A Questionnaire.

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I saw this questionnaire at Life in the Armpit and decided to participate. If you would like to join the fun pass by From One Country To Another. She posts it monthly.

1. What is one chore that you hate doing the most?

Doing the dishes! There is nothing more tedious than that. At least to me.

2. When was the first time you had alcohol?

It was 16 years ago, I went on a blind date but I took my sister with me. We met at bar/restaurant.

3.What is one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to you?

Getting booed at school (Puerto Rico) as soon as I went through the gates because of how I was dressed. I was wearing a pair hot pink socks, black boots and high water pants. I had taken a trip here (NY) and that was the latest trend here. I had the last laugh though. A week later all the bitches were dressing like me, lol.

4.If you could choose how would you want to die?

Painless, but I hope I get to say my goodbyes first.

5. Would you rather see a movie at home or in the theater?

At home. I don't have to deal with other people talking.

6. Two of your favorite musical artists and why?

I would have to say Sarah McLachlan and Adele. They both have gotten me through some tough times. 

7. Have you ever been to a karaoke bar and participated?

Nope. Never been to one, but I bet it is fun!

8. Are you a people pleaser?

Yep. Reason why so many people took advantage of me. Learned my lesson though, you can say I still am but not as bad.

9. In high school what group were you apart of?

I was part of small group. Not part of the bad kids group or the popular ones. Just a group of seven or eight regular kids.

10. One thing you remember doing that upset your parents?

Our refrigerator was old, the ones that you had to pull on the handle to open. One day I went to open it and the handle broke. They were upset, but can't remember what happened after though. If they fixed it somehow or bought a new one.

11. First Hangover?

Q.2 That was the last time I had alcohol. Had two Long Island Ice Tea and by the time I got home I was vomiting all over the bathroom floor. Glad I took my sister with me that day! 

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Fairy Tales vs. Reality

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Guest post written by my buddy Alice Mays

I can’t wait to say those two little words that every little girl dreams about from the day she is old enough to play with dolls. “I do.” I’ve dreamed about finding my prince charming and marrying him. Now those dreams have become a reality. It’s just like Cinderella. Except they don’t show Cinderella and Prince Charming trying to compromise on major decisions such as registering for dishes, choosing a house, etc. Certainly a test of your relationship before you take the plunge on the big day, but nothing we can’t handle. My point is, there are lots of details that have to be decided upon in order to set up our soon-to-be new life together. We are both New Yorkers so there was no doubt we were going to stay here. We found our house, closed on it and went to work lining up utilities. It was a little overwhelming so we split them. I chose our cable and phone providers very quickly. I wanted to do a little more research and after looking into New York Energy Suppliers, chose our energy provider as well. He had internet, security system and water providers to set up. Once that is done, the house should be ready to start moving our stuff into and meshing two lives into one!




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Kelly Clarkson's Music Video - Stronger

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This is Kelly Clarkson newest video. I have been a fan since the beginning. I really like this song as well as the video! This is my newest anthem, lol. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone! This is the next CD I'm buying, have to change up from Adele. Mis hijos are tired of hearing the same songs over and over. Ha! Enjoy the video.♥

image credit: muumuse

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Spanish Friday - Sueños

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This post is written in Spanish for Spanish Friday at Latinaish. The English version is below. You can also use the Google translator on the sidebar to translate the entire page in Spanish. If you would like to participate follow the Spanish Friday link.

Anoche tuve un sueño con Jeremy Sisto! Soñe que el era mi novio, lol. Dios mío, me desperté enamorada. Ayer estaba viendo el programa Suburgatory con mi hija, donde él es uno de los protagonistas. Yo le dije a mi hija, tu lo ves a él en este show pero el estuvo en Law & Order por muchos años. Un personaje completamente diferente a este. Parece que me quedé pensando en eso sin darme cuenta ya que me encantaba su personaje en Law & Order. Tan rico que se veía. Mi imaginación hace que sueñe casi todas las noches!


