iTriage Healthcare Medical Reference App

Sometimes I feel like the whole "there's an app for that" thing has gone a little too far. Yes, it's great that there are apps for news, information, entertainment, travel, exercise, games... and that's not even a tiny percentage of the total number of categories, particularly because there are new ones coming out by the truckload.

But as much as there are a large number of apps that end up just taking up time, there are also an incredibly large amount that have made using your iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Palm and Blackberry so much more convenient and helpful.

One such app that is available now on iTunes (free!) is iTriage, the medical reference application for smartphones that was created by Healthagen.

Created by two emergency room physicians after seeing a growing need for patients to have more actionable healthcare information in their hands, iTriage gives people a variety of options right from the start. Whether searching for a doctor, browsing symptoms, injuries or specific diseases (and descriptions of the treatments for them), finding a facility to receive treatment or more, this app breaks it all down in easy-to-read categories.

In short, a few clicks gives you access to:

• information on more than 300 symptoms, 1000 diseases, 350 medical procedures

• a nationwide directory of hospitals, urgent cares, retail clinics, pharmacies and physicians (including detailed quality reports from HealthGrades on the hospitals and physicians)

• turn-by-turn facility directions

• nurse advice lines

• help negotiating medical bills through an iTriage partnership with one of the most respected claims adjudication organizations

• and more!

While iTriage should not be used as a replacement for a consultation with your physician or a trip to the ER, it is an organized, convenient, portable tool to help you figure out what help you might need and where to go to get it.

This app is one that you would hope to not have to use, however, if you experience a sudden health problem, it can provide possible diagnoses and, by using your smartphone's GPS, iTriage can help you find nearby pharmacies, hospitals and other treatment centers. In some states it even gives Emergency Room wait times so that you can choose which one to go to for the quickest service.

Check out iTriage today and know that whether at home or while traveling, you and your family will have helpful healthcare information right in your hand!

(This post is brought to you through a Mom Bloggers Club member program.)

Kenmore Progressive Canister 21614 Vacuum {Review}

Back before we had kids, my husband and I had a dog: a big, lovable, not-too-bright yellow lab that was truly my first baby. And, as many people told me, having a dog was good preparation for having children in the seemingly endless ways that I had to take care of another living being 24 hours a day.

After having kids, I can tell you that they are much more work than having a pet, but indeed there truly are similarities. Aside from the constant need for food and attention, there are the big, big messes that somehow appear any time you turn around. Although it was nonstop hair everywhere when we had a dog, it seems to be food, dust and all over dirt that appears on every surface with kids.

So when it comes to cleaning, the solution to having a clean house (whether with pets or kids or not) is, of course, a high quality vacuum cleaner. But... where to start? There is such a wide range of brands, styles and prices in vacuums that sometimes it's hard to know what makes one different than another.

Well, this one is different. This one is durable, reliable, easy to use, versatile and extremely high quality... and it's from a name that everyone knows and trusts. This is the Kenmore Progressive Canister 21614 from Sears.

Having never used a canister vacuum cleaner before (but I've heard for years from multiple people how great they are), I wasn't sure what to expect when the Kenmore Progressive Canister 21614 arrived. As I opened and unpacked the box, I appreciated that each of the various parts were individually wrapped for protection... and was amazed that there were so many of them.

This picture doesn't even show at least three more attachments that I later discovered tucked away!

With a combination of common sense and a few flips through the helpful manual, it wasn't long before I was marveling at the incredible number of features that Sears included in this vacuum cleaner and just how much of my house it could clean.


Did you catch all that?

From the 6-in-1 Crossover Handle (that can be used with the Combination Brush, Pet Powermate, Crevice Tool, Pet Hair Tool, Floor Brush or Wand) to the Stair Grip to keep the canister securely in place to the Pet PowerMate to the HEPA cloth bags and filtration... there's not much that the Progressive Canister 21614 can't do.

I love the ability to clean my house from floor to ceiling (literally) with all of the tools and attachments right at my fingertips. Each and every time I have pulled this vacuum out it has proven to be reliable, easy to use and it has excellent results. The hose and base swivels smoothly, the wand extends plenty far (and can get in, around and under absolutely everything) and my adoration for the retractable cord is just the icing on the cake.

Sears even added features that I wouldn't have thought of before, like the adjustable suction (which is great for vacuuming along delicate fabrics or throw rugs without damaging or sucking them up) and the belt release button that would have come in handy when, hypothetically, a certain husband might suck up one of our daughter's socks with our previous vacuum and not be able to get it out without having to take the whole thing apart and causing it to forever on make a strange buzzing sound.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Retailing for $359.99, the Kenmore Progressive Canister 21614 vacuum cleaner does cost more than others you'll find out there, but having a clean and allergen-free home seems worth it, doesn't it? Considering the amount of use you will get out of this for years and years to come, it makes much more sense to spend more on one purchase and have its high quality and power last rather than replacing cheap vacuums every so often due to the dirt or pet hair that they leave behind.

Start 2011 off with a clean house! Visit Sears for more information about this amazing vacuum cleaner and definitely keep up with them and the Blue Appliance Crew on Twitter and Facebook for deals, fun contests and more.

