The Rosetta Stone Coupon Code!

As most people are aware, Rosetta Stone is the world's #1 language-learning software.  Rosetta Stone is interactive language learning software that teaches a new language by immersion, rather than translation and memorization drills.  I came across a few coupon codes that will save you 10% on your purchase from their personal edition products.  I'm not sure if all of these work or not, but here they are: vks127, qvs109, ots030

Here is my review of the product (I own both Spanish and Italian):

From their website you can find:

Learn Naturally
A completely immersive environment.
As a child, you learned to speak instinctively by experiencing the world around you. Our solution recreates this experience through a fully immersive environment right on your computer.
No translation or memorization.
We’ve eliminated the traditional approach of using translation and grammar rules, empowering you to think in your new language. There are no flash cards, dictionaries or memorization drills.
A carefully designed sequence of activities.
By surrounding you with words, images and the voices of native speakers, our method lets you progress naturally from words and phrases to sentences and conversations.
 
Engage Interactively
Start fast and stay motivated.

Unlike tapes, videos or books that passively feed you language, you’ll constantly interact with our program. Instead of repeating the same action over and over, you’ll:

• Hear, write and pronounce words and match them to images
• Speak aloud to finish sentences or phrases
• Refine your pronunciation by emulating native speakers

Retain what you’ve learned.
Our exclusive Adaptive Recall™ feature brings back review exercises to help you transfer what you’ve learned into your long-term memory.

My husband and I are about 6 months away from taking a trip to Italy.  About 1 month ago, he boght me Rosetta Stone Italian because he knows I enjoy learning other languages when I will be visiting a country. I do not expect to be fluent, but I do like to know common phrases.  When we took our honeymoon (a cruise to the Caribbean) I bought Rosetta Stone Spanish and found it to be beneficial, so I was happy to have the opportunity to use it again to learn Italian. 
Rosetta Stone really does help you to learn the language, and a huge plus is that their approach doesn't make it seem like school work.  From my experience, the Spanish was easier to learn than the Italian.  But that is probably because I have a background with Spanish where I was coming into Italian not knowing a word!  Rosetta Stone is for building a good foundation in your target language.
I would definitely recommend giving this a try if you are interested in learning another language!

Rosetta Stone is also available on Amazon for a cheaper price

Jergens® Naturals® Ultra Hydrating Daily Moisturizer

Since you already know that I am a product junkie...I thought I would share my opinions on Jergens® Naturals® Ultra Hydrating Daily Moisturizer. I decided to give this product a try because it is a 95% Natural Formula and is supposed to double the hydration of skin instantly.



You can learn the following from their website:

Jergens Naturals® Ultra Hydrating Daily Moisturizer increases hydration 100% by flooding skin with an instant burst of moisture drawn from the goodness of the desert botanicals Agave & Jojoba Oil for skin that is intensely rich and touchably soft.



Key natural ingredients used in Ultra Hydrating:


• Jojoba Oil: keeps skin healthy, soft and supple


• Agave Extract: soothes and moisturizes to maintain healthy skin


Until now, purchasing a natural moisturizer forced women to make difficult choices, such as sacrificing a pleasant usage experience or affordability, even having to choose an unproven brand. Now, Jergens Naturals® moisturizers allow women to have the best of all worlds: authentically natural moisturizers from a brand with over 100 years of heritage delivering pleasant-to-use and affordable skin care solutions. While many competitors in the mass market offer affordable products labeled as "natural," the Jergens® brand brings an unprecedented level of authenticity - not only do all four Jergens Naturals® moisturizers now contain over 95% natural ingredients, but they deliver 100% of their moisturizing and beautifying benefits through natural ingredients


Each Jergens Naturals® moisturizer contains a paraben-free preservative system that best fits with our natural ingredients. Even though parabens have been deemed safe by the cosmetics industry, they are not used as a preservative in Jergens Naturals® moisturizers. Jergens Naturals® moisturizers do not contain the petrochemicals mineral oil or petrolatum and the products are also phthalate free. In adherence to our company standards, Jergens Naturals® moisturizers were never tested on animals.

