KoolSpoon This is a great gift any time of year! At first glance I thought it was just for kids, but after testing it out with my 8 year old son, I found myself using it...alot!  Here's how it works:  keep the KoolSpoon in the freezer and take it out when you want to use it. That's it.  The gel inside the KoolSpoon absorbs heat from the hot food or drink while you stir, thereby cooling the food or liquid by the time it hits your mouth. Brilliant! It's reusable and dishwasher safe.  Wish I had thought of this one first. www.KoolSpoon.com   Price point $3.99. Great Deal Simply Snackin  For all of you jerky fans, high protein snackers and fitness enthusiasts, this product is for you!  This unique line of delicious  gourmet meat snacks has no artificial ingredients. That's #1 in my book. The six varieties have only 60 calories, yet they sport 8-11 grams of protein, zero saturated fat, less than 3 grams of carbs! In addition there are NO colorings, chemicals, nitrites or fillers and only a small amount of sodium compared to traditional dried meats. The Lean sirloin or whole chicken breast is combined with dried fruits, beans or vegetables and then slow roasted until tender. I was truly surprised at how nutritionally clean this product turned out to be! Most varieties are lactose-free and gluten-free and all are individually wrapped, one-ounce pieces that are vacuum packed to preserve freshness and quality. At less than $1.50 each, it gives "fast food" a whole new meaning. http://www.simplysnackin.com/ Price point  12 piece assorted pack only $17.28 (check website for more quantities and pricing) Book: The Great Cholesterol Myth by Dr. Jonny Bowden and Dr. Stephen Sinatra  Just in case you didn't see The Dr. Oz Show last week, I am happy to introduce you to one of the most important books of our lifetime. Everything you have ever known about lowering cholesterol and the reasons behind why your cholesterol are high are false....according to Nutritionist, Dr. Bowden, a Nutritionist, and Dr. Sinatra, a Cardiologist.  The Great Cholesterol Myth reveals these hard and proven facts about heart disease as well as many more which will cause people everywhere to stand back and take a closer look at our own habits and the steps we take to protect our hearts. You will learn that low cholesterol has been linked to depression, aggression, cerebral hemorrhages, and loss of sex drive. Did you know that the standard prescriptions for lowering our cholesterol and fighting heart disease such as side-effect-causing statin drugs, actually obscure the real causes of heart disease. Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on creative reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.  FACTS: ·  Cholesterol is harmless and is only a minor player in heart disease. ·  Cholesterol levels are a poor predictor of heart attacks. ·  Half the people with normal cholesterol have heart disease while half the people with elevated cholesterol have perfectly healthy hearts. ·  The true cause of heart disease is inflammation. ·  The number one dietary contributor to heart disease is sugar, which is a far greater danger to your heart than fat. ·  New studies suggest that statin drugs may be associated with a higher risk for cancer and diabetes. Get these proven, evidence-based facts strategies for treating heart disease the right way. Its worth every penny. Price Point Fair Winds Press, November 2012, $19.99 US/$21.99 CAN, Paperback and also available in E-Book form In A Pikle...Life's Crazy, dill with it!  By far, this is one of my Favorite products! I wish I could show you all the designs this genius product comes in, but I don't have space. So you'll just have to go to their website to see for yourself. So here's the lowdown.. a brilliant Mom named Marianne decided to surprise her dear friend, Tamara, for her birthday. Her homemade gift was an "emergency kit" made out of a hot pad and some snack baggies. A great idea was born. These two creative Moms have made a thriving business based on those times we find ourselves "in a pickle". These cool looking clutch type bags (that come in several awesome designs) have all those little things you need when you're in a pinch. These miniature essentials are even TSA-compliant! For example, The "Essentials" Refill Pak contains: ·   1 hand sanitizer pen ·   3 individually wrapped antibacterial wipes  ·   10 adhesive bandages ·   1 pill box  ·   1 package travel tissues   There is even a "MacGyver Pak"!  "MacGyver" Refill Pak contains: ·   1 spot remover pen  ·   1 retractable mini scissors ·   1 travel size sewing kit ·   1 24" tailor tape ·   5 safety pins ·   1 philips mini screw driver ·   1 straight mini screw driver ·   5 paper clips ·   5 rubber bands Check out the website for ALL the different refill paks, or just get the Complete Refill Pak! Http://www.inapikle.com/ Price Point $29.99 - $46.98 Refill Paks are $2.99 for an `A la Carte pak to $17.99 for the Complete PakRe-String It Gina Lombardi Finally an answer to one of the most frustrating problems... how to get that 'pulled-out string' back into your shorts, sweats, bikini or hoodie. Chad Archibeck, from right here in Southern California,  figured out a way to re-string it in 20 seconds! While other methods like the classic safety pin or coat hanger could take up to 15 minutes! Like the packaging says... Re-String It is reliable and easy!  