Last night I had a dream with Jeremy Sisto! I dreamed that he was my boyfriend, lol. My God, I woke up in love. Yesterday I was watching the show Suburgatory with my daughter, where he is one of the main characters. I said to my daughter, you see him on this show but he was on Law & Order for many years. A completely different character from this one. It seems I kept thinking about it without knowing it since I loved his character on Law & Order. He looked so good. Mi imagination makes me dream almost every night!


image credit: siyanor

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Freebies!

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I got a freebie in the mail from Latina magazine. It brighten up my day, lol. I mean who doesn't love to get freebies in the mail? It's a string sling backpack. Perfect for when you don't want to carry a purse around. My daughter is going to make good use of it that's for sure. Thanks to Latina magazine! 

I also received some coupons for Land o Lakes eggs from Vocalpoint. Problem is that unless I go to Target to buy the eggs I won't be able to use the coupons. The supermarket I go to doesn't take coupons. I have to go today to do grocery shopping so I'm going to ask again. The last time they looked at me like I was from another fucking planet. Pissed me off. You would think I was at a posh supermarket! I guess some places don't want to deal with the extra hassle of having to do coupons unless is from their own store. It sucks because these days I need to save on everything I can.

Talking about savings. I cut off my phone with Cablevision over a year ago. The triple play promotion I had expired so I was being charged full price for the phone and internet. I decided I wasn't going to throw my money out the window like that. Yo no soy rica!/I am not rich! I now use MagicJack, but to my surprise the company just raised their prices. From $19.95 to $29.99 for the regular MagicJack. Guess it was a matter of time. I forgot I needed to renew mine, found out when I went to make a call and got the message. That's how little I use the phone. I tried renewing my plan but their site wouldn't take my card. They put a trouble ticket but never got back to me. Right now I can only receive phone calls so of course I have been in need of using the phone a lot lately. Hay que joderse! Have to contact them to see if they will still give me the old price since it wasn't my fault that their site wouldn't take my card. Wish me luck!

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When Private Goes Public: The Role Social Networking Plays in Suicide.

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Every Day Connected: Sponsored Blog


By Marsali Hancock for Every Day Connected



“Jumping off the gw bridge sorry,” Tyler Clementi, age 18, posted on his Facebook status on September 22, 2010.

And then he did just that. A desperate act fueled by humiliation, Clementi committed suicide after his Rutgers University roommate secretly recorded a private sexual encounter between him and another male, only to then post it to YouTube.

In the Phoebe Prince case, the 15-year-old hanged herself on January 10, 2010, after enduring months of bullying from fellow students. Prince felt that killing herself was the only escape from teen tormentors who attacked her in the hallways and taunted her through texts and public online spaces, like Facebook.

We’re all familiar with tales of social networking sites (SNSs), along with other new media platforms, casting a dark shadow over events leading up to a victim’s suicide. Frequently the issues revolve around private encounters, moments and words that spread like wildfire once they’ve been introduced to the digital stage -- often without the target’s consent.

With the 21st century ingenue Cyberbullying playing the lead role in each one of those dramas, we rarely hear examples of how social networking promotes a healthy mental state and even prevents suicide in some instances.

Although the media continually make the connection, there is no conclusive evidence that cyberbullying causes suicide.

First, we do youth a disservice by perpetually drawing a straight line between the two concepts of online harassment and self-murder. Continuing to make that association falsely communicates the message that there is no alternative escape from cyberbullying other than ending one’s life, which can result in children making that fatal decision.

Second, adults need to remember that youth connect emotionally and define relationships through their digital devices and Web platforms. They acutely feel both rejection and connection via digital media.

According to a recent International Center for Media and the Public Affairs (ICMPA) study, “students around the world reported that being tethered to digital technology 24-7 is not just a habit, it is essential to the way they construct and manage their friendships and social lives.”

Finally, it’s crucial that we understand both the positive and negative sides of social media, thereby putting cyberbullying into context and appreciating its place amidst all the benefits and opportunities that arise from digital connections.

