Valentine's Day is tomorrow, I know. In my opinion, though, any time is a good time for a present. If you're looking to treat yourself or to show a little appreciation to an awesome woman in your life, you'll want to check out Marco Polo Designs. Their jewelry is unique and affordable. There's sure to be something that will catch your eye and be just perfect for that special someone - especially if that special someone is you! It's a well-known fact that I am an advocate of treating yourself. We moms deserve it!

Now is the perfect time to look into Marco Polo Designs, as two of their signature lines are the Dark Chocolate and Couture Hearts collections. In fact, Marco Polo Designs is having a fabulous deal right now - use the code ROMANCE12 to get a 20% discount off of anything from these collections!

I received two pieces of jewelry for review - the Heartbeat Heart Pendant from the Couture Hearts Collection and the Dark Chocolate Bracelet from the Dark Chocolate Collection. Oh my, these pieces of jewelry are stunning! Take a look!

Just look at that gorgeous red color of the Heartbeat pendant! This pendant is handmade with 24K gold and molten glass in what's known as the "rubino oro" color, which means "ruby gold." It's the most valuable glass because real gold is mixed with the molten glass, giving it the effect of practically glowing from within. I can't describe to you how intensely beautiful it is. Mine came with a black cord, but you can also choose a gold vermeil chain. I really like the way the pendant lays around my neck. Sometimes chains or cords are too short for me, but this one is just perfect. It really makes a statement wtihout being gaudy. I've already gotten tons of compliments! Here's a picture of a model wearing the pendant. I've worn mine with a much more casual outfit, and it looks just as good as with a more formal dress.

The Dark Chocolate Bracelet is amazing. The glass beads are infused with not only 24K gold foil, but also copper dust and rich brown swirls. The texture really pops in these beads. A very cool feature is that the bracelet can be customized to fit various sized wrists by choosing one of two loops to insert the toggle closure into. It secures easily and makes me feel confident that I won't lose this gorgeous bracelet.

Here's a picture of the necklace to match. Which, by the way, will be my next present. I believe Mother's Day is coming soon. Right, honey?

I always try to balance my reviews with something that could be considered a negative. I'm having a hard tiime coming up with one here. At first, I thought that the $165 price tag on the Dark Chocolate Bracelet might be a bit cost prohibitive, but knowing the materials that go into it and that it's hand made, I truly feel that's a fair charge. And the Heartbeat Pendant sells for only $60. Marco Polo Designs offers a wide selection of styles and prices; there truly is something for everyone. I love that! I try only to promote items that are attainable for the average mom, and this company fits the bill.

Finally, the service is sensational. I received my jewelry extremely quickly, along with a personalized note from the company's co-owners, Claude and Penny Cruz. I was very impressed with such a personal touch. I'd recommend not only buying a Marco Polo Designs creation for yourself, but checking out their Facebook page for more information and news of upcoming sales and events.

I received two pieces of jewelry for review. All opinions are mine and are true - I love this jewelry and will be making a purchase in the future! Thank you, Marco Polo Designs for the opportunity to experience your fine artisan jewelry.

Valentine's Day is next week! Whoa, where has the time gone? Have you gotten your loved one a gift? Yeah, me neither. My husband's not a real sentimental, gift-giving kind of guy. I've learned to accept that and deal with it. I've also learned that I just have to give myself my own gifts sometimes. And what better time than Valentine's Day to show yourself some love?

If you're a photography lover and enjoy keeping cherished photographic memories close at hand, you're going to want to ask your honey for a CEIVA Connected Digital Photo Frame. Or just buy it for yourself, if your situation is anything like mine. This product is amazing, and it's innovative. It's not just a digital frame. This frame allows you to send photos to anyone who has a CEIVA frame, and they can view them once they're uploaded to their frame. It's a fantastic way to share memories with loved ones near and far.

I've written a CEIVA review here on the blog awhile back. You can take a look at it to learn a bit more in-depth information about the frame. You may also want to visit the CEIVA website to learn more. Here are a few features I like best about my CEIVA:

• You can send pictures from your computer, Facebook, email or your  cell phone, to any frame. I send photos to my frame as well as my mom's. She lives in Missouri, and I'm in Pennsylvania.
• It connects by wi-fi, so it cuts down on the wires as my desk.
• You can control which pictures are displayed on your frame and set up albums to display when you want them.
• Anyone can send pictures to your frame for free. You just have to give them your CEIVA email address.
• It's easy to use and to customize.
• It's a conversation piece. Everyone always asks about my frame.
• It's fun. I enjoy checking every morning to see if there are any new pictures on my frame. It's a great way to share memories!

