Monthly Archives: November 2008
For many, this is a financially difficult holiday so I am proposing that we all gift “mindfully”. Pick gifts that your loved ones can really put to use – something that fits their lifestyle, ability, or hobby.
When they open it, it will be obvious that you had them in mind when you chose their special present. And your gift will be especially appreciated if it improves their health, comfort, independence or mobility.
So grab your list and see if you can fit each person into a category below. You’ll be well on your way to choosing the perfect gift.
Shop for everyone – fitness buffs, kids, skiers, snorers, active teens, diabetics, new mom’s, seniors, wheelchair users and more!
Aging Seniors
UpEasy Lifting Cushion
Card Player Card Holders
3-Wheel Drive Hawk Scooter
Car Caddie Helping Hand
Suction Cup Grab Bars
Folding Shopping Cart
Tek Pal Large Button TV Remote
Light Relief – Light Therapy
Teak Spa Shower Chair
Portable Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
See all Daily Living Aids
Diabetics
AccelWell Travel Pouch
Paraffin Heat System
Medi-Fridge Micro Fridge
Diabetic Crew Socks
Awesome Diabetic Shoes
See all Diabetic Supplies
Fitness Gurus & Athletes
X2 Vest Weighted Walking Vest – 12 lb
Lex Loops Exercise Band
Heart Rate Monitor
Complete Yoga Kit with Travel Bag
3300P Body Gym Elite Pilates Trainer
ProStretch Lower Leg Stretching System
Power Wheel II Core Trainer
Perfect Pushup
Bodyblade Classic Kit Fitness Trainer
Doorway Pull Up Bar
Personal PowerBlock Dumbbell Set
iJoy Ride by Human Touch
Mini Stepper Exerciser
BOSU Sport Balance Trainer
See all Exercise/Fitness
Gardeners
Easi-Grip Gardening Set
Gardener’s Easy-Up Kneeler and Seat
Easi-Grip Long Reach Gardening Set
See all Yard Equipment
Golfers
Power Swing Trainer Golf Gym
Superfeet Black Insoles for Golf Shoes
Bionic Golf Glove
Wobble Board Balance Trainer
Hotties
Chillow Pillow Cooling Sensation Pillow
ChillowPlus
Cool Care Comfort System Chillow Pak
Kids
Indo Board Balance Board
TRIKKE T5 for Kids
Hop Balls
Pink Lady Pedal Car
Police Pedal Car
Radio Flyer Little Red Scooter
See all Gifts for Kids
New Parents and Moms-to-Be
Bounce-a-Bye Baby Ball
InStep Quick N’ Ez Bike Trailer
Safari Jogging Stroller
Comfort Body Pillow
Magentic Safety Magnet – Emergency Memo Board‘
See all Maternity Care
Pampered
Deep Kneading Rechargeable Hand Held Massager
Ultra Soft Plush Massaging Slippers for Women
Spacells Facial Sponge
HydraGel Infrared Massager
Alpaca Fur Fuzzy Slippers
Alpaca Fur Blanket
Alpaca Fur Pillow
Supracor St. Tropez Massage Sandals
iJoy 130 Robotic Massage Chair
Stimulite Bath Mitt
Stimulite Bath Pillow
Thermal Spa Bath Mat Massage Pad
Superfeet Berry Insoles for Women
Original Backnobber
Hand-Held Shower Massager
Soapy Soles Elite 3-in-1 Foot Care System
Spa Petite Personal Paraffin Wax Bath
Eye Pillow with ergoBeads
See all Pamper Products
Pets
Infrared Therapeutic Pet Bed
Canine Cooler Dog & Pet Bed
Singles
The Boyfriend Pillow
Skaters/Surfers/SnowBoarders
iJoy Board Electric Balance Trainer
Fitball Balance Disc
Indo Board Balance Board
Superfeet Performance Green Insoles
Skiiers
Trikke Skki
Superfeet Performance Green Insoles
Superfeet Wintergreen Insoles for Skiing, Snowboarding & Hiking
Wobble Board Balance Trainer
Hand Warmers
Peel-n-Stick Body Warmers
Snorers
The Snore Wizard
Better Sleep Pillow – Side Sleeper
Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock w/Bed Shaker
Snore-No-More Anti Snoring Pillow
See all Snoring Products
Sweetie Pies
Heart-Shaped Digital Picture Keychain
Sonic Boom Sweetheart Alarm Clock
Alpaca Fur Teddy Bear
Alpaca Fur Fuzzy Slippers
Alpaca Fur Blanke
Teens
Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock w/Bed Shaker
TRIKKE Convertible
Doorway Pull Up Bar
Vew-Do Balance Board
Indo Board Balance Board
Travelers
Personal Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer
Traveller Deluxe Neck Pillow
Aqua Bell Travel Weight ComboSet
Traveling Bed Rail
Portable Vibrating Travel Alarm Clock
Visually Challenged
Large Button TV Remote Control
Deluxe Framed Page Magnifier
Low Vision Watch
Jumbo Buttons Speakerphone
See all Low Vision Products
Wheelchair and Walker Users
Beverage Holders
Sheepskin Arm Rests
Sheepskin Seat Pad
Packs and Pouches
Wheelchair Desks
See all Wheelchair Accessories
See all Walker Accessories
I hope this helps you pick the perfect Christmas gift from AllegroMedical.com. See our entire Gift Ideas Category for more ideas and to shop by price range. Feel free to add a comment about the list and suggest other products and “types”. We love to hear from you.