I’ll admit, I’m always skeptical about products that claim to provide such outstanding results, but I was extremely impressed. Now, I started using this lotion before I switched body washes (from Bath and Body works to the Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Smoothing Body Wash,Pomegranate + Rice - you can read my review of this here: http://reviewthis213.blogspot.com/2010/04/aveeno-positively-nourishing-hydrating.html ) so I know that this lotion really helped to make significant difference in the moisture levels of my skin. The lotion goes on smoothly without leaving me feeling sticky or leaving behind a residue. My skin stayed hydrated all day long, which doesn’t happen often with lotions you can find for under $10.00 (less than $5.00 at amazon). The scent of this lotion is very natural, not heavily perfumed or flowery at all. I try not to wear lotions that have strong scents because a woman I work with can’t be around strong smells, and she actually complimented me on the smell of this lotion! Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone who is looking to switch to a more natural lotion or someone who just wants a new lotion to replace their daily moisturizer.

Old Navy Promo Code - 30% off

Old Navy has a new promotional code to help you save 30% off your order at www.oldnavy.com now through May 2, 2010!

To receive the discount, enter code: "ONBIG30" at checkout.

Happy Shopping and Saving!

Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Dress Shirts

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/

Both my husband and I dress up for work (rare these days, I know). After spending a TON of money at the dry cleaner on top of paying around $50 for dress shirts we decided to try the Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Shirts. Now, I realize that non-iron shirts have been around for a while, but there is something different about the Brooks Brothers shirts that are superior to others. They don’t have any special care instructions; I put them in the washing machine with the rest of my clothes on regular cycle and then put them in the dryer. They come out looking perfect and stay looking perfect even after a long work day. My husband has recently started traveling more often for work and not only do the shirts hold up during long flights and layovers in airports, but they pack well too! Their pure cotton shirts are treated with a unique formula that gives memory to the fibers, allowing them to remain virtually without wrinkles during wear.



Probably one of the best things about these shirts is that they offer a nice selection of colors as well as different fits. For men they offer Traditional, Regular, and Slim fits. For women they offer Tailored, Fitted, and Classic fits.


Now you might wonder about the price of these “miracle” shirts…they range in price from around $75 to $125 each. Yes, that sounds expensive (and it is), but they frequently offer sales which reduces the price of each shirt (often times it is $199 for 3 shirts or $66.33 each). We are lucky enough to live relatively close to a Brooks Brothers Factory Store and the prices are even better there (usually $99 for 3 shirts or about $33 a shirt) which is a WHOLE lot cheaper than the per shirt price listed on their website!


Overall, we are extremely happy we found these shirts. It saves us time by not having to iron, saves money by not having to take the clothes to a dry cleaner, and they hold up well. We have been wearing these shirts for over a year and each shirt still looks brand new! I would definitely recommend these shirts to anyone who wears dress shirts frequently of if you are just sick of ironing or spending a fortune at the dry cleaner!

Coach Factory Printable Coupon

This is an amazing deal from the Coach Factory Store!  Receive an Extra 30% off purchases of $250 or more or 20% w/ No Minimum thru Sunday May 9, 2010.
I LOVE my Coach bags!  I have about 8 of them (with matching wallets, too), and can't decide which one is my favorite!  Now with this coupon burning a hole in my Coach purse, I will definitely have to take a trip to the nearest Coach Factory store to utilize this!

Here is a link to the printable coupon: https://e.coach.com/servlet/website/PersonalizedForm?JhHJoEVTUTTXVB_XYTTU_.40HJmhkREyLJpipLgmbK_EUTCUCYE.26f7be_7.2e.2ey.26zzEqhogHkpShgHFohmtHpsDJhtEz0vy.26_u1f8.26yEVBTUE.26f7be_b.2eEUTCAYZUXTEd.265_9v.2e.26EcVTUEwyvfv_b.2eEXYTTUEf8z_91z0vf.26y_b.2eEYWW


Happy shopping and saving!!

*Offer valid 4/28/10-5/9/10 in Coach Factory stores in US, Canada and Puerto Rico only. Cannot be combined with any other offer.



One time use only. Not valid on previous purchases. Offer may not be reproduced.


This offer is subject to quantity limitations per customer.

Macys 25% Off!

If you like a good bargin, make sure you use the following coupon code on your next purchase at www.macys.com to save yourself 25% now through May 3, 2010!  To Save An Extra 25% Off Almost Everything at Macys Friends and Family Sale, use promotion code: MACYSFF

Happy shopping!!

