Many of my readers know that I’m an eBay Power Seller through my Store, Moomette’s Magnificents, as well as a Moderator on Suzanne Wells’ eBay Coach Free Forum.

Suzanne is an Internationally recognized eBay Authority, Author-Extraordinaire of The Stay At Home Mom’s Guide to Successful eBay Selling, and Administrator of the Ebay Coach Free Forum. (If you sell on eBay, it is THE place to be for up-to-the minute advice on anything and everything eBay!)

Suzanne is an expert on finding inventory (cheap, or free) to sell on eBay, and has amassed oodles of products from  CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, and various other stores.  eBay Coach wants to do a little Pre-Fall cleaning at her house, and is looking for someone to take it off her hands.

Here is what you get:

(2) Tubes Aveeno Sunscreen SPF 55, $18 value
Burt’s Bees Color Keeper Shampoo, 8 ounces, $9 value
Burt’s Bees Healthy Healing Carrot Lotion, 8 ounces, $9 value
Itch X Lotion, 3 oz, $10 value
Love’s Baby Soft Cologne Spray, $12 value
(2) Oral B Cross Action Power toothbrushes, $14 value
Almay Intense i-Color Kit, $22 Value
(2) Almay Triple Effect Mascara (blackest black), $16 value
Quattro Surf Style Razor and Case, $5 value
Aquafresh Advanced Toothpaste, $4 value
Neutrogena Lip Balm with Sunscreen, $4 value

Here’s how to play.

Post this contest on your blog. Leave a comment at Suzanne’s blog, eBay Selling Coach, about why you want all this FREE stuff, that links back to the post on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, post this contest on a forum or group. Leave a comment that links back to your post.

The winner will be announced Monday, August 25 - we have to do something to make Mondays fun!

Should I happen to be the winner, I’ve indicated that I will be donating the prizes to the local Social Services Agency in my town, or to the local Shelter for battered women.

The last two weeks of August are always bittersweet to me.  When I was dating my hubby, his family always took the last two weeks as a vacation at the seashore cottage they owned, and I was always invited to tag along.

Here in New England where we have 4 seasons, I can sense that fall will soon be upon us ~ I can feel and smell it in the cool night air.  The approaching fall season then means that winter’s not too far behind.

Along with winter come all the associated skin problems that occur when the heating season begins.  Fortunately, there’s good news for the millions who suffer with dry skin each year.

I recently had the opportunity to review Gloves In a Bottle, a revolutionary Shielding Lotion that works like an invisible pair of gloves.  I received a full-size 8-fl. oz./240ml bottle of the lotion.

If you’re not familiar with a shielding lotion, the product  provides the following benefits ~

“Shielding Lotions form a protective shield with the outer layer of skin and help keep out irritants and chemicals. They also allow the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. They are light and go on without a greasy mess.”

Shielding Lotion can prevent a costly trip to your dermatologist and keep your skin silky smooth all winter.

My brother is a professional photographer and spent many years working for Kodak in Rochester, New York.  I’ve seen first-hand what the effects of photography chemicals and the brutal winters of Rochester can do to one’s skin.

The chilling cold of the winter months can take a heavy toll on your skin. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) figures, 81 million Americans all across the country will be looking for relief from dry, itchy skin this winter.

The traditional prescription for treating dry skin has been a cream or lotion with moisturizers in it, in an attempt to replace the lost moisture and oils in the skin.

The features and benefits of Gloves in a Bottle include:

*  Non-greasy, non-sticky lotion; rapidly absorbs into outer layer of skin.
* Works like an invisible pair of gloves.
* Prevents dirt and grime from penetrating the skin.
* Allows skin to breathe and retain its natural moisture and oils.
* Does not wash off, lasts 4 hours or more, and comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells.
* Greaseless, non-sticky, fragrance free, hypoallergenic, completely safe, non-toxic and used daily by a   wide range of healthcare professionals.
* Prevents dry, cracked skin.
* Absorbs quickly, undetectable once absorbed.

Gloves In A Bottle lasts for up to 4 hours or more. After about 4 hours enough skin cells have sloughed off to cause the barrier to break down; for continued protection just reapply. Wash and dry your hands before re-applying.

