This is what happens when you have too much random weird stuff lying around the house.

Fig. 1: “Chewie, will you read me a bedtime story?”

By the way, if you want one of these SWEET Mimobot Einstein USB Drives that comes loaded with tons of cool extras (see video), click the “buy” button below. But if you want the first-edition Chewbacca action figure, you’re on your own, pal.

Mimoco Mimo Einstein Usb Drv 8Gb Einstein-8GbMimoco Mimo Einstein Usb Drv 8Gb Einstein-8Gb

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of POWOW Messenger for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Today I've been tinkering around with POWOW Messenger for Android, a text-messaging app that adds a few extra features from Android's default text-messaging service. I'm still trying to figure out the nuts and bolts, but here are some things I've noticed:

1) It allows you to divvy up your contacts into different groups – so you can have family, besties, work contacts, bills and utilities – whatever you want to group them as! 

2) You can "mute" certain people who text you. You still get the messages, you just aren't bothered with a buzz or noise in the middle of the night when the phone company decides it's time to let you know your statement is available, or someone on Twitter has been hacked and tells you someone is saying "really bad stuff about you online" (don't ever click that link, by the way!)

I had my trusty friend and fellow Android user Jim try it out on his Samsung Galaxy II with  me (same as mine), and here's one of our exchanges.

So there's one problem. Your already-existing synced contacts may not show up. I don't really see that as much of a problem because I already have WAY too many synced contacts on my android. There has been more than one occasion when I have accidentally hip-texted  some college friend I haven't talked to on the phone in 15 years. It gets awkward!

Which brings me to another great feature: Zipit!!! Have you ever been accidentally texted by someone who then keeps texting you? Do you have a friend who sends you chain texts, or worse yet – (and this really happened to me) – glittery greeting cards that automatically play a MIDI version of Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," embarrassing you in front of everybody in the checkout line?
 
Zipit allows you to STOP RECEIVING TEXTS from those people. Of course, you can change it back any time you want, but isn't that freedom nice? You can still call them, they just won't be able to Rich-Roll you anymore.

A couple of negatives: Jim complained to me that he can't change the font size of the text, which makes it really hard to read on the app. It's kind of an ongoing issue with Android, since being able to adjust your fonts in messaging is a pretty standard feature for *cough* other smartphones.

Also: the ads. I mean, everybody who downloads free apps has to deal with them. There is a "pro" version that allows you to use all the features without ads. Depending on your needs and uses for texting, this could be a great app.

I say, download it, give it a try, see if it's a perfect fit for you! I'm going to play around with this for a few more days to see if it's a better alternative. So far it's offering a lot more than the default app does, and more options are always good in my book!

I’m always looking for creative ways to promote my site to the people. So when Zazzle sent me a $10 off coupon, I could not turn down the opportunity to make some custom stamps!

Now, 20 of these standard, first-class stamps sell at $19.95 – but my $10 discount cut that down to $9.95 EASILY!

You can sign up for Zazzle too and get $10 off your first $20 purchase! (If you’re concerned about that extra five cents, check out their postcards section, where you can get stuff for as little as 95 cents!

While you’re there, you can also sign up for a FREE month of Zazzle Black, which gives me 30 days of FREE ground shipping. I didn’t even have to give them a credit card number to take advantage of the trial!

Now, $9.95 still means you’re paying more for the postage, but remember you can write it off as a business expense. Also, if you sign up for Zazzle NOW, in addition to getting $10 off a $20 purchase, you can also take advantage of their 15% off sale that’s running through Thursday, 5/17.

Zazzle sent me ANOTHER $10 coupon this week, so I decided to order some more stamps. With the $10 off, combined with Zazzle Black AND the 15% discount, I ended up getting 20 first-class stamps for just $8.31 - which means I got 20 45-cent, first-class stamps for less than 42 cents per stamp!

Zazzle sells all KINDS of items – clothing, bumper stickers, office supplies, business cards, stationery – so you’re sure to find SOMETHING you need. You can either order from their extensive catalog, or design something that’s your own!

This is a GREAT offer I REALLY think you should take advantage of. Sign up for Zazzle to get your $10 discount and see what you can get!

This post contains referral links. All opinions are my own.

Memorial Day is gonna be here sooner than you think, and for backyards across the country, that means it’s time for outdoor grilling and fun.