A Verry Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone from your Allegro Family. We appreciate your business and your referrals.
-v
Travel doesn’t have to be impossibly expensive. Here are a few of my personal travel tips to make your trips a whole lot more affordable.
1. Use Point Programs. We only use credit cards that earn points towards hotel stays and
flights. We use them for EVERYTHING including groceries, car payments, utility bills – things you wouldn’t normally pay with a credit card. And we pay the bill completely, every month, so there is no interest charged. You would be surprised how fast you can earn free flights when everything goes on the card. It helps your credit score too. Remember, you have to pay off the card(s) every month or the interest will kill you.
2. Bring your own food. We eat at least 1 meal a day from our day pack. It saves us money, calories and time. Throw in some apples, dried fruit, string cheese, granola or trail mix, protein bars and dark chocolate for a meal or snack in the car, on the plane, on a city tour or in your hotel room. We also like to gather yummy morsels at Farmers Markets for a picnic on the train or in the park. These are great places to pick up good bread, fruit, cheese, organic tomatoes, & wine. We also almost always split meals and appetizers, at home and away.
3. Travel light. Learn to pack well so you don’t have to pay extra for checked luggage. If you’re anything like my mother you may need some practice. Pack everything you think you need first and then remove half of it. I got by with just a carry-on for several weeks in Europe by doing laundry here and there. The trick is to mix & match, wear one color scheme, alternate between 2 pairs of shoes. Get ‘travel clothes’ that don’t wrinkle and resist dirt & sweat. If you can’t pack light, invest in some compressor sacs that squish things down so you can pack more in a smaller bag.
4. Pool Resources. Sometimes we travel with other couples or families and rent a big house
in the woods or on the beach. Then, we cook meals instead of going out and we do low
cost activities like play games, hike, etc. Let your social network (myspace, facebook) know where you’ll be and see if any of your friends want to join you to split the costs.
5. Swap houses. Wish you could take the family to London for Christmas? You can afford it if you swap houses. Google ‘House Swapping’ to see how it’s done.
6. Get a free hotel room upgrade. At the very least, when checking in ask for a better room, a bigger room or a better view. I just got a lakeview room upgrade at the Bellagio in Las Vegas last weekend, just for asking nicely. Sometimes, if I see a bad review of a hotel that we will be staying at, I email a link to the review to the manager and I let them know that we’re on our way and we’re hoping that
we don’t have problems “like this”. It’s amazing how the service level goes up. We were once upgraded from a standard room to a $1000/night suite in Hawaii, simply because I alerted the manager to some unflattering reviews of their hotel. Following our stay we sent a beautiful basket of Arizona goodies
to the staff and made friends for life.
7. Camp Out. Have an adventure! It saves you money plus you get closer to nature . . . and each other. Consider camping on the beach.
8. Head South of the Border. We’re taking our vacations at the beach in Mexico – a 3 1/2 hour
drive from Phoenix to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point). For a fraction of the price of a hotel room in the States you can rent a 1500 sq. ft. 2
bd/2ba condo on Sandy Beach, right on the water, complete with a full kitchen, washer/dryer, restaurants, swim-up bar, tennis courts, water
sports, etc.
9. Travel in the off season. We’ve even gone on a cruise during hurricane season. Besides, high season (usually the summer months) is the worst time to be just about anywhere because of the crowds, heat and high prices.
10. Stay Close to Home. Arizona summers are “off season” and the local resorts deeply discount their rates or give credits toward food and entertainment. Many families take their kids to the resorts that have water parks and water slides and they just hang out at the pool all weekend. You can also explore your home state by car and save on airfare. Take day trips or camp to save on hotels.