(Other than the Kenmore Progressive Canister 21614 vacuum that I was provided by Sears, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this vacuum cleaner and this company and their products.)

Jenlinn.com Quality and Affordable Shoes {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, JamericanSpice and Jan!}

Is liking to shop a gene? One that is more prevalent in some people (i.e. women) than others?

For me, shopping for clothes is something that I enjoy... but, due to being picky about things like fit and style, can end up frustrating. Then there are purses, which are fun to shop for, but the price usually turns me away from the handbag section as a whole.

But then there's shoes. Shoes, shoes, shoes.

My feet always stay the same size and, whether I'm trying on boots, pumps, sandals or more, they always look good. I think I could spend all day in a shoe or department store just browsing all of the stylish options and dreaming about bringing them home with me.

However, that doesn't happen. For one, the footwear section in the stores are often crowded and messy and it's hard to see everything in the chaos that surrounds me. Plus I have to try to keep Big Sister E from trying on all the pairs she can reach, Little Sister B from pulling down pretty much everything and my husband from rolling his eyes in boredom. Not particularly all that enjoyable, really.

To top it all off, there's the price tag. As beautiful and hopefully well-made that shoes can be, not to mention that they can complete an outfit but... how much does that sticker say? No, thanks. I would love to have a whole closet full of shoes but not until there is a better and much more affordable way to find and purchase them.

Which is why I'm thrilled to have been introduced to Jenlinn.com.

A new online shoe store in the world of internet shopping, Jenlinn.com was founded only recently with the idea that by combining high quality, low prices and stellar customer service, women can end up with an overall better shopping experience (and, let me add, some pretty awesome shoes).

Are you heading to a fancy post-New Year's bash anytime soon? Add a little glam with the NINA-1 Women's Toe Heel shoes and you'll be ready to shine no matter what you pair them with. Available in six great colors (the purple is a lot of fun), I'm pretty sure I've seen shoes just like these in the store for around $40 or $50. At Jenlinn, they're $24.99 and look just as hot.

Or, if heels aren't on your list right now (they don't go too well with my sweats or jeans), I'm already drooling over the great sandals that Jenlinn.com has to offer. I know, I know, it's January and there is snow everywhere, but the Flat T-Strap Women Gladiator Sandal LENA-8 are just so cute! And with eight different colors and a retail price of only $25, I'd love to be ready for spring with this great fashion statement!

However, what this season is really calling for? Boots. Everywhere I turn, I see all shades, designs and lengths of boots that are not only completely in style, but also very practical for the cold. Jenlinn has more than just one category for boots, they have them broken down for easy browsing by Ankle Boots, Mid-Calf Boots, Knee High Boots and Thigh High Boots. That's a lot of boots!

After going over and over (and over) the options, I finally decided on the JENNIFER-5 Women Suede Upper Low Top Boots in Grey and was pleased at how easy it was to create an account on Jennlin.com and that I was sent an immediate email confirmation of my order.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that those are such cute boots, it wasn't long before I was informed they were out of stock in my size. But, what I really appreciated, was that Jenlinn didn't just tell me that, they also suggested a pair that was extremely similar and were definitely available. Now that's helpful service!

And, when the KITTY-3 Women Suede Upper Boot in Grey arrived, I was just as happy with how fashionable and stylish they are.

The synthetic suede is smooth and soft, the man-made lining slides on easily and the small ¾" heel is just enough that it gives a tiny lift while still being extremely comfortable. I wasn't sure on what I would think of the adjustable buckle, but, after seeing these in person and wearing them around, I'm happy with it. It gives the boots a little extra pizazz!

After having worn these around quite a bit, I love them! They're just the thing to pull on when I want something more than tennis shoes yet don't want more of a dressy-type of boot with heels. Plus, they're extremely comfortable so it's a win-win situation all around!

So, whether you're looking for a great pair of boots to get through the winter or a new pair of wedges so that you'll be prepared as soon as spring arrives, Jenlinn.com has them at the right price and, even better, they're backed by their 100% satisfaction guarantee - you'll love your new shoes or you get your money back. Simple as that!

How are your feet looking this season? No matter what color or height boots you choose at Jenlinn and what you pair them with, you will look chic and fashionable and ready for whatever cold weather Mother Nature throws at you. Thanks to their generosity, two people will be prepared to beat the chilly temperatures with either color of a pair of hot boots, because...

Two lucky people will win a $15 gift certificate to Jenlinn.com AND a pair of FILE-5 Women's Suede Buckle Ankle Boots in their choice of grey or black*! Total ARV $38.99!

*If the winners' colors and/or size selection is out of stock, they will be able to choose any other pair of shoes of equal or lesser value on Jenlinn.com as a replacement or receive store credit for the amount of the boots.

To enter to win: Visit Jenlinn.com and tell me which of their huge selection of shoes is your favorite.

(This is only the first of many giveaways from Jenlinn.com and future prizes will be selected from which shoes are named as the favorites - so make sure to pick out ones that you really love because you might have the chance to win that style in one of the upcoming giveaways!)

