Just in Time for Halloween – Briana Dragon Creations

Looking for some Spooktacular gifts for your Halloween-loving friends? Briana Dragon Creations (also goes by the name Blue Dragon Creations) has just what you need. 

From serpents and snakes to skulls and vampires, you’ll find enough freaky finds to give all your ghoulfriends gifts that will please even the most blood-sucking vampire.

So check out Briana Dragon’s Zazzle store for your perfect Halloween gift.

Click on any of the graphics above, and you'll 

go directly to Briana Blair Creations.

Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas

The first time I tasted a chocolate-covered frozen banana was when I visited Chicago's Navy Pier probably close to 35 years ago. A vendor was selling them and somebody suggested getting one. I don’t remember at all who was with me, but I do remember tasting what would become one of my favorite snacks – one that I couldn’t find ANYWHERE other than Navy Pier.

So imagine my surprise when, several years later, in the popsicle section of my local grocer, I discovered CHOCOLATE-COVERED FROZEN BANANAS! I bought them again and again and again. I mean, how can you go wrong with bananas – HEALTHY, because they’re fruit and healthy because they’re covered in dark chocolate?

And then they were gone! I searched EVERYWHERE for them. Every single store I looked through didn’t carry them – not Kroger, not Walmart, not Kmart, not Meijer, not Jewel, not anywhere.

And then they appeared again. I was ecstatic!

And then they were gone – again!

Several years passed and a couple of weeks ago, as I was shopping in Meijer, I complained to my youngest daughter that every time I looked for them, I could never find them, but just as I said the words, I noticed them on the shelf! Was I hallucinating? I almost kept walking. I couldn’t believe my eyes! 

Diana's Bananas banana babies

They’ve been at Meijer the past two times I shopped there, and I’ve purchased them both times I’ve shopped, because if past predicts future, at some point, they will disappear again, and I’m going to buy them whenever I see them!

If I gave ratings for the products I enjoy using or eating, this one would get 5 stars out of 5 stars.

CONSUMER FRAUD ALERT: "As Seen on Oprah" is NOT Oprah Endorsed – Cyber Highway Robbery

Previously published on Yahoo Contributor Network June 16, 2009

So you think you're dealing with a legitimate company because you read, "As Seen On Oprah," right? Guess what. That's what scam artists want you to think - because in our minds, if Oprah discussed a certain product on her show, she must endorse it. Sadly we further tell ourselves that she and other high-profile celebrities endorse every product associated with their names.

But we forget that not all products come from reputable companies.

The ads draw you in with catchy phrases and what you perceive to be bona fide celebrity endorsements, and then, while you are totally oblivious to what is taking place behind your back, they drain you of your savings.

They start with an ad filled with promises of looking as young as Madonna, and you are drawn to a headline that makes you wonder, how DO these celebrities stay so young and so thin?

Then you see the name of the product, maybe it's Resveratrol (RES V), "apparently" endorsed by a variety of people, including Oprah and Dr. Oz, and you think, Hmm, I might try that - after all, it's FREE, and look whose name appears alongside the product.

The offer for a FREE TRIAL seems irresistible. But BE WARNED - this free product can end up costing sometimes thousands of dollars, depending on how much money you have in your checking account. If you are not aware of the scam, these pilferers will continue to pocket YOUR MONEY until YOUR MONEY is gone.

The terminology they use to attract your attention is proven to work on people who want to look younger, healthier, or just better. All they have to do is get a celebrity to endorse their product and BAM! It's Sold!

HOWEVER, "As Seen On Oprah" says NOTHING about Oprah recommending the product or endorsing THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY'S SPECIFIC PRODUCT. All it says is, "as seen on."

So what happens when you order the FREE TRIAL and how is it even possible for them to bilk you of your entire savings?

Here's how it works: When you follow the link to a web site that tells you the product is free, but the shipping will cost you, be forewarned!

ENTERING YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD NUMBER IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EXTRACTION OF YOUR MONEY! That is when the thieves get you, because when you give them your debit or credit card information, you give them access to your account. And like pigs at a trough, they eat voraciously, several times a day, until they gather sometimes $300 a day or more until you are left with NOTHING. Unless you call your bank every day, you may not notice your missing funds until it is too late.

And what happens when you call the bank to report the problem? They ask you if you notified the company. Yes, you have called the number on the package or bottle numerous times. NOBODY responds. These companies get phone lines they NEVER answer just to LOOK legitimate. The bank has no address on file to give you, and they remind you that THEY are not responsible for the transaction - YOU, after all, were the one who approved the sale.

You argue with them that you approved no such thing, that you wanted only a free trial, that you haven't received anything other than the free trial. And the bank reminds you that you gave out your card number.

In sheer terror you try calling the company again. You hear the phone ring and ring. You make breakfast, take care of business, make lunch, take care of more business - and NEVER talk to a live person, no matter how long you stay on the phone.

And it gets worse. Not only will these crooks charge you over and over again for a product you wanted to try for free - they charge your account for products you never ordered, like acåi berry vitamins and other products you see on the sides of Internet sites you visit.

How do they get away with this fraud? YOU allowed them access to your account. And unless you cut up your credit or debit card and get issued a new one, you will continue to be bled dry from these mosquito-sucking leeches.

These villains are not prosecutable, because they cannot be found. You will never find them on America's Most Wanted, because they are faceless and nameless. They do have one thing in common with some of the most notorious criminals - they are conscienceless as well. If you discover that your money has been stolen, you can report the criminal activity, but you may never be able to prosecute him or her.

