This is the best and most comprehensive explanation for why my HTC Incredible keeps getting low storage warnings when it does not look like there should be a problem.  What it does NOT explain is why HTC decided to make the Application Data Storage for the phone so small and non-configurable.  With 748MB of App Storage and 6.6GB of phone memory, which on my phone never gets used because of the SD card, why can this teeny tiny 149 MB partition not be expanded to accomodate more.  With more and more apps requiring usernames and passwords and the ability to use your phone as your mobile pc it is inevitable that this partition is going to get filled up fast.

This morning I was on the cusp of doing another hard reset on my phone when I decided to go into each app, one by one, to see just how much data is being used.  Thankfully with Gingerbread 2.3 build 4.08 it is much easier to see at a glance which of your apps is a data hog and clear it.

CouponTrade.com is the newest and the hottest way to save because now, you can combine coupon savings with discounted gift cards for the same stores, plus sell all those unused gift cards and redeem whats yours, all in one place!!!

The Ultimate Baby Shower will offer MONTHLY diaper and Formula giveaways, as well as a seasonal NURSERY giveaway! That’s right- you can win the entire nursery, furniture, bedding, and all the baby gear you could need!

Entry is so simple, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

RE: $200 Rainy Day Facebook Frenzy Giveaway

Dates: April 13 – May 4, 2012

Cost to participate: FREE

For all bloggers who would like to participate in this Rafflecopter giveaway, at NO COST, please visit Ultimate Baby Shower for signup.  Share a wonderful giveaway with your readers and reap the benefits of expanding your reader base as well.

Shawn Gallaway and #fanjamSG Twitter Party

March 2nd at 9pm EST

We are so excited for our #fanjamSG Twitter Party!

TWO $25 Amazon gift cards and more!

$10 Toys r Us gift card & $10 Amazon gift card

Sponsored by:

Christi Ann Hendrix & Kristin Hale of It’s Free At Last

Who is Shawn Gallaway? Visit his website here

Healing through the arts, Healing through the heartShawn Gallaway is a visual artist, singer songwriter, author, ceremonial healer, workshop facilitator, energy worker and Certified Lifeline Practitioner. He has traveled through out the world sharing his healing message

• Shawn also had the high honor of being present for the showing of his I Choose Love music video during the presentation of a Freedom Award by the Civil Right’s Museum in Memphis TN to his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Shawn has recently shared the stage with authors Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Robert Holden, Darren Weissman, T. Harv Ecker
• He also shared the stage with rock and pop masters Orleans, Jimi Jamison, Dave Jenkins, Allan Parsons and Robbie Dupree.
• He is also a screenwriter who is currently producing the film, The Choice
• Shawn Gallaway is an accomplished singer songwriter with four CD’s and two DVD’s to his credit to date

Fan Jam 2012 and Shawn Gallaway #fanjamSG Twitter party details

Be sure to RSVP by emailing pam@mbsmembers.com with #fanjamSG in the subject line and your twitter handle in the body of the email.

Then sign up on the linky below!

Be sure to use your TWITTER link in the URL. Put your Twitter handle @yourshere in the name section!

Be sure to use your TWITTER link in the URL. Put your Twitter handle @yourshere in the name section!

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Both of my daughters have sensitive skin and I have a rather sensitive nose when it comes to perfumes and added scents (both inherited from my mother). I typically shy away from scented detergents and liquid softeners for these reasons. I do use Bounce dryer sheets to keep the static down in the laundry and add a little fragrance, but sometimes it’s just not enough and it does not last long.

During a December shopping trip I came upon a deal for P&G products that offered $10 back if you purchased $35 worth of their brand. Naturally I was intrigued and pairing it with coupons and on sale items I was able to save $80 on one shopping trip. It was during this trip that I discovered Downy UNStoppables in the ‘fresh’ variety. Never having used anything like this before I thought I’d give it a chance, especially since I was getting such a good deal.