Barbecue (pronounced “bobbacue” by many folks in my area is a longtime tradition of Memorial Day cookouts. Sneakpeeq (which you should join if you haven’t yet) is featuring Pig of The Month in its boutiques until 11 a.m. ET tomorrow (May 16).

I know some of you think that this whole Sneakpeeq thing may just be full of it and totally not worth your time. But let me show you the loot I managed to grab for $4 from this lovely shop that proves to us that pigs love us and want us to be happy.

First of all, you see that picture up there at the top left corner? That is their Last Meal Pulled Pork, the description of which is something that must be seen to be believed:

There’s regular pulled pork, which is pretty good and puts smiles on faces. Then there’s Pig of the Month pulled pork, which makes you believe in miracles, life on other planets, and world peace. This pulled pork is slow smoked over hickory wood, then hand-pulled and roofed with their premium BBQ sauce. It’s so good, you wouldn’t mind having it for a last meal.

Oh – and did I forget to mention that it’s five pounds of pulled pork? And it’s shipped in dry ice because they don’t want your pig to go bad? Because I’m a loyal Sneakpeeq peeqer and fan, I earned a discount badge that got me this for $4. Including shipping.

You can still save on this even if you aren’t as seasoned in Sneakpeeq as I am: If you join Sneakpeeq today: You will get a $10 badge off your first purchase. That will instantly bring Sneakpeeq’s price on Porky Pig’s cousin from $19 to $9. I don’t know where you come from, but here, $9 for five pounds of pulled pork is nothing to shake a stick at.

While we’re at it – I also had a $20 credit, which got me FOUR BOTTLES of POTM Barbecue sauce for FREE.

Even if you happen to read this post after this shop is closed, you still should join Sneakpeeq. Because there are many treasures to be found, and you will still get that $10 off your first purchase.

So. Go. Get your Sneakpeeq on.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bloom.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Win a spa vacation for 4 girlfriends!

Isn't it time to take a break? I know it is. How about a getaway with you and your three BFFs? Luxury accomodations, relaxing spa treatments and exciting times in Las Vegas? Have I got your attention yet?

I'm excited to tell you that Bloom.Com is giving YOU the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid Spa vacation for you and four girlfriends at the luxury 5-star Aria Hotel in Las Vegas! (I'll let you squeal amongst yourselves now.)

All you have to do is join Bloom.com to enter! Bloom.com is absolutely FREE, and is a new beauty social network! At Bloom.com, you'll be able to match your personal beauty needs to the right products based on unbiased feedback, as well as what products are trending in the social world.

Bloom.com has more than 10,000 items from more than 150 top brands, so you're sure to find a perfect match! Bloom.com aims to revolutionize the way women find and buy the right products!

I noticed IMMEDIATELY that some of my favorite brands – CARGO, Ole Henriksen, Tweezerman, Burt's Bees and Redken are all featured on the site!

Registration is easy if you have a Facebook account – all you have to do is click "Join," click the "Join with Facebook" button and you're on your way to a virtual beautyfest! With a few clicks of the mouse, you can answer questions for your beauty profile to get the best recommendations for your style, hair and skin care needs!

With each purchase you'll get free gifts, and 10% back in Bloom Dollars! I am a fan of reward programs and free stuff, because I find that 99 times out of 100, free stuff is AWESOME and store credit is even MORE AWESOME.

For every friend you successfully invite, you'll get a $25 credit AND you will get an extra entry in the getaway contest!

So join today and start making your plans for Vegas!

5/13 UPDATE: Alli has NOT been Recalled. Read below for why you can’t find it. The Food and Drug Administration keeps a list of all product recalls in the U.S., and Alli is not in their database. For information on all FDA recalls, visit the searchable FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Database.

5/7 UPDATE: Alli is reporting on its Facebook page that they expect the drug to return in late June. Details below. 

4/4 UPDATE:  Alli contacted me on Twitter and said they expect the product to return to shelves in June 2012. Details below.

3/15: UPDATE with response from Alli, and 4/1 UPDATE with an alert on past and potential counterfeit sales. Details are in bold below.

If you use the over-the-counter drug Alli as part of your diet, exercise and weight-loss plan, you may have recognized that the drug has been missing from store shelves and online retailers for the past few weeks.

Why has it gone missing from the shelves? Simple – ingredient shortage.

Drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline issued the following statement on the Alli web site’s Buy Alli section:

GSK, the manufacturer of alli, is experiencing a supply shortage of the active ingredient used in alli. The alli team is working diligently to resolve the issue and apologize for any inconvenience this supply shortage may cause our consumers. Consumers should continue to adhere to the recommended diet and physical activity routine, which are the cornerstone of any weight loss program, and continue using alli once it is available.

FYI: The “active ingredient” in Alli is Orlistat, which is also the active ingredient in Prescription weight-loss drug Xenical. The Xenical manufacturer Roche issued this statement on its Club New You web site:

Our Florence Manufacturing Plant in the United States manufactures certain ingredients used in the products of Roche, including XENICAL® (orlistat). Just lately the Plant has encountered manufacturing problems, causing deficiencies in the supply of our products, including XENICAL®.   This will lead to shortage of supply of this product.

Drugstore.com lists the product as unavailable at this time, after estimating an April 16 availability date.I initially posted the April date upon Drugstore’s estimate.Alli contacted me on Twitter and said the company cannot confirm an April 16 shipping date:

@bellesouth - Thanks for spreading this info! However, we can’t verify Apr. 16 as a shipping date. Pls call with questions: 1-800-671-2554 

Alli also told me they’d let me know as soon as the drug was available. No word on the availability of Xenical, but it is safe to assume that these products will both be available as soon as the Orlistat ordeal is taken care of.

Meanwhile, diet and exercise still work, and consult with your physician before beginning any weight-loss or exercise program. (Update 4/1: Please be careful before purchasing Alli through auction sites or independent-seller Marketplaces. GSK has had trouble with the sale of counterfeit Alli in the past, so beware of scam artists taking advantage of the shortage.)

Update 4/4: Alli contacted me again on Twitter with this message:

@bellesouth - We thought you may be interested, alli should be returning to shelves in June. More info on FB:http://www.facebook.com/myalli

Update 5/7: alli is notifying customers on its Facebook page that the drug is expected to return in late June. Here’s what they’re telling customers on Facebook:

unfortunately GSK, the manufacturer of alli, is experiencing a supply shortage of the active ingredient used in alli. The team has been working diligently to resolve the issue, and alli capsules are expected to be back in stores by the end of June. We apologize for the inconvenience this shortage may have caused you. During this time, we recommend you continue to follow your myalli plan to help you stay on track. If you have any further concerns please call us: 1-800-671-2554, M-F 9am – 4:30pm ET.

I have read a lot of ‘conspiracies’ from those who think GSK is doing this on purpose, but other pharmaceutical companies across the world, including those that sell the drug as prescription Xenical, are experiencing the same shortage. Again, diet and exercise still work.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Armor All for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I can't even begin to talk about what life has done to my car. Okay, I can! I was so proud the day I got my shiny, silver 2004 Ford Focus sedan. It was so pretty – the exterior almost glistened! But alas, I had a job that put a lot of wear and tear on it and a lifestyle that has really left my car unkempt.

During my past life as a reporter, I drove through harsh weather, on dirt and pebble roads, over curbs that were covered in flooded waters, and I always was losing my reporters' notebooks and pens underneath my seat. I've never had the luxury of covered parking, so my car regularly manages to suffer through hail and ice storms, midwestern tornadoes, and all kinds of other dangerous elements of nature that most of us can hide from.

Although I work at home now, I am also a dog mom – and that makes for a lot less time to get my car back to the gorgeous, shiny luster it once had. My car isn't "gray!" I want it to be silver again!

Armor-All, who promises that it "undoes what life does to your car" – has introduced Extreme Shield Wax - an effortless-application wax that not only protects, but actually repels dirt and grime!  It gives your car an impenetrable shield so after you visit your uncle's farm in Smallville, you can just give it a quick wash and all the dust and dirt and whatever else nature brings your way is gone!
 
Extreme Shield Wax can even be applied in direct sunlight, and is safe to put on ALL automotive finishes! It doesn't even leave white residue on plastic!
 
And now the AWESOME PART. Armor-all wants YOU to share with them what life has done to YOUR car! Simply "like" Armor All on Facebook to enter to win the "What Life Did To Your Car" Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Camaro SS signed by Tony Stewart! Upload a photo of your car – funny, extreme, or just everyday wear and tear – and you can win!!! 

Good luck, and take care of your car so it can take care of you!