To further the point, a growing body of research from the Australia-based Co-operative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing (YAW-CRC) supports the idea that SNSs have a much more positive effect on relationships and mental well-being than most of us may be aware.

According to the YAW-CRC’s The Benefit of Social Networking Services report:

“There is a demonstrated positive relationship between young people’s use of social networking services and self-esteem. … It is also argued that a sense of community and belonging has the potential to promote young people’s resilience, giving them the ability to successfully adapt to change and stressful events. … Overall, it appears that the social connections developed and fostered through SNS play an important role in promoting young people’s well-being.

Although cyberbullying represents the seamier side of social networking, it’s greatly outweighed by the support systems that youth develop online.

Too frequently it’s said that friendships in virtual communities do not carry the same lasting loyalty and profound connectivity that real-world relationships hold. Statements like those diminish the value that young ones place on their online relationships and in the end miss the importance of social networking in fostering a sense of self-worth and belonging on this Earth.

Things to Remember
Marginalized children and teens need to hear from trusted sources that their lives are not over if they experience digital persecution from peers. And parents, mentors and teachers should refer to resources (e.g., the Cyberbullying Research Center) to better understand social media’s place in self-esteem development.

If you are concerned for yourself or a child who is being harassed online, intervention programs make all of the difference. For more information, please visit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) What a Difference a Friend Makes website.




Photo: @iStockphoto.com/pkline



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Slightly New Blog Look.

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As you can see I changed the look of my blog a bit. I'm still making changes here and there but for now and I sort of like the way it looks. I want to change the template all together but Blogger has limited options. I tried using a customized template but I lost some of the plugins so I changed it back. I freaked out, thank God I backed it up before I made the changes. What do you guys think? Is it too dark, font is too small, it loads too slow? Any feedback would be appreciated. 

I haven't been blogging that much lately. Been feeling a bit blah, sin ganas de hacer nada. I hope the new blog look will change that and I will get my mojo back. It's like having a new toy. All new and pretty!

So we finally got some snow! Not a lot as you can see in the picture. It was all over the news, they were making a big deal as usual. You would think we were going to get a blizzard, lol. I kept looking out the window and nothing. Finally, around 4am it started snowing. That picture was taken around 7:30am. I thought we weren't going to get any snow this winter. It's been a weird one that's for sure. I hope it means this summer is not going to be extremely hot. Summer, ugh. Don't want to even think about it! Yes, totally stressing about it.

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Casa Cambiada.

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Las Fabulosas: Home & Happiness

By Julie D. Andrews for Las Fabulosas


No matter your household budget, you can spruce up your space with expert ideas from New York City–based diseñadora Nina Isabella, founder of Nina Interiors & Styling.

Sala Sensual
Think rich texturas. Layer them on thick throughout the room, says Isabella, creating an abundancia of beg-to-be-touched telas. “Pillows, throws, window treatments and rugs -- they’ll all warm the space at relatively little expense,” says Isabella, who shops at IKEA for low-cost cool rugs. Next, change up el arte. “Use a different theme or color palette as a foundation,” says Isabella, adding that she routinely scours Etsy for eye-catching one-of-a-kind artwork at reasonable prices.

Add inspiration-on-demand by stacking splashy revistas and libros on chairs in corners and on floors, keeping an eye on how the binding colors combine. “We have no fewer than six piles of each around our home at any given time,” says Isabella. “Nothing says ‘lazy day’ more than reading material at the ready.” Lastly, infuse the room with intoxicating fragrancia. Make a ritual of lighting a candle or diffuser whenever you enter.

Lights in la Cocina
Never underestimate the power of el efecto visual. “Add tabletop lamps and mirrors to add warmth -- without relying on predictable and harsh overhead lighting.” Display pottery to brighten and add character; check out Cabelas.com for such finds. Finally, add punches of fresh green with a potted jardín de hierba. “I keep a window box of herbs off the kitchen and can easily snip as I cook. In winter, I replant and keep them inside,” says Isabella.

