Saturday Shopping Trip... Not Quite Extreme Couponing

I'm a couponer, yes.  I just can't quite get "Extreme" with it.... yet.  Of course, I am referring to TLC's Extreme Couponing where the people buy 400 million dollars of groceries for 2.5 cents.  Maybe I just don't need 2500 sticks of deodorant?  All joking aside, couponing is a way of life and today was no exception.

My most recent shopping trip resulted in getting just over $100 of groceries for $30-something.  Not spectacular, but not bad.  Everyone likes to see my receipt when I arrive home from the grocery store but today I heard "not your best trip, Mom".. ha!!  I got 47 items for $32.81 which calculates out to .70 per item and this included a family pack of chicken breasts, family pack of ground beef, and a bottle of laundry detergent.  I'll give myself a pat on the back and keep counting my pennies!

Hop, Hop!

Looking for some new reads, new friends or a new place to hang out?  Try linking up or following some of these fantastic Blog Hops this weekend.

Stop That Pain!!

As a crafter, have you ever gotten a sore shoulder from repetitive motions or an achy back from sitting for hours at an all-day scrapbook crop?  Yep, I am guilty!  Or maybe you suffer from arthritis, joint pain or other minor aches that make it impossible to enjoy your favorite activities and hobbies.  We have found an incredible topical pain reliever for you called Stopain!!

1 of every 5 people in the U.S. suffers from some type of arthritis and it affects 3 times as many women as men.  May is National Arthritis Awareness Month and Stopain is an Arthritis Foundation sponsor, donating a portion of the proceeds for every product sold in 2011 (with a minimum contribution of $25,000). We love this!

Stopain comes in four different formulations; Spray, Extra-Strength Spray, Roll-On, and Gel.  We were thrilled to be able to try the Extra-Strength Spray.  Seriously, if you have ever used a messy topical pain reliever a spray is very intriguing! 

Stopain Cold 4 oz. Spray Extra Strength Features:

*No Drip

*No Stain

*Non-Greasy

*Light Scent (We found this to be strong at first but disappears rather quickly.)

*Hands-Free Application

*Sprays at Any Angle

*Contains 8% Menthol (Recognized by the FDA as an analgesic!)

*Enhanced with Glucosamine and MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) for joint health and mobility.

I suffer (suffer? sounds so horrible and old! hmmm..) from Thyroid Disease which gives me muscle and joint pain and my husband has a bad back with a herniated disk and a touch of arthritis.  Oh, the joys of advancing age!  We both found a pleasant temporary relief with Stopain.  We also both are quite crafty and creative people so it's great to have a quick solution to the aches and pains that stop us from working on our projects.  Stopain is available nationally in pharmacies, drug and discount stores as well as at www.stopain.com.

The giveaway portion of this post is now CLOSED.  Thanks to all who entered!!  Our winner is...
Comment #51 SummerSorbet!

Would you like to win your very own full-size bottle of Extra Strength Stopain Spray?  Just follow these rules to enter the giveaway.  Be sure to leave your email in your comments if it isn't in your profile so we can find you if you win.  Thanks!  Connecting with Stopain on Twitter and Facebook will also give you insider pain-fighting tips and information on more giveaways!!

MANDATORY ENTRY

*1) Leave a comment on this post and tell us why you'd like to win.  Easy!

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES, complete as many or as few as you like:

*2)  Like @Stopain on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name. 

*3)  Follow @ArtsyChaos on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name.

*4)  Like Stopain on Facebook.  Leave a comment with your facebook name (first name, last initial). 

*5)  Like the Artsy Chaos Facebook fan page.  Leave a comment and include your facebook name.

*6)  Follow Artsy Chaos with Google Friend Connect (in the right sidebar--->).  Let us know you follow.

*7)  Tweet this giveaway.  Leave the URL to your tweet!  You can tweet once daily if you'd like, just come back and leave a comment to let us know.  Or, if you'd prefer, share on facebook or another social networking site. Just leave the URL in a comment and let us know (once daily).

Sample tweet:
#WIN @Stopain Extra Strength Spray @ArtsyChaos Stop That Pain!! http://t.co/Kyybppx #giveaway #arthritis #backpain #painrelief

Giveaway ends May 25, 2011 at 11:59 pm MST.  Be sure to leave your email or  have it in your blogger profile so we can find you if you win.  Open to the US only, 18+.  Winner will be selected by a true random generator.  Winner must respond to winning email in 48  hours or a new winner will be selected.   No compensation was received for this article and all opinions are honest and unbiased.  Your experience may differ.  Thank you to Stopain and Robin Leedy & Associates for providing product(s) free of charge for review and the giveaway prize(s).

