Have you ever purchased prescription glasses online? It may seem a little strange to some. You may wonder how you'd ever manage to choose a pair that flatters your face without trying them on. You'd be surprised at what great frames you can get online and how well they can work for you. I've purchased glasses for myself and my children online several times, and I've never been less than satisfied. You can get prescription glasses with lenses included for less than $100 at many sites online. Let me tell you a little about my experience.

The Process

The first thing you'll need is your most recent prescription. If it's been awhile, head to the eye doctor and get an exam. Just ask them to write down the prescription for you. I got an eye exam at my local Walmart for $50. Not bad considering I don't have insurance. Be sure you get what's called the PD included in your written prescription. This is important for getting the correct size frames.

Next, do a little shopping online to find the site that has the best selection and deals. It's a good idea to look for testimonials on the website or for written reviews online. If you have a friend or relative who's bought glasses online, be sure to ask about their experience. I've actually purchased glasses from several different companies and have had good results. I once bought a pair of prescription sunglasses, including lenses, for just over $50. I love those glasses and don't know how I ever got along wtihout them.

This picture shows me in one of my favorite pair of glasses bought online.

Choosing Frames

It really isn't that hard to choose frames that work for you. You know yourself and are familiar with your facial shape. If you've worn glasses for awhile, you have an idea of what looks good on you. I always have a tough time when looking for glasses because I want to try on every single pair. Then I forget which ones I liked best and have to go back to my pile of keepers to try them on again. It's actually quite a pain. I've found it to be easier to buy glasses online. I look for styles that are similar to ones that have worked for me in the past. For example, I usually just check out the half frame glasses, which makes things a little more manageable. Then I look for colors that I like and I know will work with my red hair. Then I narrow it down. Usually, one pair will stand out from the rest, and that's my choice. This same process has worked for my kids' frames. My daughter is very small and has a petite face. I knew we had to look for delicate frames. She wanted pink. So we eneded up going with a little pink pair that she absolutely adores.

Give It a Try

You really don't have anything to lose, except outrageous eyeglass cost and the frustration of trying on endless pairs of glasses. Some sites even allow you to upload a picture to virtually "try on" different styles. It's pretty cool. And many sites offer free shipping and returns if you're not pleased. How can you go wrong? I say go with your gut and choose a frame that you think will work for you. If you're not happy with the process or don't like your frame, just send the glasses back.

Have you ever bought glasses online? What did you think? I'd love to hear about your experience!

* sponsored post

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

Blogging has made such a difference in my life. When I left my job as a community college academic adviser to stay at home with my kids and pursue a writing career, I felt like I had lost my identity. I didn't feel like I deserved the title "writer", but I was no longer an academic adviser. I was in limbo. Then I became involved in the mom blogosphere, and I started networking online with amazing women. I learned something new every day and put myself out there in ways I'd never imagined. I started to feel more confident and comfortable calling myself a writer. And I especially related to using the term blogger because blogging has become where my heart lies.

Many women online have contributed toward helping me achieve my identity as a professional blogger and freelance writer. Whether it be through their support and kind words or through setting inspirational examples that have led me to work harder. I'd like to acknowledge just five who have made an impact on me, both personally and professionally, whom I am happy to call friends.

Nadia of The Purple Journal

Nadia was my first online friend. She made the very first comment on my blog. She also lives the farthest away from me than any of my other friends, living in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, but I continue to feel very close to her. Because of daily commitments, writing obligations and life in general, I don't always get to visit her at her blog, The Purple Journal. When I do, I'm greeted by beautiful photos and stories of Nadia's life that always make me think or make me smile. What I truly appreciate is that I always learn something from Nadia, and she continues to be my cheerleader and lifts me up with every interaction.

Susan of Sometimes Parenting Sucks

Susan is a fabulous blogger friend I first met at an online networking event. Her personal blog is Sometimes Parenting Sucks, but you may know her best as The Marketing Eggspert. That's how I first knew her, and I met her in person for the first time at the first Type-A Mom Conference. She took the time to seek me out, and we really connected. I have to admit that it's not often I truly feel a connection with someone, that I can just be myself. Susan is one of those rare souls who gets me. And I so appreciate her for that. I also love her openness, her fun nature, her incredible smarts and her humor. Susan is am amazing woman I learn from every time I talk to her, and she's always there for me.

