I want one that will look smooth under tops and still feel comfortable. I actually prefer soft cups as the under wire bras will poke me. I was intrigued by the commercials for the Genie Bra. When I found a pack of two at Target for $20, then I had to have it.

On the back of the package, there is a chart which shows you the size you should buy based on your shirt size. I bought the next size up since I put on some weight after the holidays. The pack comes with a beige and black color. I prefer the nude color since it is more of a flesh tone. I could not wait to get home to try them on.

Each Genie bra comes with the pads, but they are easily removed if you prefer. I tried it on first with the pads. I quickly realized the pads were going to have to come out as they were not completely covering. It just did not feel or look right. I took out the pads, but I still did not feel the cups were separated properly. It was not quite as bad as my sports bra with the one boob look, but it was not too far from that look.

The Genie bra promises comfort and no need for shape wear as you will eliminate the back fat lumps. I can tell you this was not the case. This bra did not look smooth under my top. The bra came down very low in the back. It did nothing to help smooth out the back or on the sides. The material is very thin so if you do not use the pads, then you can see your nipples. That is not a good look.

The worst part of the Genie bra is the lack of support. I am well endowed and let's just say my cup size is past C. I need a bra with support and cups that will lift and separate. It did not lift or separate. I was more comfortable with it off than on. I am definitely returning this package. The only positive thing I can say about the Genie bra is it is inexpensive at $10 a bra. I would rather spend more on a good quality bra that will support and look good while wearing.

The Genie bra might be great for some people, but I would definitely not purchase if you are on the fuller side. I would save your money and use that $20 towards a bra that will give you good support and comfort.

I Saved at Book Renter Textbooks

First I want to mention I am not being paid or reimbursed by the website. This is a review with all my own opinion. I truly enjoyed the site and savings so I had to share with my readers.

I needed three textbooks for my Spring college classes. These books were not cheap even if I rented them at my local stores and many online sites. When I came across BookRenter.com, I was excited at the prices I was given for my three books. The most expensive book was well over $100 to buy, but still would have cost me well over $60 to rent. I was given the same price for a digital rental. The Bookrenter.com price was $30 for the semester! That was a 50% savings. One textbook was only $3 cheaper. The last book I needed, I couldn't even buy at many stores as they were sold out. Their price was $27! Again that is a 50% savings.

My total for all three books was $94 with tax. Shipping is free both ways. You can upgrade your shipping to express for $20-40 depending on the weight. I ordered them a couple of days ago and will receive them by Tuesday. It took less than a week with free shipping. They shipped them the next business day after purchasing. I also went through Ebates (double money offer) and received $8 in cash back. I paid less than $90 for all three textbooks which is a huge savings. If I rented them at any of my local rental stores, then I would have paid close to $200 with tax. I saved almost $100 on my books. I can definitely use that money in my pocket.

If you refer 5 people to rent their books within 5 days of your purchase date, then you will receive your order for free! That is a great incentive. I'm still more than thrilled with my savings. If you or your child want to save more money on renting their textbooks, then please go check out Bookrenter.com! I also saw they will buy back textbooks. I don't know much about the program as I prefer to rent my textbooks. I did buy one textbook last year for Dreamweaver. I got it at Amazon for $50 used. It was in excellent condition.

Shabby Apple is Oh La La

While I may have a little French heritage, I definitely felt Parisian wearing this little number. Shabby Apple is a fashionable online retail store that carries women, girl's, preteen, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories. I have really enjoyed browsing this store, and the site is so easy to navigate. Each dress had a cute little story behind it which was entertaining to read. I also liked that you could shop by the body shape tool, and it asked you questions to determine which shape you resemble most. Then it gave you styles that would flatter your shape best. That is a great feature to help when shopping online.

I received the Oh La La dress from the Paris collection. I have to say that, not only is it a very well made dress, but very comfortable to wear. I love the red and white stripe knit top, and the skirt is a nice A-Line black skirt in a linen blend. The skirt part has two side pockets. It's a great pairing and has that great casual feel and look. I could easily make it look dressier depending on my heels. I felt pulled together and as if I was on an episode of What Not to Wear. As you can see in my pictures below, I was having a lot of fun modeling.