Plaque, Plaque, Go Away!

...And Giveaway!

If you're like me, you've been curious about all the probiotics available on the market today.  What is a probiotic?  What does it do?  Is it beneficial?  Should children use probiotics?  Are there any risks associated with probiotic use?

We were beyond thrilled when TheraBreath contacted us about reviewing their brand new Multi Symptom Probiotics!  Maybe now we can learn what this probiotic thing is all about.

Within our bodies we have good bacteria and bad bacteria.  Most of the time there is a balance and the good bacteria (which are necessary for good health!) are winning.  If the bad bacteria take the upper hand, however, we tend to get sick. 

TheraBreath has developed the first probiotic strains used specifically for oral health.  These probiotic strains, S. salivarius K12 and M18, help the body to resist and possibly prevent things like ear aches, sore throats, cavities, gum sensitivity, the formation of biofilm, plaque, tooth stains and bad breath.  Take all the scientific mumbo-jumbo out of it and immediately I am interested in the possibly of preventing cavities.  My teen daughter has had a serious problem with plaque and cavities ever since she first got braces.  If this product helps in any way, I am sold!  Plus, I am sure that our dental insurance carrier will be grateful!

TheraBreath Multi Symptom Probiotic comes in a kit which is used over a 7-day period and should be repeated every 1-2 months.  The probiotic comes in little stick packs which you dissolve in water and use as a mouth rinse after brushing your teeth with the included TheraBreath toothpaste.  Everything is clearly labeled on the kit so you won't get confused as to which day of the program you are currently using.  We have found the flavor of the probiotic to be lemony and quite pleasant.  After 4 days of use, my daughter clearly noticed a difference in the formation of plaque on her teeth, yay!  Less plaque?  Ka-pow!!  Must mean less chance of cavities!!  It is also safe for use by young children who can rinse and gargle, as well as there are no known significant side effects.

You can purchase the probiotic at Walgreen's or online at TheraBreath and it should be widely available at most major drug stores this Fall. Run over to TheraBreath for more information plus they have coupons you can print too!

The fantastic people at TheraBreath would like to offer one lucky reader a box of their Mouth Wetting Lozenges.  These things are truly amazing!  My children love them and they really work.  You can read all about them in our previous TheraBreath review as well as learn to do some fun toothpaste art!

The giveaway portion of this post is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who entered!  Our winner is.... #12 lisa!!

Just follow these rules to enter the giveaway.  Be sure to leave your email in your comments if it isn't in your profile so we can find you if you win.  Thanks!

MANDATORY ENTRY

*1) Leave a comment on this post about your experience with probiotics. Let us know if you have ever used probiotics and if so, what kind?  Did they work for you? Why would you like to try TheraBreath Multi Symptom Probiotics? Or maybe you've never heard of probiotics?

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES, complete as many or as few as you like:

*2)  Like @TheraBreath on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name. 

*3)  Follow @ArtsyChaos on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name.

*4)  Like TheraBreath on Facebook.  Leave a comment with your facebook name (first name, last initial). 

*5)  Like the Artsy Chaos Facebook fan page.  Leave a comment and include your facebook name.

*6)  Follow Artsy Chaos with Google Friend Connect (in the right sidebar--->).  Let us know you follow.

*7)  Tweet this giveaway.  Leave the URL to your tweet!  You can tweet once daily if you'd like, just come back and leave a comment to let us know.  Or, if you'd prefer, share on facebook or another social networking site. Just leave the URL in a comment and let us know (once daily).

Sample tweet:

#WIN #TheraBreath Lozenges and learn about Multi Symptom Probiotics http://t.co/fD9rDD1 #badbreath #giveaway #health

Giveaway ends May 22, 2011 at 11:59 pm MST.  Be sure to leave your email or  have it in your blogger profile so we can find you if you win.  Open to the US only, 18+.  Winner will be selected by a true random generator.  Winner must respond to winning email in 48  hours or a new winner will be selected.   No compensation was received for this article and all opinions are honest and unbiased.  Your experience may differ.  Thank you to TheraBreath  for providing the giveaway prize(s).