Daily Savings From All You Magazine » Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor

Read The Summer Hideaway with us!

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:24:58 +0000

As you might have seen our book club has started up again and is currently reading The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs. (Don’t have a copy yet? You can pick one up at your local Walmart.)

I’m going to be posting my thoughts on the book here for the next three weeks and hope you’ll join the discussion. I’ll also be drawing questions from our discussion guide. It has some great questions that really make you think—not only about the book but this about life.

This question in particular caught my attention so let’s make it our topic to talk about for this week! (See question after the jump!)

What is your first impression of George Bellamy? Does he remind you of anyone in your life? Can you create a really specific mental picture of your own grandfather? What did his voice and laughter sound like? How did he dress? What were some of his quirks? What did you enjoy doing with him?

My first impression is that George a really loveable, sweet, gentle guy who wants the best for everyone around him. I picture him being just like Arthur, the old man Kate Winslet befriends in the movie the Holiday. (Haven’t seen it? See a clip here).

My grandfather is also loveable, and sweet but can be stoic at times. He’s also a man of few words. He’ll tell you anything you want to know—but you have to do the asking. You can tell my grandpa gets a thrill out of playing with his grandchildren, the youngest of which is only three years old! He’s 85 but he doesn’t act a day over 60. One of my fondest memories is playing hide and go seek with him. My sister and I would shriek with delight when he snuck up on us in our hiding places!

What about you? Who does George remind you of? What is/was your grandfather like?

Check back next week for a new post! The discussion question will be:
Why does Claire feel so vulnerable in a small town like Avalon? What do you suppose was going through George’s head as he revisited the places of his youth? The Sky River Bakery and Camp Kioga in particular were important parts of his past. What emotions do they seem to bring up in the present?

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Congrats to the Reality-Checked Diet winner!

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:09:31 +0000

We’re happy to announce that Tammara Sanchez, 43, of Traverse City, Michigan is the winner of this year’s Reality-Checked Diet! To read all about how the diet worked for her (and to follow the plan yourself!), check out our January issue, which hits Walmart stores on November 20!

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Be in a photo shoot for All You!

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:41:38 +0000

Calling all Reality-Checked Dieters! There are only TWO days left to enter for a chance to win a trip to New York City, where you’ll be in a photo shoot for All You. To enter, e-mail us a recent photo of yourself (one from after you completed the Diet) as well as an essay that details the healthy changes you’ve made throughout the last twelve weeks. We want to hear everything—no change is too small. Are you able to finally squeeze in a couple 10-minute workouts each day? Are you sleeping better thanks to the diet? Have you succeeded in eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day? Tell us about it! Send us your essay and after photo to realitycheckeddiet@allyou.com by 11:59 PM on August 4th, 2009. You don’t want to miss out on a trip to New York City and a chance to be in All You, do you?!

SEE ALSO:
Win a trip to New York City
Slim down with our at-home workouts
Enter to win great prizes, including $25,000!

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Save on prescriptions

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:28:28 +0000

The cost of birth control can really add up, especially if you don’t have insurance. Among the women I know, some spend $10 a pop while others shell out $40 a month for theirs. That’s anywhere from $120 to $480 a year—no small chunk of change! Knowing this inspired me to see if any contraception companies offer coupons. I was surprised to find out that some do:

If you use Nuvaring, you can save up to $60 on four prescriptions at nuvaring.org.

If Yaz is your birth control of choice, you can cut $10 off your bill with this coupon.

If you’re on Seasonique, you can save up to $75 on your monthly pills by filling out a simple form on their website.

Take Ortho Try-Cyclen Lo? Take $5 off your prescription by logging on to at Ortho Offers and Extras.