Shabby Apple has so many great designs that I would love to own more of these dresses. I think what I really like the most about the designs is the nostalgic feeling many of them have. I want to do an upsweep do and put on some bright red lipstick like the 1940's. I have an upcoming wedding in October, and I will be shopping for a great black dress. I found these Georgi heels that would look fabulous with the dress I wore in this post. You can receive 10% off by joining their email mailing list which is a great offer! I hope you have as much browsing their site as I am.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #74

Today's thrifty living tip is instead of using an expensive makeup primer, you can use Monistat Chafing Powder-Gel. You read this correctly Monistat. Well I will say it has nothing to do with yeast, and it's a powder made for when you chafe. I was skeptical at first as I have used MAC primer which is wonderful. I never tried Smashbox, but I know it's another very popular makeup primer. I found it at my local Wal-Mart for $6.37 plus tax, and I read that it will last for at least a year. You don't use much as in the size of a dime. Trying is believing and it really does work! I live in very humid south Louisiana and if the heat doesn't melt off your makeup then the humidity will. My makeup still looked wonderful at the end of the day especially my eye makeup. I couldn't believe how well this stuff works and for a fraction of the more expensive primers. I also have oily skin but my face doesn't look like an oil slick at the end of the day. My foundation went on flawlessly and it just feels nice. The reason it works so well is that it contains dimethicone which is the same ingredient that the other expensive makeup primers use. Some people say it can be hard to find and not found in Canada.

Tips for Saving Up for Your First Home

Today it is harder than ever to buy a house. Prices for homes have skyrocketed during the last decade making it even more difficult for young first time buyers to succeed at ultimately purchasing a place they can call home. Saving for a house is not an overnight process, and it takes a great deal of time and strategic money management. You can begin this process by speaking to a lending institution. They can help you learn all you need to know about what you can afford, interest rates, and the type of loans that are out there for you. They will be knowledgeable about important information.

One of the main components of saving up for anything, especially a house, is to cut back on luxuries. For example, if you are someone who tends to eat out for every meal then you might want to consider cooking at home for a change. If you are an avid gym-goer then taking up running, instead of paying for your membership, would be a great money saving move. Also consider cutting back on cable, learning to optimize your gas, and even raising your car insurance deductibles. Although these are some helpful money saving tips, you do not have to give up every luxury you enjoy. Just remember that the more you cut back on, the more you save, and the more you save, the closer you are to buying a home!

Now for some of you I must ask that you keep a very open mind to the next money saving suggestion. Here it is... Move back in with your parents. Even if you have to pay your parents some sort of rent to live back at home, you will be saving money. Think about the free utility, free laundry, and of course home cooking! If this advice is taken it will only put you into your very own home faster.

For such a thing like buying a house, you are allowed to take money from your 401(k). Although lenders don't view this as a debt, the money still needs to be paid with interest over a time period of years. Remember that it is best to stay with your current employer until you have fully repaid all the money because if you leave your employer you will have only 90 days to repay the money. View all your options before you take funds from your 401(k). Make sure that there is a greater benefit from taking these funds than alternatives such as a paying for mortgage insurance or a second mortgage.

Keep in mind that the road to buying a house can be a long one. Consider speaking with a lending institution and the valuable tips for cutting back on spending. Also consider the idea of possibly moving in with your parents , even though it doesn't sounds like the most desirable option. Once you have stabilized good money management you can consider options such as taking funds from your 401(k). If you take the advice given then the time it takes you to purchase a home can be exponentially decreased.

Crocs: Ugly but My Feet Don't Care

I have seen quite a few articles criticizing that Crocs are ugly and so unfashionable. That is probably true, but I must say that my feet just don't care about fashion. I used to think they were one of the most hideous things ever created. After I bought a pair, I have since stopped caring. I'm all about comfort these days and crocs provide me with lots of it. You really don't have to wear them in public, but you should at least have a pair for around the house.

They do make several different styles but I really love my Cayman crocs in chocolate. I personally don't care for the bright colored ones so I chose a nice neutral color like brown. Another great feature is I can just hose them off during the summer if they get dirty. I also find they dry pretty quickly when they do get wet. My son and husband have both gotten a pair and they also love wearing them. I mostly wear mine during the warmer months which is most of the year in South Louisiana.

Apologies To My Readers & EC Droppers

I have to say I'm sorry for not dropping at EC as much the last couple of weeks. I also have to say I'm sorry to my readers for not writing as much. I've been so busy with the last several weeks getting ready for Christmas, doing a Tupperware event with my mom, and volunteering a lot more at my son's school. I have been neglecting my other blogs more and barely keeping up with this one. I need to learn to manage my time a little better than I am right now.