La Recámara Romántica
Keep it simple. “It should feel uncluttered,” says Isabella. “Relaxed and romantic.” Remove any desk or television and reserve the space for relajación. “You should be able to fully detach from work there,” says Isabella. Next, splatter on fresh paint. “I’m into darker hues for bedrooms. People tend to go lighter -- it’s safe, uplifting. But darker shades bring coziness, which is what we want in our bedrooms.” Use bright, energizing colores in cocinas, and reserve darker cafés de cocoa for bedrooms.

Photo Credit: Eric Morales (http://www.ericm-photo.com)


Julie D. Andrews  is a writer based in New York City. Her articles have appeared in print and on the websites of Las Fabulosas, Prevention, SHAPE and Glamour, as well as on Yahoo.com, YourTango.com and MSN.com.

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The New Supermercado Latino.

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Las Fabulosas: Success

By Letisha Marrero for Las Fabulosas


Pregnancy cravings are no joke. But try being a pregnant Latina foodie. That’s what 27-year-old Venezolana-Italiana Melissa Berthier experienced last year. Since her Mexican-Lebanese esposo, Alfonso, no longer was an executive at Mexicana airlines who could lavish her with dulces from Latin America, what could a food-obsessed couple do to satisfy mami-to-be’s authentic cravings?

It took about nine months, but on the same day their daughter Sabrina was born, another entity was birthed: Mister Gallo, the mascot for LatinBag.com, the new parents’ e-commerce site that would launch a few weeks later in October 2010. The Berthiers had tapped into a nostalgia market for authentic comidas Latinas. So, they now offer to bag the groceries from your homeland for you, with customers as far away as South Korea and Australia.

The Bethesda, Md., couple balances fulfilling orders daily between day jobs: Melissa works for Metro in Washington, D.C., and Alfonso owns a distribution company. LatinBag is a work in progress -- from shipping and tracking, to storage and inventory. Now raising a growing toddler, Melissa concedes, “There is no such thing as spare time.” But her job provides stability and health insurance, as they’d like to have another child. Eventually, however, they’d like to devote themselves full-time to LatinBag and expand their inventory. “I’d love to sell authentic Oaxaca cheese,” says Melissa. “But it’s a matter of storing it properly.” So for now, LatinBag stocks an assortment of dry and canned goods, as well as pan dulce, café, candy, spices and more goodies to satisfy those cravings -- whether you’re pregnant or not.


Letisha Marrero has contributed to Latina, The Source, iVillage.com, ParentsConnect.com and MomsLikeMe.com. She is also a contributing author to Border-line Personalities: A New Generation of Latinas Dishes on Sex, Sass, and Cultural Shifting.




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Stop Cyberbullying Now!

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Every Day Connected: Socialize

By Tara Swords for Every Day Connected


The term “cyberbully” usually applies to minors bullying other minors online. But did you know that plenty of adults too are tormented by online harassers? It can be a frightening, unnerving experience, but if it happens to you or someone close to you, you don’t have to ignore it.







Here is exactly what to do if you’ve been targeted.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 1: Learn your rights.
Many states have laws protecting you from cybercrimes. Check out the National Conference of State Legislatures  site to find out what qualifies as cyberstalking, cyberbullying and cyberharassment, and whether your state has laws that specifically address these offenses. Even if you’re not ready to report the activity to the authorities, knowing your legal rights prepares you to understand when someone crosses the line.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 2: Ask for it to stop.
Make it clear to the bully that you want the behavior to stop immediately. If your child is being bullied, help him send the message. Don’t detail your reasons, because you risk getting roped into yet another conversation with the bully. Simply demand that it end and state that you want no more contact in the future. If the contact continues, don’t respond. If necessary, change your user names and profiles in the places (e.g., instant messengers) where the harassment occurs.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 3: Keep records.
Don’t delete any of the harassing communications, no matter how offensive. Save emails, chat logs and text messages in a file on your desktop -- and back up copies to a cloud service like Google Docs. If the situation worsens and you need to alert the authorities, this evidence will be crucial in backing up your claims.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 4: Report the abuse.
Forward offensive emails to the harasser’s school and Internet service provider, and ask that they be investigated. If the cyberbullying is happening at work, notify a supervisor or your human resources representative immediately. And if the problem escalates and you feel that you or your family members are unsafe -- or that your legal rights  have been violated -- file a report with your local law enforcement.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 5: Get support.
Ask for help. Such organizations as CyberAngels  can provide detailed, one-on-one guidance in dealing with cyberbullies and remind you that you’re not alone. Other organizations, such as the National Crime Prevention Council , offer tips as well -- especially for parents and teens.