Mom on Christmas Day, 1952

My mother was born on March 2, 1948. The only child of a WWII vet and the red-haired, Rita Hayworth lookalike he fell in love with, my mom was named Rita after her dad’s favorite pinup.

My mom had already married, obtained an education degree and given birth to two boys by the time I was born in 1978. Mom was a member of the Women’s Lib movement, so when she finally gave birth to a girl, it was a pretty big deal.

Mom and the Most Awesome Baby Of 1977

She hasn’t told me for sure, but I like to think my debut into her circle of feminist friends was about the same as when Simba was introduced in The Lion King. She held me up into the sunrise, Elton John sang “The Circle of Life,” and everyone just stared speechless, their mouths agape in awe.

My mother was determined to raise me as a smart woman. She strolled me as an infant in an ERA parade, tuned the TV into Dan Rather and the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour every evening, and maintained a World Book Encyclopedia collection.

My mother was an elementary school teacher until I was five years old. When I

Mom standing in front of a portrait of John Wesley

was seven, she commuted to Dallas to attend seminary at Southern Methodist University. I spent a week with her and I was, of course, loved by her classmates. She met some of her closest friends at SMU and after receiving her Master of Divinity, she was ordained as one of the few female ministers in Arkansas at the time.

Mom and I had some struggles. It was hard for me to be without my mom during the week, and hard after my parents split up and we moved around every couple of years.  My mother also developed some health problems, including diabetes, when I was in college. But we grew together and became a team, an undeniable force.

For more than six years, my mom and I lived several miles apart as I became a reporter in Louisiana and northwest Arkansas and she went on disability leave as her health problems increased.Circumstances eventually brought her to my neck of the woods. She was headed up to her new condo on January 31, 2009, just as I was being laid off from my final newspaper job.

Me, Ancient Aliens Hair-In-Chief Giorgio Tsoukalos, and Mom, Summer 2011

I’ve lived with my mother since February 2010.

This has allowed me to become a full-time blogger and also to be a mom to The Best Dog In The World.

We hang out, watch MSNBC or shows on History about aliens or pawning/picking, and we have miraculously stayed a team after all these years. Still not sure how we do it. But we do.

Just a few weeks ago, mom and I joined together to attend our local Unite

Mom and me at Unite Against The War on Women Rally, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 4/28/12

Against The War on Women rally.  Although my mom is older and her health sometimes prohibits her from being able to be as socially and politically active as she was, she still has that fire, that passion and that drive that (I hope) she passed along to me.

She is now a powerful voice from her desk, where she shares her knowledge, experience and humor with friends old and new.

Love you, Mom!

Some of this may include foul language and content inappropriate for the kids, so cover the childrens’ eyes!

This was a very weird week for everyone, wasn’t it? Anyway, let’s start, shall we?

First, let’s be honest about how our comic heroes pose for photos.

Then there was that thing that happened in North Carolina:

THIS IS MY FAVORITE of the week, so I’m putting it in the middle:

Then there’s everyone’s favorite time of day:

And, finally…. D’OH!

Watch this and amaze your friends! Billy On The Street is a hilarious new show on Fuse that combines the man-on-the-street interview with the classic quiz show! Get the right answer, and you WIN!

Billy on the Street has gone interactive thanks to Jingit, a brand-new online service that actually pays YOU to watch stuff.

Sometimes it’s hilarious stuff. Sometimes it’s informative. And sometimes it’s an ad, but hey – you’re making money, right?

All you have to do is watch the video, sign up for Jingit through Facebook and win!  And guess what – you can return to this post tomorrow to get another $1! Come back every day until the promotion ends!

Jingit also has a mobile app and a lot more opportunities for videos!  Using the mobile app, you can earn even more by checking-in and completing tasks at your local Walmart.

You can either spend your earnings on mp3 downloads at Jingit’s MusicMe site, or by using the Jingit Visa Card! Works just like any pre-loaded Visa Card and makes for a great way to spend and save virtual pocket change!

You see that little Jingit logo at the bottom-left of that banner? Keep a lookout for that. When you see it online, that’s a new opportunity to earn!

If you want some more money, see if you qualify for this Jingit task from MiO!

If Jingit delivers as promised I may add it to my list of Smartphone Apps that Actually Pay You. So far, Jingit seems to be the most fun, the most interactive and the most exciting!

So get started now and start earning!

This post contains affiliate links.