When I applied the lotion for the first time, I immediately noticed that it was fragrance free, and glided on like silk.  Only a small amount was needed.

What further impressed me was that after applying it, I felt as if I had a spa experience!  If you’ve ever had your hands dipped in the parafin hot-bath after having a manicure, it forms a ‘glove’ on your hands that is then peeled off.  You’re skin is then baby-smooth!  This same feeling was achieved after I applied Gloves in a Bottle ~ without having to go to the spa!  It was simply amazing!

I’m a convert for sure!  If you’re a Baby Boomer, or someone who works with their hands, or just in need of a little tender loving care, give this product a try!  Gloves in a Bottle is available at CVS and Brooks.

If you’d like to try a sample of Gloves in a Bottle and are willing to post a review on your blog, send a request to petegrimaldi@earthlink.net along with your blog URL and mailing address.

Visit their website at http://glovesinabottle.com to locate the retail outlet closest to you.

Continuing my little expose on how I’m doing in wally world as a WAHM, I’m going to further expound on my adventures in Twitterville.

First, I’m going to say this work-at-home Gram from Dysfunction Junction, CT is finding it’s a ton of fun ~ I enjoy getting the little pop-ups on Twitterfox, and getting to know the personalities of all my Tweeps.  While working late at night, I haven’t had the opportunity to watch the Olympics.  However, there’s one gal who updates regularly, every 10 minutes or so, on what exactly has been going on!  She’s so entertaining (besides being the author of a terrific blog, Send Chocolate, that I suggested last night that she bottle all the commentary on the Olympics into an eBook!

But I digress.  Seriously, Twitter is an excellent platform for micro-blogging and marketing your product, be it a blog, service, eBay store or mission.

If you find yourself in a position that you need to understand your target customer as well as keep up with various ways of marketing to those potential customers, Twitter is one of the most powerful and popular tools out there right now!  This new type of network communication has been taken up by companies and individuals alike in recent months and for good reason.

To get a better understanding of Twitter, let’s first take a look at the format.  Essentially, Twitter is a program that allows you to make very small, public posts.  Because these posts are so limited (they max out at 140 characters) they can easily be sent to a number of different locations all at once.  When you have written a Twitter, it can appear on the twitter website, on short message services, instant messaging sites or even on third-party applications like Facebook or Twitterific.  Folks can even add a script to their blog or website to show their most recent posts and the posts of others!   I have a blue widget box on my right sidebar.   Your Twitter messages, also known tweets, will appear to anyone who has chosen to follow your updates.

There are several advantages to this type of communication.  The first thing that you’ll discover is that it allows for a much more immediate relay of information.  The shortness of the message forces you to be very brief, and this alone can create interest in those reading.  Because tweets are so short, they often lead to frequent posting, which is excellent when you’re looking to communicate with people and to get to know them.  While Twitter is, by default, public, you can restrict the people who see your material with the ease of checking a box in your profile.

Actually, although I rarely have to do this, last night and so far tonight have been the exception.  I believe it’s a full-moon this week, and true to form, the crazies are coming out of the walls.  I, along with a few of  my fellow Tweeps, have had to block several people.  If these folks have a trillion people that they’re following, and only 1 or 2 followers of their own and no website listed - that’s a sure sign of a Spammer or bored teen, and an instant BLOCK.  But don’t let that discourage you.  It happens in e-mail programs too.

You’ll find that not only can you post tweets, you can also receive them.  Once again, the immediate nature of this service lends greatly to its appeal.  Want to follow someone’s updates and see what they are up to with their business or life in general? Simply sign into your Twitter account, type in their Twitter address or username and click the “Follow” button.  That’s all there is to it!

The amount of time that’s spent reading the messages is very short, and you can be in contact with people a great deal more than you otherwise might be. In essence, you can get to know each other much more quickly than if you were just reading each others blogs or profiles.  The look and feel of an instant messaging service helps add to this ability.  Think about it for a minute, do you feel more connected to those on your messenger list than the blogs you read? Twitter is the same way.

