Oct 31

Mod Skin Labs was designed to deliver whole food nutritional support to the skin. Exotic ingredients and subtle scents combine in a new synergistic series to bring honest and effective, holistic whole-face care, without the use of harmful synthetics. They cultivate natural elements and use creativity to promote brilliantly designed skin accessories for the eco-conscious human.

I tried out the (Res)olution Ampoules ($40), a monthly 14 day system, exhibiting high potency anti-aging activity. It is fueled by the breakthrough phytoalexin, resveratrol. According to Mod Skin Labs, the purpose of the (Res)olution Ampoules is to experience unsurpassed improvement in texture, clarity, and a complete youthful radiance.

I simply apply the ampoule after thoroughly washing my face, concentrating mainly on my face and neck area. With combination skin, I didn’t experience any unnecessary breakouts when using this treatment. I felt a little tingle when applying this product, but not to a point where it was unbearable. It kept my skin looking quite radiant for a whole month! This is the perfect treatment to use if you have a special occasion to attend to, and you want to look at your very best.

I wouldn’t mind trying out the The Alchemist’s Mask ($30), Samurai Scrub Rice & Enzyme Face Polish ($30) and I.D. Zyne DMAE & Blue Green Algae ($34).

Mod Skin Labs can be found at Whole Foods Market and other locations around the country.

The product in this review was provided to the reviewer for the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.

Oct 31

…Resourceful Mommy Holiday Recommendations will begin this week! And yes, Virginia, there are giveaways.

I have also been looking forward to sharing with you the experience I had with my daughter watching Tinkerbell receive an important award from the United Nations…

And finally, I hope that this will be the week that I bring you the long anticipated Resourceful Blogging. It is time for me to devote an entire section of posts to answering the questions I receive from so many of you about all things blogging. We’ll be kicking off that new feature with a special blog awards!

Here’s to November!

Oct 31
The Hooked on Phonics brand of learning products were among the first early learning purchases I made for my now nearly six year old daughter. I still remember finding the activity books in a local Barnes & Noble and the surprise I felt when I discovered HOP Math, HOP Enrichment activities, HOP Numbers workbooks. It was then that I learned that Hooked on Phonics is about so much more than the Learn to Read kits some of us grew up with and surely all of us have heard of prior to becoming parents.

With that said, the Learn to Read kits are still the cornerstone of what Hooked on Phonics provides parents and children, and they take the business of learning to read very seriously. I have had the privilege of speaking with the folks at HOP from time to time over the last few months, and they are not only interested in what research shows but also in what parents have to say. My children, ages 3 and 5, were able to preview the current Learn to Read kits in both the pre-K and kindergarten editions, and I continue to be impressed with what the kits provide. I am not suggesting that phonics alone is the way to teach a child to read. In fact, I have been impressed with the way my daughter’s kindergarten teaches her words in context and asks that she learn familiar sight words. However, surely phonics are a keystone for future reading, and I feel confident that the time I spend with my kids on these activities will pay dividends in not only their reading success in the future, but also their love of reading.

My son, in particular, has really taken to this current Hooked on Phonics kit. He enjoys following the workbook suggested lesson plan, but he also asks to play matching games with the provided flashcards and read the original books included with the kit. He has begun to recognize dozens of sight words based, embarrassingly, almost exclusively on television show titles, so I know that light bulbs are going off left and right in his pre-reading world. This is the perfect time for the activities in the Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read kit because the desire to learn about words and sounds is already there, and the tools provided are fun and interesting to him.

Each kit contains story books, workbooks, DVD’s, flashcards, and stickers, but we do not always follow the prescribed program when we use the kit. Regardless of whether the kids and I follow exactly what Hooked on Phonics suggests or just use one component in isolation, I feel as though it is precious one on one time that is has been well spent.

This is for you if…you have been looking for a comprehensive and fun learning kit to either begin your child’s reading journey or reinforce skills they are already learning. The kits for older children are also a valuable resource for parents hoping to supplement their child’s learning or provide extra work to fill in learning gaps.

This is not for you if…your child is not yet interested in sitting down with you and engaging in learning for the sake of learning. While the kits really are enjoyable, this is not a method of learning that is embedded in every day activities. For children to enjoy these kits, they must be ready to engage in a learning activity for at least several minutes at a time.

Oct 31

Trading Commodities in a Fund

Can I Trade Commodities in a Hedge Fund?

Brent Gillett, a partner at the Investment Law Group, has contributed a question and answer series covering the establishment of a hedge fund and laws related to hedge funds.

Question: Can I trade commodities in the fund?

Answer: If  a  hedge  fund  trades  in  futures  contracts  or  options  thereon,  the  fund  would likely be considered a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act and the  manager  of  the  fund  would  have  to  register with  the  Commodity Futures  Trading  Commission  as  a  commodity  pool  operator.  Such  manager  would  have to pass the Series 3 exam administered by the National Futures Association.

Guest author: Brent S. Gillett, partner at the Investment Law Group. To find more information about the Investment Law Group follow this link.

Related to: Trading Commodities

Tags: fund commodities, hedge fund commodities, trading commodities, hedge fund strategy, hedge fund trading, hedge fund, questions, law

Oct 31

K1 Hedge Fund Founder Arrested

Founder of Germany’s K1 Arrested in Fraud Probe

Helmut Kiener, the founder of K1, has been arrested by German authorities in a large fraud probe concerning a Caribbean-based fund that he managed.  Investigators are looking into Kiener over charges of fraud and breach of trust. 