On the first try I realized that a little goes a LOOOOONG way. Using the included floral shaped cap to measure to the lowest line left the clothes with a heavy dose of the ‘fresh’ scent that was a little overwhelming for my taste. I started using about half of the recommended ‘dosage’ for clothing and was left with a long lasting, pleasant freshness that the dryer sheets I had been using could not match (plus this made it last twice as long ). Neither of my girls experienced any kind of adverse reaction and once I figured out the proper amount to use my nose was happy too. I’d definitely suggest using this in the lowest recommended amount for bedding, blankets, and bath towels. The fragrance is strong enough that freshly cleaned bedding will leave the whole room smelling fresh for days.

As with any cleaning supplies, keep out of reach of children.  It smells good and it looks like candy, so it would be very tempting for a little one to put in their mouth.

DD1 had seen the first two Toy Story movies at my sister-in-laws house. When she saw the advertisements for Toy Story 3 there was no getting around having to go see the movie in the theater. We actually waited until it was at a local dollar theater and took both girls (the little one got in free)!

The movie, just like the first two, was very well made. The animation is just what you’d expect and the characterizations of the toys was hilarious – my favorites were Ken and Barbie. As in the first two movies there was the element of adventure and suspense. In a way this was a little darker. Instead of the villains being people it was the toys that were evil. The big baby kinda creeped me out. The monkey guard wasn’t much better. DD1 noticed right away how evil the purple teddy bear was and talked about it for weeks. I was actually surprised that the content of the movie didn’t freak her out more.

If you haven’t seen the movie and would like to with your kids keep in mind that for a cartoon movie it can get a little intense with the action. Your child’s ability to handle that kind of stress should be kept in mind before watching. If they are prone to nightmares or scare easily it might not be the movie for them (the bear gets pretty mean and the big baby doll is rather creepy). If you love the Toy Story movies then this is an indispensable addition to your movie collection.

I went looking everywhere for the boot. Most other stores had it for the regular retail and did not carry the boot in a 7W. Finally, I found a little shoe store based in New York and found a 10% off coupon from Retailmenot.com. The price of the boot was $105.95 with free shipping so with the coupon that brought it down to $95.35. Not $79.99 but not $149 either. So I bit the bullet and bought the boot.

In a few days I received a box directly from the Clarks warehouse with a beautiful pair of black leather boots. I tried them on and discovered that the foot was generously cut. I would say maybe a 1/2 size too big, but for a winter boot to be worn with thick socks and possibly an orthotic insert the extra room was OK. The sole was very soft and flexible, very comfortable on my heel. There was considerable pressure on the balls of my feet even with the slight 2″ heel, but I write that off mostly on my weight.

Zipping up the shaft was another story. Remember these are not wide shaft boots and I have a wide leg. Thank goodness for the elastic inserts on the back of the boot, they stretched just enough to zip all the way up. At first they did pinch a little but I figured that with time they would give some and not be so tight (plus I need to lose a little weight anyway ).

I grabbed my Dr. Scholl’s 3/4 length insert and a pair of my husbands wool socks and tried them on again. When I put my foot inside again the boot couldn’t have fit more perfectly. The heel even though fairly low will take some getting used to since I don’t wear heels that often.

Since I bought them the boots have been worn with everything. The weather has been a catalyst for this, but my feet and calves were stylish and warm. The only thing i didn’t like was how the boot bunched up around my ankle and pressed the zipper into the ankle bone. Really is there a zippered boot that doesn’t do this? I haven’t found one yet. So if you are looking for a stylish, warm leather boot with a shaft stretchy enough to accommodate a 17″ calf then the Clarks Wyld Polka is for you.

A couple weeks ago DH bought a Keurig machine for his office.  I happened to be there this weekend and he made me a cup of coffee while I worked on fixing his computer.  I noticed that the coffee actually tasted better than what I made at home.  It dawned on me that we had not changed the filter in the reservoir since we purchased the machine.  You could see that the filter “wool” looked clean, but maybe the carbon in the filter did catch something that was now altering the flavor of the water as it brews.