I used Twitter extensively this week with my website designer for my Virtual Assistant website.  We both are on Twitter and when I sent her an e-mail either responding to her design questions, or making suggestions on the site design myself, I sent her a Tweet to let her know that ‘you’ve got e-mail.’  Simple!

For many, whether they’re looking for friends, clients, or someone to help them out with a problem or workload, getting in touch with others is important.  With Twitter it’s never been easier!

Don’t forget to Follow Me!

Are you looking for more traffic to your Blog, online e-Store or eBay Store?  Have you jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet? If not, read on!

I signed up just recently and I’m having so much fun! Not only have I met new friends, but I find that it’s the perfect medium to stay on top of things. It’s also really easy to communicate with my fellow bloggers that I’ve met through Entrecard.  Hey ~ even this Baby Boomer tries to stay ahead of the curve on all the latest technology!  Here’s why I think it’s great for WAHMs to use to promote your online businesses, blogs or eBay business.

Whether you are just getting started with an online business or you have been around for a while and looking for a new way to network, have a look at Twitter. Part chat program and part tiny blog, you will find that the Twitter interface is one that can change the way you interact with your current customers and potential customers worldwide.

Here’s 5 reasons why Twitter’s a powerful marketing tool for online WAHM business owners like you.

1. It’s Short, Sweet & To the Point
Have you ever heard the phrase, less is more? You’ll find that one of the best things about Twitter is that it keeps all messages very short and sweet. You’ll have to give your customers and clients the gist of what is going on in short tweets (messages similar to instant messages) that allow their interest to be piqued in such a way as to make them investigate further. You won’t bother them with long-winded messages that make them yawn and move on. Instead, you’ll be able to catch their attention quickly and make them want to know more.

2. Immediacy
Much like a blog or an RSS feed, you can get access to the people that use Twitter regularly. In some ways, this is like making sure that you can reach them no matter where they are, and you’ll find that this is very important when you want to make marketing one of your biggest priorities. You’re making sure that they have all of the latest updates to what you are doing and what’s going on by simply sending a tweet their way.

3. Everyone’s Doing It
In many ways, Twitter is a social program more than it is a marketing one, and you’ll find that using Twitter can help you feel a great deal closer to your client base and other’s in your online community. If you are looking to make sure that they see you as a person rather than as simply a company or service, you’ll find that Twitter encourages them to think of you as someone they can get to know. This can be very important when it comes to establishing a customer base and customer loyalty.

4. You Get to Hear a Lot
Remember that it goes both ways; you can put information out on Twitter and you can also learn a lot too. By following other’s Twitter accounts, especially if it looks like they have a lot to offer, you can keep in the know about various products, services, and other happenings online. This can be a great way to keep an eye on what is going on in order to keep yourself in the know of your industry.

5. Make Them Laugh
You can also use Twitter to tease people a little bit, in a fun way, of course! When you use Twitter, you have to keep your messages short, and in many ways, a little mysterious. Pique their interest, joke around, and you’ll find that you gain a lot more followers and hopefully website traffic and customers as a result.

Be warned, just as with any other social networking site, Twitter can quickly become addicting if you let it. Don’t go overboard and get so involved in all the tweeting that it takes away from your intended purpose. Used wisely Twitter can be a great and powerful marketing tool to help create online business success.

Sign up for my Newsletter for more updates about Twitter.

Want to know what I’m doing now?  Just read my Twitter Box on my right-hand sidebar!  Follow Me!

Many of my Twitter followers and friends on the various eBiz forums I belong to know that I frequently stay up until the wee hours of the morning working on my websites. Additionally, I still work a full-time job and of course, have responsibilities at home.

Obviously that combination is not ideal for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, I’m a Baby Boomer, so my energy level is not exactly that of a 20-something year old anymore. (Although in my mind, I feel as if nothing’s changed!) The aging process, as well as lack of sleep can often result in mood changes that ultimately can affect all aspects of one’s life. Just click on my ‘Rantings’ tab for some excellent examples of late night posts!

Recently I had the opportunity to review SAM-e Complete, formerly MoodPlus, by Nature Made. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound that is found in all living things. It’s distributed throughout the human body and it contributes to maintaining mood levels and promoting joint comfort.