The frames are well-priced, but you do have to purchase a yearly picture plan to be able to recieve and send photos. CEIVA is having an awesome special right now. Here's the information:

To celebrate Valentine's Day, you can purchase a CEIVAshare Connected Photo Frame(tm) with one-year of PicturePlan for $99.95 and a CEIVAPro 80 Connected Digital Frame(tm) with one- year of PicturePlan for $119.95.  Free ground shipping is also available for orders over $99.00.  Buy any two frames and get an additional $10 off your order; $20 off when buying three! Show how much you care by giving a CEIVA to someone you love.  For more information contact CEIVA's U.S. based Customer Care Team toll-free at 1-877-692-3482 or go to www.ceiva.com.

Seriously, folks. This is one of the best, most personal gifts you could give or recieve this Valentine's Day. A CEIVA Connected Digital Frame continues to give all year long.

I received a free yearly picture plan in exchange for sharing informaiton on this promotion, but I truly can't say enough wonderful things about my CEIVA!

I have to admit that I am really in a rut when it comes to TV. I predictably will channel surf between HGTV, The History Channel, SyFy Network, Food Network and TLC. When did I get old? Gee, I really am pretty boring. I watch a lot of educational and reality TV. But last night was different. I was reminded by one of my favorite blogging communities, Collective Bias, that it's fall TV premiere time when they asked for volunteers to review some of the new shows that are debuting this week. I wasn't chosen for the official review, but I decided I just had to watch 2 Broke Girls anyway.

When it comes to movies, I simply adore chick flicks. Chick lit is my favorite book genre, so it just makes sense that I would be drawn to a TV comedy depicting female friendship. I'd seen the commercials for this show and thought I might like to check it out. I'm really glad I did. The show's premise is not new. It's about a working class girl who meets a rich socialite that suddenly finds herself down and out. In this case, the working class waitress is Max, and the rich girl is Caroline. What's new is the way the characters are portrayed. Max is quick witted, with a soft side. Caroline isn't some clueless blonde. She's my favorite and proves to be smart, savvy and on the ball.

I will admit that some of the lines were pretty cliche and expected. The plot also seemed to be a little predictable. For example, Max's boyfriend hits on Caroline, and Max immediately believes her boyfriend over her new friend. Who didn't see that coming? But the way it's handled and resolved was new and fresh. Check it out yourself on the CBS website. You can watch the full episode at your convenience and get caught up for next week. I know I'll be watching every week that I can!

* This is not a compensated review, but I do have a chance to win a gift card. Even if I don't win, I'm happy because I've been lifted from my TV rut!

I recently mentioned my shopping trip to Sam's Club to buy Member's Mark 4X Probiotic. In that post, I talked about my experience with buying the product and how I felt about shopping at Sam's. Yes, I do love Sam's! Now I'd like to share with you my thoughts on how the product has worked after taking it for two weeks.

Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotic seems to be a bit of a buzz word when it comes to health lately, but from what I've read, it's not merely a fad. Probiotics are a very useful way of regulating your digestive health. Probiotics are basically bacteria that are meant to contribute to healthy microflora and support the function of the immune system. Yes, these kinds of bacteria are actually good for you.

It's been shown that probiotics can aid in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, help manage other gostrointestinal disorders, delay the development of allergies in children and prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections in women. This is according to information I found in Harvard Medical School's Family Health Guide. Probiotics can be good for overall, general digestive health. If you're hoping to treat a certain condition, be sure to talk to your physician about taking any probiotic product.

About Member's Mark 4X Probiotic

Four strains of natural bacteria are contained in this product. These are Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium bifidum. These bacteria are meant to promote gastrointestinal health and digestive system balance, and they support a healthy digestive system. Talk to your doctor about the use of these particular bacteria in treating any conditions you may be experiencing.