Kohl's 15% off sitewide with no minimum

Use the code below to receive 15% off your entire order at http://www.kohls.com/ !

Expires: 4/29/2010
Code: SAVINGS15

Aveeno Positively Nourishing Hydrating Body Wash

I recently purchased Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Smoothing Body Wash,Pomegranate + Rice and I have to say that I really like it!  I have used Bath & Body Works for the longest time, but decided I wanted to try something new.  The Shea butter formula, enriched with natural fig, wraps your skin with nourishing oils that leaves it feeling velvety soft. Fragrance is released and amplified by the steam from your shower, delightfully engaging your senses.

• Combines the best of nature and science to reveal the natural beauty of your skin.
• Uses select natural ingredients because of their advanced benefits; we call these Active Naturals, natural ingredients that deliver visibly results.
• Smoothing body wash is just as good for your skin as it is for your senses.
• This lightly fragrance body wash smoothes skin with natural exfoliants, rice beads and smoothing walnuts shells, and is enriched with pomegranate for skin that feels soft and smells great long after you shower.
• Gently exfoliates to help reveal soft, radiant skin.

This product contains walnut shell flour.

Directions: Squeeze onto a wet pouf or washcloth. Work into a rich, creamy lather and rinse.

After just one use, I found my skin was much softer.  Many times after taking a shower that is too long and too hot (which is my usual) I feel like my skin is cracking before I apply my body lotion.  After taking my shower and using this body wash, my skin doesn't feel as dry. I would definitely recommend giving this product a try!!

Case-Mate iPhone 3G / 3GS Barely There Cases - Review

iPhone 3G / 3GS Barely There Cases
I purchased this case for my 3G iPhone about 6 months ago.  When purchasing it, I bought it based off the color (pink) and the fact that it is so thin.  I have owned cases in the past that were so bulky, I couldn’t stand having it on.  I hadn’t really considered doing a review on the case…I’ve had it so long that it just looks like it belongs.  Then I did the unthinkable; I dropped my lifeline in a parking lot.  That’s right…onto asphalt.  I nearly had a heart attack.  I picked up my phone quickly, did a thorough inspection and determined the phone was okay.  Crisis adverted.  The only thing that was damaged during the fall was the actual case.  It has a nice little imprint of the asphalt into the plastic.  I honestly believe that this case protected the phone from a far worse fate.  Since the case has a “war wound”, I had considered replacing it.  Then I thought that the dent gives it character.  Plus when the new phones come out in June I plan on upgrading.  But believe me, no matter what phone I own, a Case-Mate case will always be attached for protection! 
http://www.case-mate.com/iPhone-3G-Cases/Case-Mate-iPhone-3G--3GS-Barely-There-Cases.asp
The Barely There is Case-mate's new line of sporty cases for the iPhone 3G / 3GS. These cases are designed to protect the design of the iPhone 3G / 3GS while allowing more of it to show.

• Extremely slim profile
• Impact resistant flexible plastic shell
• Covers the back and corners of the iPhone 3G / 3GS
• Full-Face Screen protection included

This product is definitely worth it!  For $19.99 the phone is protected from scratches and provided protection in the unfortunate event of a fall.
Here are some pictures from their website of the product (in my favorite color, of course!)

New York International Auto Show Review

For the past few years I have devotedly attended the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (www.autoshowny.com). I didn’t always know I would be such an enthusiast, however.

The first year I attended, I was disappointed with the entire event. There were huge crows which meant you couldn’t get anywhere near the cars you were attending just to be able to see, there were young kids running around like wild animals that escaped a zoo, and parents who were screaming at their kids. And forget about taking pictures, unless you wanted a picture of everyone crowding around a little object you would never recognize in a picture. Overall, I was left wanting much more. Luckily for me, the event is in one of my favorite cities so I was able to enjoy the rest of the day once I was away from the car show.

The next year I attended, I learned about their Members Express Club which provides you with the following Benefits: Early Entry to the Show - Enter one hour before the general public on Fridays and Saturdays! This is a truly unique experience and one that will appeal to people who prefer less crowds or who just like standing out above the crowds. VIP Lounge - Access to the exclusive Members Express Club VIP Lounge at the show! Open 11:00am to 7:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. I was a little skeptical, but I figured it was worth a chance. Let me just tell you, I wasn’t let down! That extra hour was like heaven! Almost the entire show is empty, no screaming kids, no crowds around the cars…it was incredible!