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Jenlinn.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for their email list to receive exclusive deals and coupons as well as be entered to win their monthly shoe giveaways! (You can put Xenia@thanksmailcarrier.com as the referral email to let them know you found out about them here, although I'm not entered for their drawings)
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

2 winners! WIN a $15 gift certificate + Black or Grey Suede Ankle Boots from Jenlinn! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/eJURvX #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Jenlinn.com. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 28th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winners. The winners will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (no P.O. boxes) and the winners will be required to create an account on Jenlinn.com in order to redeem their prize.

A big thank you to Jenlinn.com for providing a pair of boots for me to review as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Nutrisystem {Week 1}

I have to admit something: Last week I was pretty skeptical.

I was beyond thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of the Nutrisystem Nation, but I still had the tiny voice in the back of my head yelling at me that it wasn't going to work or that the food would taste terrible or, most loudly, that it didn't matter that the food was right there for me, I was still going to cheat and end up failing.

It's hard to get all those thoughts from years of diets that do fail out of your head, isn't it?

But last Monday I sat down to my breakfast of a Nutrisystem Chocolate Chip Scone, an orange and a glass of milk and discovered... yum.

Definitely putting more of the Chocolate Chip Scones on next month's food order, they're delicious toasted. Ooh, and the Apple Strudel ones are amazing, too!

I finished my delicious breakfast and found that I wasn't hungry. And, as I recorded what I ate in my handy Meal Planner book, I stopped, sat back and looked at it. I can do this.

I can do this.

And suddenly the rest of the day didn't seem as daunting. Or the rest of the week or the rest of the month.

As last week went on, I continued to tell myself that and found that it helped when I was faced with tempting situations. When the girls and I went to a 6-year-old's birthday party and there was a spread with chips, cookies and cupcakes, I repeated it's not worth it, it's not worth it over and over in my mind and was so beyond proud of myself for sticking with only the bowl of veggies.

When my husband and I took the kids to a New Year's Eve celebration that our city held, they snacked on sandwiches and brownies and hot chocolate... and I packed and brought a salad.

And was proud of myself once again.

So. Week 1 down, Week 2 underway. After 7 days I've found that Nutrisystem's food tastes much better than I had worried that it might. Instead of dreading the meals, I'm excited that I have someone cooking something tasty for me! I've also discovered that I wasn't drinking nearly enough water before but, now that I am, I don't think I've gone to the bathroom this many times in a day since I was pregnant. But, hey! It's good for me!

And, the big question...

Starting weight: Blech. Too much.
Week 1: -3 lbs

I'll take it! That's 3 pounds gone without having to change my lifestyle at all. I didn't add any exercise (although I know that I really should), I didn't take any crazy diet pills and I didn't starve myself, I simply ate healthy portions of tasty food. I can't complain about that!

With 2011 here, there's no better time to make a change for the better in your life. Visit Nutrisystem to learn more about how their programs can make a difference for you. Even better, they've just started a new campaign that you don't want to miss:

Hooray You! The Nutrisystem "New You Revolution" is aiming to empower and celebrate the success of its members and is making Nutrisystem weight loss programs more accessible to a wider audience than ever before. The number one home delivery weight loss company has announced that its programs will now incorporate its highest scoring, best tasting frozen gourmet foods into all of its weight loss plans at the lowest price in the company's history.

The new Nutrisystem 28-day program will now include one-third frozen foods and two-thirds of pantry foods. Additionally, the program previously cost $399 per month and it will now cost $299, including an additional free week of pantry foods, a gourmet money back guarantee and free shipping.

Nutrisystem Select will offer gourmet, fresh frozen cuisine to every customer, delivered right to their doorstep. As part of the revamp of its food programs, Nutrisystem is also adding new items to its menu, including: Garden Vegetable Omelet, Margherita Pizza, Roasted Vegetable Pizza, Asian Style Beef, Roasted Turkey Medallions and Orange Crème Bar.

The new Nutrisystem Select program will also include:

• Free 24-hour, seven days a week phone access to nutrition support and counseling from the Nutrisystem team of registered dietitians as well as weight loss counselors

• Free membership and access to online tools, tips and community support on Nutrisystem.com

• Savings of hundreds of dollars compared to other weight loss programs

• New: Gourmet Guarantee stating that you get your money back if you're not completely satisfied

• New: First seven days free

• New: Transition plans to help you keep on track after reaching your goal weight

• Available for Women, Men, Silver and people with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight via Nutrisystem D

• Nutrisystem is delivered right to the customer's door and free shipping is included with Auto Delivery - there are never any center visits or calorie or carb counting required

The New Nutrisystem Select Plan, available only in the Continental U.S., can be purchased by calling the Nutrisystem hotline at 1-800-891-3215 or by logging onto Nutrisystem online. You also don't want to miss Nutrisystem's YouTube channel and their great spots for 2011!

As a member of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program, Nutrisystem is providing their food and program to me to review. However, all thoughts, opinions and results expressed are completely and honestly mine; your experience or feelings may differ.