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.

If I ever find myself in West Hollywood, California, I can tell you that I'll be heading to this salon. The Humble Abode Spa and Salon is a comprehensive day spa Los Angeles residents can enjoy so many pampering services like hair styling, spa services and even endermologie.

Endermologie is an approach used to treat cellulite. It's the only non-invasive treatment approved by the FDA, and you can't find it just anywhere. Endermologie has many benefits such as stimulating the lymphatic system, improving blood circulation and relieving PMS. Sign me up!

The Humble Abode also offers pilates Los Angeles most likely has many pilates studios, but this place isn't just a pilates studio. It's not just a hair salon, nor just a spa. It's a comprehensive experience offering a seemingly unending selection of pampering luxuries.

What I'm most impressed by is the offering of medical services by this salon and spa. Alternative and complementary medical services like chiropractic, reflexology and massage are available at The Humble Abode, along with nutritional counseling. These services go above and beyond beauty and pampering. If I spent a day here, I'd not only leave looking good, but I'd surely feel better and learn tips for taking care of myself better.

It's apparent to me that a lot of thought, care and planning has gone into this business. The Humble Abode Spa and Salon has been around since 1997 and is owned by Joan Hug, a skin care and waxing professional with more than 25 years of experience in the salon and spa industry. Joan hand picks staff who are experts in their unique fields. Everyone at The Humble Abode undergoes yearly training and continuing education so that they are at the top of their game and are able to offer the latest innovations in their respective areas of expertise. Love it!

I have an uncle in LA. I think it's time to give Uncle George a call and plan to pay him a little visit. The Humble Abode looks like it offers the most comprehensive beauty, pampering and whole body experience I've seen around. I do social media for a local salon and am aware of the importance of regular staff training and education. A salon and spa that takes such care is truly an investment.

We're here. We made it to Asheville, NC for the Type-A Mom Conference. We four mom bloggers had a fabulous time on our road trip from Pittsburgh, and we owe a great deal of it to Chevy, who provided us with a 2011 Chevy Traverse to drive. Take a look at some of our antics!

Thank you so much, Chevy, for your generosity. It's amazing to me what this major company actually went through to get the car to us. It took a lot of effort, and we appreciate it so much! More to come on the Traverse and our conference highlights.