I'm hoping that I will be able to start substitute teaching at my son's school after the Christmas break is over. The pay is pretty good for a mom who hasn't worked outside the home in almost 9 years. I sold on Ebay for the last 8 years and made enough money to supplement our income nicely. To be honest I'm bored. I have done the SAHM thing long enough. I want to get back out in the world of people again and, while I love chatting with some of my online friends, it's just not the same. The school said I would be able to work pretty much 40 hours a week. The schedule is great since I go to work and leave at the same time as my son, no weekends, and I get the same vacation so this is perfect. If I decide that I like working at the school, then I am planning on taking the para test so I can become a teacher aide next August. I'm excited about this new opportunity, but I will keep up with my blogs. I still enjoy writing them, and I plan on waking up earlier so I can still have time to write and drop before school.

I also have some changes in store for next year. I really want to do more contests and giveaways on all of my blogs. I also want to do more product reviews. Some of the reviews won't be compensated, but just something I want to do. I'm also curious about some of these "As Seen on TV" products. These reviews will be completely honest and not biased in the least. I might even give a few of these away. Definitely come back next week on New Year's Eve. I won't give out details yet, but it will tie in with goals and changes for the New Year.

I hope everyone has a very safe and Merry Christmas!

A Home Theater

I think having my own home theater would be so cool. I could have a projection screen, the tall drapes on the walls, surround sound, and of course home theater seating to feel like you were really at the movies. You can even buy custom seats with sports team logos for those great sports parties at your home. I love how they come with built-in cup holders. That's a goal for one day in the future.

Stop Calling Me!

Do you ever get tired of running to answer the phone only to have a recorded message or they hang up. I know I am. I do have caller id, but some numbers won't display their information and it just says unknown. I usually don't answer, but now I've noticed some companies are getting sneaky. They will use a local phone number so I don't know if it's a real call or a sales pitch. I have found a great website for Phone Number Reporting. You just type in the number to check if someone has already left a comment about it. If not then you can you submit that number and leave a comment about it. Was it a recorded message, telemarketer, scam, or collection agency? This is a site that will allow you to help others. It's a great website that I intend to visit regularly.

Great Idea for International Buyers

I know many international buyers love to buy from U.S. stores and sellers on ebay. The problem is that many of them won't ship overseas. Now you can have your packages shipped to a U.S. address and just pay for mail forwarding. Shipito.com is a service that will provide you with an address in California, and they will forward it to any address in the world. This is a great solution, and the prices are very affordable. They also offer a yearly service which is great for people that love to do lots of shopping. You can also make money by signing up as an affiliate. Place their banners on your site, and you will get paid for each new customer that uses their service that came from your site. Happy shopping.

Halloween Is Almost Here!

I can't believe that Halloween is almost here again. My son loves dressing up as his favorite character, which is Batman, this year. My mom made the costume on her sewing machine. She even made the gloves and boot covers, as well as, the logo on the front of the suit. She did a fantastic job, and he plans to wear it even after Halloween is over. I'm very lucky to have a mom who loves to make his costumes.

Each year we take him trick or treating in a very safe area where we know the majority of the people. We always have our candy checked before we allow him to eat any of it. We also try to go early, before it gets too dark, since it's easier to see where you are walking. We do take a flashlight and glow stick for him. We are also fortunate that the area gets blocked off from vehicle traffic.

If you haven't started your costume shopping, then check out Halloween Costume Store to get the best selection on costumes. They offer easy returns, and the best part is Free Shipping on orders over $60 until 10/10/08! Hurry before this great deal ends. If you are going to a party, then stay safe on the roads.

I Want a Cartier Watch

I have had my eye on a Cartier since I was younger. My Grandmother had one that I always thought was gorgeous. She has had it for almost 40 years. It still keeps perfect time, and still looks beautiful after all these years. I always knew that one day I would have one for myself. I found the watch that I would love to buy. I am a fanatic for silver so this is a perfect choice.



TheWatchery.com has a really great selection of Cartier watches plus they offer free Fedex shipping to all US orders. They even insure the package. That particular watch I picked out also has a special promotion. I get to pick out any watch I want up to $195 for FREE! Or I could take 80% off the MSRP. That is a great deal. So I get two watches which would make a great gift for my husband. He needs a nice watch to wear when we go out. They are having an end of summer sale. So the watch I picked out was 20% off. You also will get a 30 day money back guarantee on your watch. You can't go wrong when buying at this great website. Check them out today.

Have Fun with Your Pictures

I just finished making a free slide show at Roxio online . I uploaded several pictures of my cute son, and had a blast making it. You can add a title page, like I did, or not. You can also add music, stickers to jazz up those pictures even more, and captions to tell a story. I just chose random pictures that were already on the computer, but it's amazing how much he has grown in the past year. If you want more options, then you have to upgrade. I could see this as a great way to share baby pictures, wedding pictures, and much more. You can email, or on your blog, and you can even have it burned to a DVD. Register online today for free to start making your slide show.