Angela of Unexpected Art

Angela Moore of Unexpected Art was one of the first people I connected with in my online networks. It seemed that everywhere I went, Angela was there - Mom Bloggers Club, Twitter, Facebook. Not only did I keep running into this woman, but we always seemed to have similar opinions on things or some kind of coincidece that tied us together. Then I spoke to her in person, and I knew I'd met a kindred spirit. Angela is such a beautiful, generous person. A few days after talking to her on the phone, a package arrived from Amazon with three books from Angela. That act of kindness was followed by another when she offered to allow me to ride to Blissdom with her last year. That was a trip that meant so much to me. Angela is a friend I'll treasure for a long time to come.

Cara of This Is Where I Come Up With Something Witty

I met this savvy lady at a local blogging event, only to find out that we would be attending another local event together the following day. So I had the chance to really get to know Cara of This Is Where I Come Up With Something Witty quite a bit, in person, over the course of a weekend. I'm so glad that I did. Cara is so much fun. She's another friend who really knows her stuff when it comes to marketing, and she's someone I look up to professionally. And did I mention she's a lot of fun? I got to know Cara a bit more online over the months following our in person meeting, and we decided to travel to and room together at Type-A Mom this year. After this experience, I can truly say that I've made a friend. Fortunately, Cara doesn't live all that far from me. She's someone I imagine I'll be able to lean on in the years to come and hope that I can offer her the generosity and friendship she's given me.

Alaina of Dinker and Giggles

Alaina of Dinker and Giggles is another local gal I count myself lucky to get to know. Though there are millions of women who blog, this online world of ours really is rather small. I'm so happy that, through our online community, I was able to meet such a giving and understanding friend, who actually lives rather close by. Alaina has become someone I look for when I jump on Twitter. I know I can reach out to her when I need someone to talk to or bounce an idea of off. She's been to my home (as has Cara), and I feel totally at ease around Alaina. She's my techie guru and has a fabulous sense of design. I love that Alaina's a dreamer who reminds me to dream as well.

I'm so very fortunate to have made these five friends, along with a host of others, through my online journey. Thank you to each of them and to the many other women who continue to amaze and inspire me each and every day.

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

I just found out that I'll be participating i an eyeglasses review, and I'm totally psyched because I haven't had an eye exam or gotten new glasses in YEARS! My only concern is that I'm such an indecisive person. It takes me forever to choose an item from the menu when we go out to eat, you can imagine how I agonize over the decision of which glasses I'll be wearing every day, for years to come.

And what makes it even more tricky is that I'll be choosing glasses from an online store. I can totally see the advantage to this for people who are less picky than I am. I checked out the site, and there are a lot of great prescription glasses to choose from at outstanding prices. Shopping online could be a fabulous option; much quicker than spending tons of time in a crowded store.

But now I'm back to my dilemma - which pair of glasses should I get? The ones I have right now are semi-rimless with wide tortoise shell stems. Take a look.

I really like them, but I think I want something a little thinner and sleeker, not so chunky.

I'm really happy that there are so many to choose from because everyone's tastes are so individual. I just wish I weren't so indecisive. Here are my current top contenders. If you were to buy glasses online, which would you choose?

Choice #1 - Similar to what I have

Choice #2 - Sleek and sophisticated, in gold

Choice #3 - These are really pretty, with blue stems.

Please weigh in with your input! Please?

* Sponsored Post

I've been seeing my blogging friends talk about this new site where you can watch your favorite television programs online. It's called Fancast. At first I didn'tthink I'd be very interested in Fancast because I don't watch very much TV. Then I realized that there's a reason I don't watch much TV. It's not that I don't enjoy TV, but I get so busy that I either don't have time to watch or I forget to turn on a program I was hoping to watch.

Fancast totally helps me with that problem; it's great for busy moms! I finally gave in and checked it out, and I found out that I really can benefit from all the great stuff Fancast has to offer. With Fancast, you can watch episodes of some of your favorite shows whenever you have the time. I'll be checking out Glee. Can you believe I've never seen it? My husband watched it once and hated it. So that means I'm sure to LOVE it! I also want to check out The Wanda Sykes Show. I love her.

I also think it's cool that Fancast offers news and gossip, as well as behind the scenes coverage. I enjoy that kind of thing. So I'll be exploring Fancast some more, especially at night when insomnia kicks in. How about you? Do you think this is a service you'd like? What would you watch? I need some more suggestions so I can catch up with the rest of the world!