Like this blog?   Follow us @EveryDayConnect


Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/Rivendellstudios


More info on Learn more about secure online living from our sponsor, Webroot




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Spanish Friday - Remedios Caseros

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This post is written in Spanish for Spanish Friday at Latinaish. The English version is below. You can also use the Google translator on the sidebar to translate the entire page in Spanish. If you would like to participate follow the Spanish Friday link. Warning: If you are easily grossed out, stop right here!

Yo soy una de esas personas que tiene muchos lunares en el cuerpo. Pero hace unos meses me salió una angioma cereza en un dedo. Al principio era pequeño, pero después de lastimarmelo mientras abría una caja de cereal me empezó a doler y a crecer un poco. Decidí buscar en Google para ver si había un remedio casero para deshacerme de el y gracias a Dios encontré uno (lee los comentarios, fecha 9/7/2011). Muy simple, cojer un algodón con vinagre de manzana y aplicarlo en el angioma dos veces al día (yo lo hice una vez al día) por diez minutos por cuatro a cinco días. El angioma se va secando hasta que se cae. Como pueden ver en los fotos, me dio resultado! Me di de cuenta esta mañana. No se si me va a volver a crecer pero estoy feliz de que finalmente no tengo esa cosa tan fea en mi dedo. Gracias a Dios por el internet y por remedios caseros! Espero que esto ayude a otras personas que tienen el mismo problema.





I'm one of those people who have many moles on the body. But a few months ago I got a cherry angioma on my finger. At first it was small, but after getting hurt while I was opening a box of cereal, it started hurting and growing a bit. I decided to search Google to see if there was a home remedy to get rid of it and thank God I found one (read the comments, date 9/7/2011). Very simple, take a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and apply it on the cherry angioma for ten minutes twice a day (I did it once a day) for four to five days. The cherry angioma starts drying up until it falls. As you can see in the photos, it worked! I noticed it this morning. I don't know if it is going to grow again but I'm happy that finally, I don't have that ugly thing on my finger. Thank God for the internet and home remedies! I hope this helps other people who have the same problem.



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Get It: El Look de Las Celebridades

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Las Fabulosas: Beauty & Style

By Valeria Guston for Las Fabulosas


You don’t need to spend a fortune or hire a team of professionals to get your favorite celeb’s signature style. Looking like a star is all about confidence and attitude ... and of course, great hair and makeup. Here are some tips to make your skin glow like JLo’s as you arch a perfectly sculpted brow à la Camilla Belle.

JLo’s Glow
No matter what’s going on in her personal life, Jennifer Lopez always looks effortlessly radiant. The key to achieving her fabulous glow is a pared-down makeup palette and lots of shimmery highlights. Think luminous drama and lots of metallics. Go for gold, silver or neutral eye shadows and a soft nude lip color. Complete your look with an all-over luminizer to infuse your skin with a golden sheen.

Nicole’s Boho Glam
With her House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate fashion and accessory lines, we all have a backstage pass to Nicole Richie’s luxurious -- but easygoing and incredibly wearable -- style. Her cool boho look is all about mastering the art of done/undone. Start with a romantic ’do with face-framing tendrils and create foolproof smoldering eyes. Look for a 2-in-1 smoky eye stick that can shade and line, and is smudge proof.