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Get highlights for less

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:19:04 +0000

In tough times, having your hair done at a pricey (or even moderately priced) salon can be the simplest thing to cut from your expenses list—I know it was for me. During cushier times, I would spend anywhere from $40-$75 on a haircut and up to $150 for highlights (I know, eep!). Recently though, I’ve been able to indulge in chic salon cuts and even highlights for less. What’s my secret? Believe it or not The Aveda Institute, a cosmetology school. Students perform all the services, which, I’ve been surprised to find out hasn’t been half bad. I’ll admit at first I was a little hesitant but have been reassured by the fact that students are required to have one of their teachers OK their work before you leave the salon. The only downside is the time aspect—you’ll need to allow four hours for highlights and at least an hour and a half for a haircut. To me though the savings are worth the extra time—at the salon I go to cuts are $19-$25 and highlights are no more than $75.

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Sip a McDonald’s drink for $1

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:29:23 +0000

Getting your soda fix just got cheaper. McDonald’s is running a super drink deal for the summer — $1 drinks! The deals vary by location (some are offering any size beverage for $1, while others are restricting the promotion to 32-ounce drinks or sweet tea only). Be sure to ask your local chain what they’re offering.

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Get a free root beer float tonight!

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:12:43 +0000

Sonic restaurants are giving away free 10 oz. root beer floats tonight from 8PM to midnight!

SEE ALSO:
June’s freebies & giveaways!

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Get music for free

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:34:32 +0000

I don’t know about you but I love a good live CD, which was why I was thrilled to hear that Coldplay will be giving away a FREE live disc on May 15! To get your copy, all you have to do is log on to coldplay.com and download the tracks. The CD has nine songs on it and includes some of band’s biggest hits, including Viva La Vida, Fix You and Clocks. Mark your calendars!

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50 cents for an iced coffee?

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:10:47 +0000

Yes, that’s right – head to your nearest Dunkin’ Donuts any time today and enjoy an iced coffee for just 50 cents! You can also feel good about getting your caffeine fix: For each 16 oz. iced coffee you buy, Dunkin’ Donuts will donate 10 percent of the money you’ve spent to The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation to support Homes for our Troops. I might have to get more than one!

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Put on your walking shoes

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:32:19 +0000

Walking is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get in shape. If it isn’t already something you do, today is the perfect day to get going – It’s National Start! Walking Day by the American Heart Association and The American Council on Exercise. Best of all if you head to startwalkingnow.org you’ll find FREE downloadable walking programs as well as a log that’ll help you plot and save your walking routes and track your distances.

SEE ALSO:
Lose weight without dieting
Walk off the weight with a custom plan
Work with a personal trainer … for free!
Sign up for the ALL YOU Reality-Checked Diet

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Get away for less

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:30:15 +0000

To me, there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book and losing track of time. And because I’ve been on a money-saving kick recently, this is something I’ve been doing a lot of lately. As soon as I finish what I’m currently reading, I’ll be diving in to our latest book club selection The Inn at Eagle Point, which hits Walmart stores on March 31.

Just like our previous book club selections, we’ll be hosting an online discussion for The Inn at Eagle Point each week on our blog. Come on over on April 3rd to chat about Chapters 1-3. In the meantime, check out some of our other favorite book club blogs.

SEE ALSO:
Join the ALL YOU Book Club

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Work with a trainer … for free!

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:23:31 +0000

If I could, I would love to have a personal training session with Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser. I know she’d give me the butt-kicking workout I need! Since it’s unlikely I’ll be able to afford a one-on-one with her anytime soon, I was excited when I came across the next best thing — free workouts with her on hulu.com. In one to three minute clips (yes, they’re short, another bonus) Jillian shows you how to tone your abs, arms, butt and legs. Get ready to feel the burn!

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Learn a new way to get coupons

Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Health Editor — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:30:22 +0000

One of my friends saves on groceries simply by making a stop in her office’s break room. Really! Her office keeps a “Coupon Drop and Swap” right next to the water cooler. It’s a small box that says “Take One, Leave One,” just like the “Take a Penny, Leave a Penny” tray you see at many convenience stores. I thought it was the greatest idea. Full confession: While I was visiting her for lunch last week, I sneaked a coupon for eggs. (The ones I like to buy have omega-3s in them, which, much to my dismay, cost a little more.) Of course, to keep the exchange going, I gave her a few coupons in return.

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