My Experience with Member's Mark 4X Probiotic

Digestive health can be a pretty touchy and sensitive issue. Those who know me know that I'm a pretty open person. But I'm not open enough to share all of my digest issues here on my blog, nor do I think you want to hear about them. So let me just give you an overview of my experience using this product for the past two weeks.

At first, I will say that I noticed an increased frequency of bowel movements. That didn't seem like such a good thing to me, as I never really had a problem in that area. After a few days, this subsided. I'm back to my normal self, but I have noticed less bloating that I had been having. I don't always eat what I should, and I have food allergies. So sometimes, things just don't agree with me digestively. I can truly say that I've noticed a differrence since taking the Member's Mark 4X Probiotic.

I trust Member's Mark products and have given them to my kids. Because probiotics are marketed as a dietary supplement, they are not regulated by the FDA, I believe. It is important to choose a brand that you are comfortable with. I wouldn't recommend this product if I didn't believe in the manufacturer. Have you taken a probiotic? Would you recommend them?

* This shop has been compensated as part of shoppers insight study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own.

Those of you who follow me on a regular basis may know that I've been reading a lot this year. I made it a goal to add more reading for sheer pleasure to my life, and since getting my Nook Color, I've been doing a pretty good job of it. Although I've downloaded a number of non-fiction books to enhance my personal development and to learn something new, I've truly tried to force myself to get lost in a good work of fiction at least once a week. Well, recently, I had the opportunity to check out a non-fiction book on marketing called Fascinate by Sally Hogshead, and I'm glad to say that I was so easily persuaded to delve back into my passion for learning.

What a, excuse the pun, fascinating book this is from the very beginning. Brand executive and marketing genius, Sally Hogshead, uses actual examples from ads and from life to demonstrate how using certain triggers can improve relationships. Better relationships equals more sales or more of whatever particular goal you desire. The concepts in the book can be parlayed into business or even into your personal life.

Your Fascination Score

In fact, before I go any further with the book review, I'd like to direct you to Sally's website to a personality test you can take in order to determine the fascination triggers that you use most frequently or could use more often. There are seven fascination triggers, or ways of reaching people to make yourself more fascinating. My primary trigger is Prestige, and my secondary is Passion. These are not surprising to me. I like to excel in what I do and look for unique opportunities in life and in my career. My dormant trigger is Trust. This was surprising to me. No one wants to be seen as untrustworthy. But this information, combined with what I learned in the book, has given me great insight into how I can use triggers in my business as a freelance writer and in my personal life. I highly recommend taking the test!

The Book

The book is based on the seven triggers and how to use them to persuade or fascinate others. We all use our natural strengths to be fascinating, according to Hogshead, and fascination can effect every part of our lives. Knowing which fascination triggers to use in your personal situation can lead to a great advantage in the market place and in helping you to reach your goals. Because we live in an ADD world of overwhelm and overload, it's important to be fascinating in order to be seen.

The 7 Fascination Triggers are:

1. Lust
2. Mystique
3. Alarm
4. Prestige
5. Power
6. Vice
7. Trust

Each of these triggers sparks a different response in people. Depending on your desired outcome, you could use any of these triggers to help improve your message. The concept, to me, is actually quite brilliant. I've never taken a marketing course, but after seeing things in this perspective, I'm more inclined to immerse myself in more information on why people make the choices they do, as well as how to influence those choices.

Hogshead goes intro great detail to describe the "gold hallmarks" of each trigger and how to create "fascination badges" or potential areas for what you represent. While she admits that she didn't invent the triggers, I am extremely impressed with the examples she's found of how they are best being used. I also love that she encourages the reader to use the triggers in their own life. She devotes an entire section of the book to helping us find ways to incorporate the triggers into our own brand's message. Brilliant!

More Sally Hogshead

To get a better idea of Sally's personality and whether the book may be for you, take a look at this video. In it, she talks about how to fascinate and gives you an overview of the book's concepts.

Should you decide that you'd like to purchase the book, it's available at Amazon in print and for Kindle, as well as at Barnes & Noble in print and for the Nook. Let me know what you think of it. Also, what other marketing, business or social media books should I be reading? Thanks!

* This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. As always, all opinions are my own, regardless of compensation.