Enough said.  (great stocking stuffer, by the way) Price point $14.99 Gina Lombardi Press Release August 29, 2012 click Gina Lombardi Book Deadline Fitness Hollywood celebrities know the secrets to shaping up for movies and award show appearances at the last minute. Now you can learn their tricks and tips for getting fit in a hurry to gear up for your own red carpet moments. Deadline Fitness has the diet and exercise programs you can use to get in shape on a deadline. Whether you're a beginner or a fitness veteran, Lombardi has a customized program for you. She includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs. By following her detailed instructions, you will feel confident that you're performing the exercises correctly. You'll also find first-person stories from celebrities and people just like you to help keep you motivated and on track to meet your deadline. Once you finally achieve your hard-earned goal, you'll find out how to move from a deadline program to a long-term health and fitness program that will make your new deadline the rest of your life! Click the logos below to get your copy today! Teres Kids happy active clothing With so much competition out there, why did I choose a kids clothing company for my Top 10? Because this clothing company is actually different with virtually NO competition in the market place. Why? Because they solve a problem. TeresKids is an organic brand for kids ages 2 through 12 who have sensory processing issues and/or skin sensitivities like eczema. Their number one mission is to make the clothing as comfortable as possible for your little ones. My favorite features: Soft Organic Cotton with ink stamped labels instead of scratchy tags, seams are always on the "outside" of the garment and they are Made in the U. S.A.. Although my 8 year old son does not have sensory issues, he prefers TeresKids because of the comfort and style. He calls the Skull and Crossbones sweatshirt hoodie his "lucky shirt". Price point $26 to $38 thermal aid Gina Lombardi I'm a big fan of thermal packs (hot and cold) especially after a tough workout or a hard day at work. I've gone through so many of these in the past because they would break and all the insides would spill out. Or, the pack would begin to smell or grow mold because there was no way to thoroughly wash the inevitable collection of germs away. Thermal-Aid was developed by a Medical Doctor sporting a 100% Natural Cotton outer layer and the heating/cooling element is composed of a specially engineered corn. So let's cut to the chase: what I like about Thermal-Aid is that it will not breed germs, it holds temperatures longer than any of my previous brand purchases, it contours to the body and comes in 5 different sizes. There is even a kids Bear. What's not to like. Price point $19.95 to $34.95 Hail Merry Gina Lombardi I had the pleasure of meeting creator and owner of Hail Merry for a taste test and I can promise you, you won't get more love and passion put into a product than Susan O'Brien puts into her raw vegan delights. Hail Merry raw foods blossomed out of a need Susan saw for healthy on-the-go snacks that are true to form. Abundant in enzymes, raw nuts and cold pressed coconut oil are staples in HM's famous Tarts and Macaroons which come in irresistible flavors like Coconut Vanilla, Persian Lime and Chocolate Almond. Although the shipping is pricey for the refrigerated items, you can buy them by the case and they're worth their weight in gold. To check out the yummy Grawnola and delicious Nut & Seed varieties click the images to the left. Price point by the case $32-$125 The Cure for Everything by Timpothy Caulfield Gina Lombardi This humorously written book by distinguished academic, Timothy Caulfield, was an absolute joy to read and by far at the top of my reading list of all time. Not because he interviewed me for the Fitness chapter. In fact, when I met with him and took him through one of my intense "celebrity" workouts, I wasn't sure if he was going to slam me or send me flowers. Fortunately for me, my vase is full. Mr. Caulfield is well known for his expertise in health policy and taking on a well rounded yet thoroughly researched viewpoint on many facets of the fitness and diet industry. One that is much needed in this vast sea of confusing information. In this book you will find out the truth about fitness, diet, genetics, and remedies. Believe me, he doesn't sugar-coat anything! One of my favorite quotes from the book is “If you see the word cleanse or detoxify used to market or explain a health product or diet, you can assume it is a scam.” Thank you Tim! Price point: $17.00 - $24.95