Unfortunately in 2009, the entire Members Express membership left me feeling extremely let down. Not only did I purchase the membership for the club, but I also purchased tickets to the show. Since I had purchased the membership less than a month before the show, I was told to pick up my membership card at the will call. Well, wouldn’t you know it; my card was nowhere to be found. Luckily for me, I had printed my confirmation and was able to get into the show early. You should know that I’m not one to complain about such a little snafu, so there is obviously more to my disdain. Since there are more than one level, I went around the bottom level for about 10 minutes (my favorite cars are on the upper level) and tried to leave to go upstairs. Well, that wasn’t possible. You were not able to leave because the hand stampers weren’t there. Without your hand stamped you could not gain admittance without having another ticket. So I waited about 10 more minutes for the hand stampers to arrive. Once they got there, I got my hand tamped and proceeded to go upstairs. Well, wouldn’t you know that their ink was dry! I had to go back downstairs and plead to have my hand restamped. By the time I was finally allowed to go upstairs, I had wasted about 25 minutes on nonsense. I was livid! I quickly went around the top level and wasn’t finished by the time those without the early access were granted admittance, it was like a tidal wave of people coming at me! So I left. I didn’t let this discourage me though.

I decided to attend again this year.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they revamped the way everything was done! You just need your ticket to enter the show…no need for hand stamps to go to enter the different levels! I was very happy with the outcome. The exhibits were done extremely well this year, same as usual.

Overall, this was the best year I have experienced with both the show and the Members Express membership.

Here are a few pictures from the event. I also included a picture from Top OF The Rock (www.topoftherocknyc.com) because no trip to NYC is complete without a visit there!

Canon EOS Rebel XSi Review

While I am not a professional photographer, I enjoy taking pictures more than anyone I know (I don’t know any professional photographers, by the way). I had been using the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS, and I LOVE it, but decided I wanted to get DSLR camera. I did extensive research between many different brands, but when it came down to ease of use and feel in my hand, I felt Canon's EOS Rebel XSi beat the competition hands down. 

From Canon’s website, you can learn the following about this outstanding camera:

Infinite Possibilities.

For stunning photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no further than Canon's EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor and is available in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi's refined, ergonomic design includes a new 3.0-inch LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC Memory cards and new accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience.

Right now I only have the 18-55 lens which I bought with the camera, but this doesn’t affect the image quality. There is a definite and noticeable difference in pictures that I have taken with my little point and shoot camera versus those I have taken with my DSLR. I hope to get a new lens before my vactions this year, so I have more zooming capabilities. I have researched numerous lenses and this is the one I am hoping to get: Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
IS lens

Compact, lightweight and a wide magnification range - this standard zoom lens features a wide focal length range from normal to telephoto equivalent to 29-320mm in the 35mm format. It features an Optical Image Stabilizer for up to 4-stops of effective correction even at full zoom. Since Canon's optical image stabilization system is in the lens, not in the camera, you can see the stabilized, steadier images through the viewfinder. And the circular aperture can give beautiful background blur effects. This new wide zoom ratio EF-S lens delivers excellent high-speed performance at an affordable price.

As you can read, this lense would be perfect for an every day lens.  It has the capability of zooming to a respectible distance without sacrificing the ability to take close up pictures.  Having a lens that is able to do this is priceless especially when you are on vacation and don't feel like carrying multiple lenses around with you all day.  When I get the new lens, I will review it on my blog, but I can't imagine the results would be anything less than spectacular! 

Overall, I would HIGLY recommend this camera to anyone who is looking to start taking pictures with a DSLR. While I wouldn’t exactly call this is an entry level camera (like a point and shoot), it defintely isn’t as complex (or expensive) as some others out there. A big plus for me, the menus are prety easy to navigate through. For the price, you get an extremely well built camera that will take exceptional pictures. My only warning, it will be hard for you to go back to a point and shoot!

P.S. To view some pictures I took with this camera with the kit lens, look at the review I posted on the New York International Auto Show

Thanks!!