According to the arrest warrant, “Barclays and BNP Paribas may have lost millions of dollars in the case, which prosecutors say spanned the Atlantic and featured lavish personal spending on planes, a helicopter and luxury properties.”

“There is a suspicion that the 50-year-old suspect did not comply with investment guidelines agreed with an English and a French bank among others and has used several millions in funds contrary to agreements,” prosecutors said in a statement.

The case centres on the K1 Global Sub Trust hedge fund run by Kiener, a psychologist by training who once sold ads for the Yellow Pages in Germany before moving into the financial sector.

Barclays may have lost most of the nearly $220 million (133 million pounds) it invested with the fund, authorities said.

“If Barclays had known of the suspect’s plans, it would not have provided the K1 Global Sub Trust any funds for investment between 2006 and 2009,” the arrest warrant seen by Reuters says, adding the funds “are mostly lost as far as we now know”.  Source

Related to: KI Hedge Fund Manager Arrested

Tags: K1, K1 group, K1 foundation, K1 fund, fraud, crime, hedge funds, helmut k1, German hedge funds, Helmut Kiener, Helmut Kiener k1 arrested, arrest

Oct 31

This set includes:
1 4×6 Share and Tell Pad with 30 sheets of paper and 4 sticker sheets
1 Heritage pattern transparent overlay; 12×6 size
10 red orange hydrangea flowers
10 white mini brads
1 set of life saying epoxy stickers
10 assorted Halloween foam shapes
Get this perfectly spooky set for just $3.00! 85% off the retail price.
Shipping to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada $1.50

Oct 30

Are you taking some adorable Halloween photos this weekend? Shutterfly is offering 3 free folded photo cards shipped to you for 99 cents plus any tax using the coupon code 3FREECARDS.

This is a great deal that doesn’t expire until November 4. Perfect for Halloween cards or even Holiday cards if you’re really planning ahead. Those photo cards normally cost $2.49 per card so you save $7.47 when you get those cards for free. If you order all three cards at one time and “Send them back to me” then you only pay 99 cents shipping.

And you might want to apply to host a Shutterfly Photobook House Party where you and all of your guests get a free photo book and a free set of holiday cards!

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Oct 30

Free Photo Gift
Visit the Kodak Gallery for your $15 gift card because they just released 100,000 more gift cards to pass out. The $15 only applies towards product purchased, and you will have to pay shipping – but look below for the great deals my readers are getting (all under $10 shipped)! The $15 can not be applied towards shipping, but their shipping prices are reasonable.

Prints are 9 cents each every day – no coupon code required. But look below for other coupon codes and deals – remember you can use more than one coupon code per order!

Kodak Quality Prints for just 9 Cents every day

Here’s a great coupon code and a special deal that might help your $15 go a little further:

SWEET
RETURN – 20% off anything (thanks Sarah)

Buy 2 Get 25% off - when you buy 2 different products (excluding prints) you get 25% off your order

What did I do with my $15 gift card? I made a photo calendar and using that coupon code SWEETRETURN I spent 99 cents on the calendar ($19.99 full price) plus paid $4.99 shipping. The photo calendar is the perfect gift for grandparents!

Here are some more “Under $10 Shipped” deals my readers got:

Brenda said “I got a photo t-shirt of my son’s football team for $2.99 shipped.”

Ladette said “I was able to order 20 photo cards.. paid $3.87 for shipping”

Melissa said “I got two photo collage mouse pads for $5.05 shipped–normally this would be over $24!”

Tricia said “I got 215 prints for $6.30. Thank u!!!”


Melissa said “I got 2 photobooks ( 1 for me 1 for grandma) only paid 7 bucks total

Share your deal by leaving a comment!

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Oct 30

You can use the coupon code SWEETS4U for $10 off any $10 purchase and get 3% cash back thru Ebates at JCPenney.com. This coupon code is valid through Saturday, October 31. Think of it as a $10 coupon, because yes you do have to pay shipping (shipping is $5.95). There are some exclusions; like you can’t combine this discount with another and it may not work on combo prices, online daily deals, or baby gear and toys.

I’m shopping at JCPenney thru Ebates for 3% cash back. I earned a $100 JCPenney giftcard by using Swagbucks as my search engine so thought I’d use this coupon on that order. But since I can only use one coupon per order it’s better to use CRISP49 for free shipping ($14.95) but it can only be used on orders of $49.99 or more (thru 10/31). Last time JCPenney offered this coupon code, I shopped through Ebates and they did credit my account for the cash back. If you are new to using Ebates you also get a $5 bonus just for signing-up.

And of course you can help me name my mailbox for a chance to win a $100 JCPenney eGift Card. I’ll announce the winner on Monday.

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Oct 30

Tonight my family and I are headed to First Mariner Arena to see Disney on Ice, and I have been authorized to pass along a special offer to my readers.

By using the coupon code MOM, you will have access to four tickets for $44 for Friday’s show or $4 off of tickets for Saturday’s show. A minimum purchase of 4 tickets is required and additional tickets above for can be purchased for $11 for Friday’s show or $4 off Saturday’s show.

To purchase tickets go to http://www.ticketmaster.com and enter the code MOM in “MC Promotion” box. The offer is not valid on rinkside or VIP seating and cannot be combined with any other offers. Service charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

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