The best way to handle online orders is to deal only with reputable companies whose online access includes a phone number where you can interact with real people. If you are in doubt about the company's validity, order a free sample from somebody who actually speaks with you.

And if you see the words, "You can cancel at any time," assume it's an ongoing purchase. Even if you don't actually authorize or agree to the purchase, by merely handing over your debit or credit card information, the company and the bank automatically assume that YOU are responsible for any and all transactions that take place between you and the disreputable company.

You will not be able dispute charges that are still pending though. You will have to wait until the charges actually go through the system. At that time you will have to go through the time-consuming dispute process, where you will discontinue the card the thieves have already stolen, wait for a new card to arrive, go to the bank to process the paperwork, and hopefully learn never to order anything again from ads that promise to make you thin while the only thing thinning out is the money they extract from your checking account or credit card month after month after month.

If you are considering purchasing anything online, find out immediately from your bank how they deal with Internet fraud. It is highly likely they have already dealt with disreputable companies and, though they have no address, they have phone numbers from other victims of Internet crime.

Even though it would do no good to report the fraud, because the people who sell the products are protected merely because they live in foreign countries and will never be prosecuted for their misdeeds, it's always a good idea to alert others either by forwarding a link to this article in an email or blog, and by contacting either the Better Business Bureau, Internet Crime Complaint Center, or Consumer Fraud Reporting. Here are the links:

Better Business Bureau

Internet Crime Complaint Center

Consumer Fraud Reporting

Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk – the Cure for Cancer Hair

If you have “cancer hair” or unruly and unmanageable hair, this blog and this product – Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk – is for you!

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September, 2009, I began a year-long journey with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. While having cancer changed many aspects of my life, one very annoying thing it changed, after my hair grew back, was the texture of my hair. Don’t get me wrong. After being bald for so many months, I was thankful to even have hair, but when it grew back dry, curly, and wiry, my hair became quite a challenge. Having never had curls before, I had no clue how to take care of this new brittle entity sitting on my head.

Years ago one of my daughter’s friends introduced me to Organix Coconut Milk. I tried it and liked it, but I always added it after I had already applied mousse or conditioning creams. Still, I was never happy with the results. As my hair grew I searched for just the right combination of hair products to see if my hair would respond to any of them, including gels and leave-in conditioners. I could never find the combination of products that would help my hair look healthy and presentable. 

No matter what I used, though, I always found my way back to Organix Coconut Milk Serum. Then the thought of using this product alone occurred to me. No mousse, no leave-in conditioners, just Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk. So I followed my routine of shampooing and conditioning my hair and then, while my hair was still damp, I applied the Coconut Milk Serum. I first bent my head down, placed some of the serum into my hand, rubbed my hands together, and applied it to the back of my hair. I then put my head upright, used the same procedure on the top, the sides, and the back of my hair. I scrunched the curls all around, and allowed my hair to air dry.

Something surprisingly fun happened – people started commenting on how good my hair looked, soft, shiny, and healthy! My mom decided to buy some and use it on her straight hair and was also happy with the results – she loved her new shine! 

So straight or curly, Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk seems to work for any hair type! If you’re suffering from cancer hair or if your hair is dry and brittle, try this cure for cancer hair!

Chiropractor In A Box – The BackBridge™

When I heard about the BackBridge™, I was skeptical. I’ve had back problems my entire life. Though my scoliosis is slight, the pain it causes is immense. If you shop with me, you might find me sitting on a bench or, in my earlier years, on the floor, or you might see me draped over my shopping cart. Long walks were out of the question.

In the early part of this century I began seeing a chiropractor, and the effects were immediately helpful, but chiropractors were so far out of my budget, I couldn’t afford to see them, so I suffered in silence. What DID help my back pain immensely was implementing advice I received from a friend who’d heard from her physical therapist, after she suffered an injury, that the reason she was experiencing back pain was because she didn’t bend her knees when she walked. When you walk without bending your knees, you put undue pressure on your lower back.

So, to remind myself to bend my knees, I walked around the house with an exaggerated bend for a while until I got used to walking with my knees bent. It helped! But the pain is always present. On days when I know I have to walk for extended periods of time, I also take three mild pain killers and three Bayer Back and Body pills. AND I use my Bed Buddy wrap every morning when possible. 

Still, my back needed more help than just bending my knees, taking pain meds, and using the Bed Buddy, so when I saw the BackBridge™, though it cost a lot of money, I decided that I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did. From the first time I tried it, I felt my spine “pop” into alignment, and when my two minutes were up, I felt relief – not complete relief, but some relief. I’ve been using the BackBridge™ once a day for over a month now and I am taking my pain meds less than I was before I started using it.

The BackBridge™ comes in levels. You are supposed to begin with Level #1 and work your way up to the other levels. I started with #2 because my back is also sway and I didn’t think I would even feel the effects of #1 alone. I am now on #3. I may never get past #3, because I’m waiting until I no longer experience pain when I get up from using it. Because my back is so filled with pain all the time, getting off the BackBridge™ is painful – for me – it might not be for you. I have to slowly lift my legs with knees bent, grasp my knees, and pull them toward me as I ease up.

Overall, I would recommend this product for anybody experiencing back pain, especially if going to the chiropractor is not within your budget. I can stand for longer periods of time without experiencing pain, and I’m still making sure my knees are bent when I walk!

UPDATE: June 21, 2015

I'm still using the BackBridge™ almost every day. I rarely take pain meds anymore unless I'm shopping and I know I'll be walking for extended periods of time. I've increased my time to 5 minutes a day and I'm still on #3.