SAM-e levels tend to decline as people get older and certain groups of people, including those with low mood, tend to have lower levels of SAM-e in their bodies.

I received one box of SAM-e Complete, which contained 36 Enteric Coated Dietary Supplement tablets. Each Serving Size is one tablet, 400 mg and comes in foil blister packs to ensure safety and freshness.

The suggested use is to take one tablet per day, preferably on an empty stomach at lest 30 minutes before a meal. Taken as directed, SAM-e indicates that it has been proven to restore a healthy mood in as little as 7-14 days when taken daily.

How does SAM-e work, you may ask? Simply put, according to the website ~

SAM-e helps other molecules in the brain do their jobs making you feel like your normal self. When SAM-e levels run low, those other molecules can’t do their jobs as effectively, and you can feel out of sorts from a mood standpoint.

Although there is a Good Housekeeping Seal prominently displayed on the box, I would highly suggest consulting your Doctor before deciding whether or not SAM-e is something that would be beneficial to you.

People with bipolar (manic) depression should not take this or any other product containing SAM-e except under a doctor’s supervision.

If you are pregnant or nursing, or taking prescription antidepressant medications, consult your doctor before using this product.

For a limited time, Nature Made is offering a $3-off coupon when you try SAM-e. Click here to get yours.

SAM-e is also available online at most of your favorite retailers.

Baby Go Green features Natural Parenting Products,
Made Easy and Affordable!

The new luv of my life arrived on August 5, 2008.  I now have a new Grandson!

This is going to be quite an experience for me, after having 2 daughters, and one granddaughter.  Not only do I not really know how to shop for anything remotely connected to entertaining toddler boys, but I’m not great at picking out clothes for them either!

To my rescue comes Baby Go Green ~ Natural Parenting Made Easy & Affordable!

I did a Product Review for Lori, a WAHM of 3 girls earlier this summer highlighting the wonderful Fuzzy Farm Puzzle.

Now that Slugger’s on deck, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about the 100% Organic Baby Clothes that Baby Go Green has to offer.

The UTN Union Suit HIPPO is a  cozy suit that is  great for outings or just around the house.  Made with the finest 100% Organic Egyptian Cotton, Slugger will be comfortable and cozy in this super-soft outfit that is suitable for wearing through the rest of the Summer through Fall, here in New England.  It has plenty of thin snaps for comfort and easy changing.  And do I need to mention how breathable natural cotton is?

Available in Sizes Newborn ~ 3 Months & Sizes 6 ~ 9 Months

USD $24.00

Check out Baby Go Green for Cloth Diapers, Diaper Covers, Baby Care items & More.

Have a Baby Shower coming up?  How about starting your Holiday Shopping early  ~ Lori is kind enough to offer readers of Moomettesgram’s Musings  Free Shipping! Use Code FREESHIP50

It’s hard to believe that Labor Day here in the USA is just around the corner!

The holiday season will be fast approaching, and the mad rush to plan all your social engagements will be in high gear.

Technology has made it ‘easy’ to print your own birthday cards, party invitations and announcements ~ if you’re not computer-challenged.

I’d like to share with you a terrific source for Holiday Cards and Party Invitations that I recently had the opportunity to review.

I recently became a Grandmother for the second time and will be helping my daughter plan my new grandson’s Baptism. A religious baptism or christening is often the first special occasion in honor of your newborn baby.  Tiny Prints offers a wide selection of unique, custom christening and baby baptism invitations and announcements that can be personalized with all the appropriate details of the special event. Their baby christening and baby baptism invitations range from classic and to more contemporary, and are printed on quality stock paper.

As a Work-at-Home Mom and online Boutique storeowner, I realize the importance of branding and staying in contact with my business partners. Exchanging holiday cards has become a long-standing tradition among business associates. Strengthen your corporate relationships with personalized, photo Christmas, Hanukkah or Happy New Year greetings. Tiny Print in-house experts will enhance your photo with complimentary touch-ups or upload your corporate logo.

Let Tiny Prints become your one-stop source for all personal and business needs.