Buy Quality Eyeglasses for Less!

I just can't say enough great things about the ZenniOptical.com website. I'm not the only that has taken notice of this site. Clark Howard has also given this site wonderful praises. I first posted about them when I bought my husband two pairs of Memory Titanium frames, with the Anti-Reflective Coating, for $68.xx with shipping. It took about two weeks to receive them. The eyeglasses come with a great microfiber cleaning cloth. I have been hooked since then.

They have so many styles of frames available, and you can even buy sunglasses. You can't beat the low prices starting at $8 a pair. You can select from many lens. They have single vision lens, bifocals, progressive lens and much more. The Memory frames we bought are great quality. These were a fraction of the retail price.

The reason Zenni can offer such low prices is that they sell their own manufactured lens which cuts out the middleman. This passes the savings onto their customers. I really appreciate the savings with the high cost of gas and food. I didn't have to sacrifice on quality. I know many people who could benefit from this great website just as we did. I would definitely check out this website before ordering your next pair of eyeglasses or even sunglasses.

Identity Theft is a Serious Crime

Identity theft is a serious crime that affects millions of people. Just last year hackers were able to obtain over 45 million credit and debit card numbers. The Department of Justice finally nabbed most of the criminals involved, but you have to protect yourself from potential thieves. I don't even worry about being mugged in a dark alley, but having my information stolen from an online hacker is a very real threat.

The good news is there are ways you can protect yourself. I check my credit report at least once a year to make sure nothing suspicious is on it. When I shop online, I always check to make sure the page is secure. I also don't have my Social Security Number published on my Driver's License.

Another great way to protect yourself is to get life lock. This is a great service that will guarantee their service to keep your protected up to a million dollars. They have been featured on shows like the Today Show and are members of the Better Business Bureau. They also will reduce the amount of junk mail and credit offers you receive. If you lose your wallet then they will help you by sending you to a certified Recovery Specialist. Your children can also get protection from identity theft. You have insurance for cars and houses, but no one thinks about their identity. This is one insurance you can't afford not to have.

Check Out My Freebie!

I get this in my mailbox on Monday and was a nice surprise. I love getting mail and I really love freebies. PayU2Blog sent out these T-Shirts to many of their bloggers. These guys ROCK! This is a picture of the shirt that my sexy husband is modeling. He is headless per his request.

Travel Safe

I know a lot of people wonder if they should purchase travel insurance on their vacation. Airline costs are at an all time high, and having it will cover most flight cancellations plus it covers your baggage. It's not very expensive and usually about 5% of your total trip. If you get sick or hurt on your trip, then it cover those medical expenses. You would want the most protection you can get, especially when traveling out of country.

Even Adults Get Acne

As an adult in my 30's I still can't believe I have to live with acne. I'm too old for breakouts but that's not true. Many adults still get pimples, blackheads, and even boils. This great site called AcneCuresRevealed.com has great articles as well as product reviews on many treatments. I rarely use acne cream too much anymore, but I still use a foaming face wash made for acne prone skin. I also moisturize my skin which has helped tremendously. Check out the site and learn more facts about acne.

A Great Device

A couple of years ago my computer was so infested with spyware and viruses that I had to wipe it and start over. I thought I had saved all my pictures but when I tried to restore them then nothing happened. I was very upset so I decided then it was time to buy a flash memory device of some sort. I finally decided on a USB flash pen drive that could hold 2GB of memory. I got it for under $25 and it works great. I love that I can download my pics onto my friends/relatives computers. I don't even have a 1GB used yet so it holds lots of pictures.

Let Your Blog Make You Money!

I started this blog for several reasons. I wanted to share some great sites that I do to make a small extra income while at home. Writing this blog is a great way to share the frugal living tips I've learned over the year and learn more from my readers. I will admit I also wanted to make a little income from the blog. I am really enjoying the writing process, but it's not always easy since it doesn't come naturally to me. I'm trying to improve my skills. I do have lots of great topics that I want to discuss.

I signed up with several sites and was just approved by a couple. I have accepted several jobs recently and have already made almost $70 in less than 2 weeks. I know this number will improve as my blog gets more readers and traffic. I'm very happy with how well I've done for being such a novice and this is my only blog. I am basically using PayU2Blog. I really like this site. I am getting a good bit of work with them and I like you have a week to complete them. If you interested in learning more then click on the banner off the to the right side at the top of my blog.