Since we have to buy water for drinking there are times when we run out and if DH has the car that I am capable of driving then I have to wait for him to go to the sore and get more.  Well, that did happen a time or two and I had to use tap water in the Keurig.  Not only was this because I wanted a cup of coffee, but out of necessity to help clean the sediment from the water so I could drink it.  What drinking water we had left I was saving for my daughters.

But I digress. .. This morning I decided to  change the filter since I did have an extra that came with the machine.  I made sure to clean the cup holding assembly just to make sure that none of the coffee flavor or grounds that may have fallen from the K-cups would interfere with the brewing of a clean cup of water.  This was an experiment after all .  When I brewed the coffee  after changing the filter I could tell the difference right away.  The aroma was brighter and something was much more pleasing about it.  I do feel that a cup of coffee made with the Keurig is much tastier than one brewed in a regular coffee machine; this was even better.

When I tasted the coffee – prepared exactly as my first cup of coffee had been the mouth feel was even different.  It felt softer in my mouth; I do feel strongly that the filter does improve the taste and mouth feel of the coffee even further.  So now I am going to be much more diligent about changing the filters and will be looking for a good price on extras today.  Keurig’s recommendation is to change the filter once every 2 months or every 60 reservoir refills.

I hate purses with short little straps.  They are hard to keep on my shoulder and I inevitably end up dropping them or have them hanging precariously from my elbow while trying to juggle my two girls, a diaper bag and whatever else I might have.  In my search for a purse my mom found a used Nine West bag made of microfiber and PVC.  It looked less dowdy than my previous purse, but still lacked style and a long enough strap to use it as a crossbody purse.  I’m learning that being a mom almost requires me to carry a larger bag on most days so I broke down and started looking for a hobo or bucket bag that would hold all my stuff.  I’m hoping to be free of a diaper bag soon, but I’ll still have a need to carry wet wipes, lotion and maybe an extra pair of skivies for my little one in case there is an accident while we are out in public.  Translation – I need a big honking purse.

I hate PVC bags.  They rip, wear and tear way sooner than leather. My last genuine leather purse I dropped $70 on and it lasted me for 7 years before it literally was falling apart.  Ten dollars per year – less than a dollar a month doesn’t sound too bad.

Typically I go for black purses.  Very utilitarian and little style.  This time I thought I would go for something a little more colorful.  This way the bag could add some interest to my outfit even when I’m wearing neutrals.

Admittedly I had never, before last week, heard of Tignanello.  All I searched for was leather crossbody purse on ebay and many choices were presented.  A large number of them were Tignanello brand.  Turns out there is an ebay seller who is going out of business and posting all her remaining purse inventory at .99 starting bid and no reserve.  If you are smart and follow the auction and set a limit (based on your research of what an item retails for and what percentage of that you’d be willing to pay for an item on ebay with a NO RETURN policy) you can get a purse for a very reasonable price.  I’ve become more frugal in recent years so it is rather hard for me to purchase anything without really mulling it over and researching all my possibilities.  The Tignanello purses retail from anywhere between $80 and $200.  Way more than I would be willing to spend on one purse.  After watching a couple of the auctions end the purses she was selling were going for approximately $30 each plus 9.95 shipping.  Not too bad.  These were also the large crossbody hobo purses. The first ones to end were white and light blue.  My thought was those colors are nice, but they would get dingy looking way too soon.  Then I came across one that would be colorful and not show dirt too soon – peridot green.  Typically, I would not like green, but I was trying to think outside the box.  What Not To Wear is a frequently watched program in our house and I thought I should try to put into practice some of what I’ve learned. The second bag I had my eye on was a medium sized organizer purse in a color named Sunshine.  Talk about cute.