Tiny Prints is offering readers of Moomettesgram’s Musings a Special Discount.

Use Tiny Prints coupon code TPBR136508 to receive 10% off your next order of stationery, invitations and photo cards. Expires 12/31/2008.

This week has been both exciting and tumultuous for my family. I’m coming down from the high of becoming a grandmother for the second time. It’s both exhilarating and exhausting.

In between all the excitement and responsibilities (i.e., being on red-alert for babysitting ‘Lil Moomette whilst her parents were at the hospital), I’ve had to remember to re-charge the battery on my Canon Powershot camera.

My poor cameras take such a beating. This is actually my second Canon. Last October, my first camera went swimming in the pool at a wedding. I was having my photo taken poolside, and one of the ushers tackled my sidekick, and the camera I was holding did a slow-mo into the pool. Luckily, all the photos on the memory card survived, as I removed it quickly, but the camera was toast.

It’s time to replace once again the one I’m now using. Being a Power Seller, you wouldn’t believe some of the motions I have to go through to try to capture just the right angle on some pictures for my listings. This camera took a dive off a step stool so I’ll be placing an order soon for a new one!

I’ll be needing it to capture all those priceless moments of Moomette’s upcoming second birthday!

‘Lil Moomette, who’s 21 months old, is now a proud Big Sister! I have a new grandson that was born August 5th!

Since I have 2 grown daughters of my own, a boy in the family is going to be a different experience!

My daughter always dresses Moomette in coordinating outfits and matching purses. Even at this tender age, Moomette likes to have her hair done up in “pretties,” as she calls them.  However, ‘Lil Moomette wasn’t blessed with the thick mane of hair that her mom had as a child, and still has ~ but rather, takes after her Dad. Any attempt to put a barrette, or other “pretty” in her hair ~ and we risk the chance of losing what little hair there is!

I am therefore delighted to have the opportunity to review Bugalug Barrettes and Headbands from Bugalug Baby, a Canadian company.

Bugalug offers ‘stay-put accessories for the Urban Girl.’  After receiving a set of these delightfully well-made barrettes, we can certainly attest that they do, in fact, stay in place on even the slightest whisps of baby fine hair! My daughter was amazed that these were the only barrettes and headbands that she has used that have stayed in place on Moomette!

Bugalug’s website states:

Bugalug barrettes have recently introduced their newest, most innovative and BEST clip yet! We have gone 100% magnet free and we have added a silicon gel GRIP to the inside of EVERY barrette. This grippy strip is the 1st of it’s kind. Many other barrettes are finding ways to imitate our grippy strip, but they just can’t compete with this unique design. Like always, our clips are great for any hair type and any age, from baby to adult, but they are especially great for fine hair. When nothing else will stay, try a Bugalug - you won’t be disappointed. With our simple, trendy, no frills designs, your little one will be able to wear them with tons of different outfits for years to come! And remember, we are glueless too - our clips can withstand the wash and dryer and never look bumpy or clumpy from glue.

Each set ~ USD $4.00

Grosgrain Headbands are fully adjustable and will fit any head from infant to adult. (26″)

Each ~ USD $8.00

There is also a Clip of the Month Club Membership available. Become a VIP member of Bugalug! By joining their clip of the month club, you will be the first to get new styles, popular retired styles, and exclusive styles for members only! One fabulous new clip will arrive in your mailbox every month for 12 months.

Bugalug Baby would like to offer readers of Moomettesgram’s Musings a discount of 10% expiring August 31, 2008.  Use code:  MOOM10

I recently did a post on how I attended a backyard barbecue at the home of my niece who recently got married last weekend.  The young couple is fresh out of college within the last few years, and has a rec room (is that what they’re still called?) that’s to die for.

There’s theater style seating, a bathroom, surround sound, plasma TV, and a wet bar!

Even after 34 years of marriage, this Baby Boomer is still not able to keep up with the Joneses!

If you’re in the market for bar sinks for a kitchen makeover or home improvement project ~ such as updating your rec room or great room, check out the Kitchen Sink Outlet.  You’ll find brands from Kohler, American Standard and more!

The Joneses will then have to keep up with you!