Synopsis of the hCG Diet

The hCG Diet, it is a diet that uses the pregnancy hormone, hCG, to reset the hypothalamus and target the non-essential fat stores other diets just don't reach. The diet has several phases. In the first, the dieter begins to rid himself of the toxic chemicals stored in the fat, due to the toxicity of today's food and environment. Next comes a two-day fat loading phase in which you consume as much fatty and sugary foods as you'd like. You begin taking the hCG supplement on these days. This overload is done so that your body is aware of the kinds of fat to target. After this two-day phase comes the 500 calorie very low calorie diet phase. Finally, there is a 3-week maintenance phase in which calories and a variety of foods are slowly reintroduced into the body.

I've really simplified the overall diet, but I encourage you to read more about it. My husband, Bill, and I are working in conjunction with our chiropractor, Dr. Jaison Golojuh to complete a 43 day protocol of the hCG diet. Check out what Dr. Jaison has to say about the hCG diet on his website for a more thorough description of the program. It is to be expected that dieters will lose between 1/2 and 1 pound per day on the hCG diet. Because the hCG hormone causes the body to take fat from non-essential stores, 500 calories a day are plenty to feel satisfied and to be healthy. If you follow the plan, your body's metabolism will be reset, and the weight will stay off.

Detoxification Phase

Bill and I started this phase on Monday. Dr. Golojuh gave us six-bottle homeopathic detoxification kit from DesBio. Four days a week, we take the Detox I, II and III, as well as Matrix Support. We place 20 drops of each in a 16 - 24 ounce bottle of water and sip it for 3 hours. The other 3 days of the week, we take Cerebromax and Spinalmax. These are adminstered the same way as the others.

Prior to giving us anything, Jaison met with us. We were weighed, our BMI was determined, and we were measured. He also talked to us about the program and answered our questions. I highly recommend seeking the assistance of a doctor in order to be sure you are putting your health first and that you are using the most quality products on the market. Not everyone should take part in the hCG diet. Women who are pregant and diabetics are two groups who should not use hCG.

Our Progress

It's obviously early in the program. Thus far, we haven't had to change our eating habits at all. We've simply been taking the detox products in the morning along with a whole foods multi-vitamin called Catalyn by Standard Process. I will copy the measurements from Jaison and update the post with them later, but here are our current photos. My weight is 243 pounds. I am truly hoping to reach a 40 pound weight loss over the 43-day protocol, but I will be satisfied with 25 pounds, as I am so tired of being fatigued and not fitting into my clothes. I'm told that energy levels skyrocket on the hCG diet, and I've already begun to feel a bit better since beginning the detox and taking the Catalyn.

We go back to see Jaison on Monday and will meet with him once a week throughout the process. I'll keep you updated on each phase, posting pictures and measurements. I plan to update you on what we eat, how we feel and what's involved in each phase. Wish us luck!

Why is it that I always learn about the cool stuff too late? I just found out about this amazing app that allows you to track your infant's eating, sleeping and diapering throughout the day. To me, that's just plain genius. The Similac StrongMoms Baby Journal app is an amazing free app for iPhone or iPod touch. It's a fabulous utility for keeping track of your baby's cycles throughout the day and night.

Overview

I have three children. Experienced mothers know that the pediatrician will surely ask you how much and how often your new baby is eating, as well as how frequently diapers are being changed. Many new moms aren't aware of this, which is where this app really comes in handy. Moms worry about whether their little baby is getting adequate nutrition and fluid intake. It's only natural. This baby journal app lets moms who are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or both track their baby's nutritional intake. The app also lets you be aware of your baby's sleeping patterns, allowing you to see the changes that occur. The Similar StrongMoms Baby Journal app helps to keep things straight and offers peace of mind to parents of little ones.

Features

This app is different than other apps in that it lets you track eating, sleeping AND diaper changes (including amount,, color and consistency). It also lets you chart your baby's growth. These are four of the most watched aspects of an infant's development by both parents and pediatricians. You can view a summary of each of these aspects and even email the data to yourself, your spouse or your pediatrician.

One of the most helpful and remarkable features, in my opinion, is the ability to immediately connect with Similac's feeding expert. Yes, I said immediately! What a relief it would be to be able to ask questions from an expert as soon as you have them. This app goes everywhere with you, so you can keep track of every feeding, diaper change and nap. The app not only gives you detailed views and reports of the data, it also predicts future schedules, giving you an idea of what to expect. Brilliant!