Persistence is the key.  Don’t get bummed if you are outbid especially if there are more varieties or similar styles still listed.  I missed out on 7 auctions before I finally got my purses at a price that was well below retail and at or below my cutoff price.  Counting in shipping I probably got a 80% discount compared to actual retail. For the price I paid I would only have gotten a plastic faux leather purse at a local retailer or some really cheaply made patch leather purse.  Can’t wait to get these purses and post reviews for each.

For several seasons I’ve been looking for a good winter coat.  Mine are falling apart and not exactly appropriate for every occasion.  I have a very heavy, almost ankle length wool coat that I wear to church and since my other coats had gone the way of the dodo I’d been wearing it when we go out anywhere else.  The problem was it is so heavy I’d end up with a terrible neck, head and backache by the end of the day from “carrying” it around.  I needed something else.  A warm coat with a hood and a zip front that was lighter, easier to wear.

Yesterday I found it.  My mom called me the night before and said she got a coupon from Macy’s for 20% off her purchase good until the end of the month.  Then I remembered that in my online search that Macy’s was having a ONE DAY SALE.  I’d never been to one so I didn’t quite know what to expect.  Actually my expectations were pretty low since Macy’s is an expensive place to shop in my experience.  Wow, was I blown away.

All the women’s coats were in one area.  Another tip – don’t get discouraged.  There is no consistency of sizes among the brands so try on EVERYTHING that might come close to your size.  Just because it says L and you think you are a 1X or 2X you shouldn’t discount it.  I tried on every coat in XL from the Misses section that I could find.  My chest dictates my size (I’m top heavy) so it was hard to find a Misses coat that closed across my chest and didn’t pull, strain or gap.  Then I decided to go to the Women’s Plus section and look around.  I found a rack that was full of London Fog quilted coats.  Some were hip length and some were knee length for which I was looking.  I tried on a brown, hooded, knee length quilted coat with a front zip and side slit pockets in 1X.  The top fit great, but the bottom was cut in a very wide a-line that made me look bigger that normal.  Mom said it helped to minimize the “impact” of my top section, but I thought it was too much.  I kept looking.  None of the other coats came even close to the fit of the London Fog.  Then it dawned on me that I should try to find the Misses XL to see if it would fit any better.  To my dismay I couldn’t find the an XL in that coat in the Misses section anywhere.  I was about to concede defeat when I took one last sweep of the Plus section and found a lone black London Fog coat in the style for which I was searching amongst some Calvin Klein jackets – AND IT WAS AN XL!

I tried on the coat and was so happy I almost cried.  It closed across my chest and had a more moderate a-line that still gave me an hourglass figure without looking out of proportion.  Not only did the coat fit like a glove but it was 60% off.  The original price of the coat was $205, so with the extra 20% discount my total without tax was $65.60!  Isn’t that an awesome deal?!?!  We saved $139.40 AND I got a London Fog (I love this brand).

Even if Macy’s may seem out of your reach most of the time (like me) – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ONE DAY SALES.  Look for items that will soon be out of season or that they may want to move out to make room for newer styles.  Go to the racks marked with high percentages off because you’ll be surprised at the brands and quality of the items there – they don’t only closeout junk.  My husband has the misaprehension that if it’s in the clearance rack then it must be crap or there is something wrong with it.  NOT SO!  Sometimes a store just has too many for the local population to consume and they have to lower the price.

If you have the privilege (or rather responsibility) of having a Macy’s card and can get the member’s only discounts make sure to read the restrictions.  There are many brands that cannot have this discount applied (Levi’s being one).  At least this time Clearance items were not excluded.  That was great for me.  Since I don’t have a Macy’s card my mom went with me and purchased the coat on her card.  I just need to pay her back before it starts to accumulate interest.  If you don’t want to apply for the card find a willing friend that has one, be reasonable with your purchase and PAY THEM BACK SOON! Usually you have 30 days before the purchase starts to accrue interest.