Sofia’s Sexy Cat Eye
Sofia Vergara oozes flirty sex-kitten appeal. You can bring out your inner vixen by using a liquid liner to create a subtle cat-eye. Add a few extra coats of volumizing mascara so everyone takes note when you bat your lashes. Choose a soft pink, glossy lip color if you’re feeling coquettish, or vamp it up with a rich crimson.

Eva’s Ladylike Sophistication
With strong features, a put-together ladylike style and sleek retro waves, Eva Mendes always exudes old-school Hollywood glamour with a thoroughly modern edge. To achieve Eva’s polished perfection, keep your hair in top condition with a deep-moisturizing treatment. Tame the flyaways and get great shine with a smoothing cream.

Camilla’s Killer Brows
Camilla Belle’s fresh, modern style -- bold, perfectly sculpted brows and red lips -- makes her a standout on any red carpet. With careful tweezing and a little strategic eyebrow pencil, you’ll be a standout too. Look for a brow-shaping kit that makes this a snap, even for the tweezing-challenged.


Photo: Getty Images


Valeria Guston  Valeria Guston has ghostwritten style and beauty books for Hyperion and HarperCollins Publishers. She is also a regular contributor to Mamiverse.com. This is her first article for Las Fabulosas.

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Help Feed Your Community.

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If one of your new year's resolutions is helping other people that are less fortunate, this is your opportunity. The program is called ShopRite Cans For Fans. ShopRite is donating a can of food (up to 50,000!) for each fan of their Facebook page. All you have to do is click on the Like button and you will be helping feed your community! While you are there check out the ShopRite's Can Can Sale they have going on right now. Don't forget to spread the word, tell your friends and family. 

If that is not enough and you want to do more for your community. You can donate to the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund or lend a hand to the food banks in your area. Visit shopritepartnersincaring.org for more information.

If you are looking to have a little fun visit ShopRite Can Can, upload your photo and see yourself dance with the can can girls! I did. Then if you are brave enough share it on Facebook, Twitter or post it on their gallery!


 This information was provided by ShopRite through MyBlogSpark. This post was written by me on behalf of MyBlogSpark.

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High Quality, Stylish And Affordable Glasses.

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As I get older I have found that I need to use my glasses more often. It wasn't until four years ago that I had to start using glasses, which is about the time they say you start having problems with farsightedness. Lately, I have noticed that even when I'm wearing my glasses I still can't read some things because the font is too small. Which means is time for me to get a new pair of glasses. Something I have been trying to put off because my kids also need theirs, and of course they are more important to me. 

My insurance covers the eye exam plus regular lenses but not the polycarbonate. Multiply that by two, equals a huge bill. I could get the eyeglasses without the poly, but you know how kids are. They tend to misplace things. Next thing you know they sat, or worse stepped on them. Been there more than once! 

I have been looking at some sites for eyeglasses frames that are sturdy, inexpensive and nice looking. The inexpensive part being the most important. I don't want to have to go penniless for a month or two. My glasses don't have to be flashy because I'm not going to wear them all day. They just have to look nice on me!

I'm the type of person that researches a purchase for hours if not days. With this economy I have to be certain that I'm getting a good deal. I checked at least five sites for deals on prescription glasses. The prices in some of them were ridiculous. I don't know about you but no way I'm going to spend $300 on a pair of glasses. I can buy at least four pairs with that kind of money!

I found one site that has the best prices for what I'm looking for. GlassesUSA.com sells high quality frames at a reasonable price with the best selection of the style I'm looking for. Not only that, but by using the code Blog10 I will get 10% off any order of prescription glasses. They also offer a very generous refer a friend program, and free shipping on all US orders when you use the coupon freeship10. It can't get better than that!

You can like their page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/glassesusa) and stay up to date or follow them on Twitter (@GlassesUSA).


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of GlassesUSA.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

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