The Verdict

While I no longer have an infant and wasn't able to really use the app hands-on, I was very impressed with what I saw. I feel confident that an app as thorough as this would have given me a great deal of peace and reassurance when caring for my babies. I've used a lot of apps, and what I appreciate about the Similar StrongMoms Baby Journal app is that it is so thorough and offers many options for parents. It is a truly useful app that allows the user to customize the app, taking advantage of the features that are most important to her. I'd give this app four out of five stars, as I feel an option to keep track of medications and vaccinations would have made the app even more useful.

* I was compensated for this review by Collective Bias, but all opinions are mine.

I'm very excited to have discovered a new online community for moms. While I belong to many online groups and forums, AT&T Power Moms is one I've added to my regular visits because there's lively discussions about all areas of mom life, including the tech aspects like useful apps, must-use websites and productivity tips. I never imagined that I'd become a tech junkie, but since discovering blogging and my iPhone, I truly have.

AT&T Moms also offers member perks. There's a $50 coupon for Power Moms to save on online purchases. There's also a monthly Blackberry giveaway. Who wouldn't want a chance to win a new phone? I love the App of the Week feature. It's a great way to learn about the newest helpful and fun apps. I'm especially excited about this because I've been planning to begin a weekly app review feature here at Everyday Baby Steps for the new year. You should see all the apps I have on my phone. Even Julie of Mobile Test Kitchen commented on how many I have, and her site is all about apps!

So if you're looking for a great community for moms where you can connect on everyday issues and learn about the newest in techie gadgets, you'll want to join AT&T Power Moms. Besides, it's just cool to be considered a Power Mom. Thank you, AT&T, for recognizing that we're all Power Moms!

* I will be receiving a $20 gift card to AT&T as well as a Blackberry Pearl for my participation in this AT&T Power Moms promotion. I will also be continuing my participation in the AT&T Power Moms community because I'm truly enjoying the conversation I'm having and all the information I'm learning.

My family and I are currently reviewing one of the coolest things. It's the Roku Digital Video Player, and it's changing the way we watch TV. With the Roku, we get instant access to all kinds of television and video, streamed right to our television. Let me tell you - we are loving it!

The Roku lets you stream video live from several free channels that come installed on the player or lets you choose subscription or paid services such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Video. We chose to subscribe to Netflix. For less than $10 a month, we're able to watch all kinds of programming instantly, such as movies, television shows or specials. Also, we get unlimited DVD selection through the mail, one at a time. We're considering switching back to basic cable. The Roku could save us lots of money.

And we're having so much fun experimenting with the channels. You can get Pandora music through the Roku straight to your TV. Right now, I'm enjoying listening to various Christmas music stations as I work or play with Brady throughout the day. You can also access popular web services like Flickr and Vimeo from your TV, but I have to admit that I haven't played with those features yet.

I'm not extremely techie, but I'm starting to really enjoy exploring different gadgets, tools and toys. The Roku really seems to offer so much for a rather small price. There are three different models, each with various features. They range in price from $59.99 to $99.99. A reasonable cost for something that offers so much versatility in entertainment.

I have to say that I really have only positive things to say about the Roku. The only negative I can think of is that you do have to weigh the pros and cons of each paid service to determine which makes sense financially for you and your family. It could be really easy to get a little carried away with adding paid subscriptions because there are so many choices. For now, I'm choosing to stick with Netflix only. I do think we'll get rid of some of our pricier cable features because we can get so much more through Roku in combination with Netflix. I may choose to add another subscription service or two in the future, but I plan to play around with one thing at a time.

And from now until tomorrow, 12/12 at 11:59 PST, you'll get free shipping on the Roku XD and XD/S. If you're looking for alternatives to cable or satellite dish, you should check out Roku.

I wanted to share with you a recent shopping experience I had at Walmart. I was given the opportunity to try a Marie Callender's frozen pie in order to provide my opinion. Well, since a picture tells a thousand words, I'll let you check out my Whrrl story to see how my family and I liked out pie! I can totally recommend these pies (especially for the price of less than $5.00) and know that Marie Callender's Pumpkin Pie will be making a repeat appearance in our home this Thanksgiving.