11. Get up to 1/2 off Hotel Rooms. We use www.priceline.com when the hotel chain doesn’t matter to us. You don’t get to pick your exact hotel before committing to the room, but you can narrow your choice to a certain area and designate a minimum star rating. We recently used Priceline to find a hotel in San Diego, in the Gaslamp area, and we saved $110 per night.
12. Shop the Web and book early. Bargains are
everywhere if you take the time to look. I check www.tripadvisor.com to
read unbiased reviews before booking. Tripadvisor also has a tool that checks a handful of major booking
sites like Orbitz & Expedia, allowing you to compare prices without going to each site individually. Also check the lesser known travel booking sites, like
www.bookit.com. If you’re using travel points you might have to book several months in advance to get the room or a seat on the plane.
13. Consider a Cruise. You can almost always find cruises at discounted prices if you don’t book through the cruise line themselves. We got much lower prices on an upcoming Disney cruise by going through a cruise broker online. We use www.cruise.com and www.cruises.com but there are a lot of them. Also, if you can go last minute, there are always great deals. When cruising, try to wait until you get to your destination to do your off-shore excursions. They are much less expensive. Airport transfers to and from the ship are cheaper if you book it yourself. Bring your own bottled water. Bring your own booze if they let you. Ask for a cabin upgrade. Ask your travel agent for shipboard credits. Sign up for the “club”.
14. Take advantage of time share promotions. Just don’t be roped into buying one unless that is your intention. Sit through the presentation, be strong enough to walk away from the hard sell, and be rewarded with a nearly free vacation or lots of spa/meal/drink credits.
15. Be spontaneous and book late. Sign up with your favorite travel sites to receive notification of last minute travel bargains.
Bon Voyage!
Travel safe and comfortable with Allegro’s Top Travel Gear.
On the road, in the air, or when you arrive, these popular travel products can make your holiday or winter travel a little easier. They also make great gifts!
Travel Easy
Travel Fit
Travel Smart
Travel Safe
Travel Well
Travel Kids
The Allegro family wishes you safe and comfortable travel this holiday season. And, as always, we thank you for your business.
Want to save some money on your next family vacation? Check out these 15 Money-Saving Travel Tips.
A flu vaccination is still the best way to guard against the flu but some people should get it and some shouldn’t. If your defenses are low, the CDC highly recommends you get the shot.
Who Should Get Vaccinated
Children between 6 months and 5 years old
Women who will be pregnant during flu season
People over 50
Anyone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, heart problems or blood disorders
Anyone with a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS, long-term steroid treatment, or cancer treatment with X-rays or drugs
Residents of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes
Those who work in health care, take care of elderly people or care for children up to 5 years old should also get the shot. If you have a medical condition that could cause higher risks from the flu, then you should get one too.
Everyone else needs to just assess their situation and decide. If you work in the community, live in a dorm, travel to the Southern Hemisphere between April & September or anytime to the tropics or anywhere with tour groups, then you might consider it. Anyone who wants to reduce the chances of catching or spreading the flu – go ahead and get one unless you fall into the “don’t get a shot group”.
Don’t Get Vaccinated If:
You have any life threatening allergies
You have a severe egg allergy (the vaccine is grown in eggs)
You have ever had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (actually, you may be able to get one but ask your doctor first)
You are ill at the time the vaccine is administered
Even if you get the shot, it is not 100% effective, nor does it work against all flu strains. The vaccine researchers just don’t know what kind of bug will show up every year despite their best forecasts. Only about 1/3 of the population even get the shot.
Whether you get vaccinated or not, everyone should try to avoid spreading germs. Here are 10 Easy Ways to Prevent Colds & Flu and some Cold & Flu Essentials to give you a fighting chance.
Take care.
-v
These really are easy things to do, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t. If you’re one of them, don’t come crying to me when you get the sniffles.
I know germs are hard to avoid even in the best circumstances, especially if you . . . um . . . live on earth . . . with people. But hey, we can all give it our best effort. Sure we can. Spread the love and teach your darling little germ lockers to keep their germs from roaming too.
1. Wash your hands well and often – not OCD often, but you know what I mean. Enough to get rid of the germs. And try to avoid touching things in public places, like door handles. I am getting really good at not holding onto the banisters in public stairways and escalators. Not that you should try that. I’m just sayin’…
2. Don’t touch people who are sick. That means you can’t kiss them either. No butterfly kisses or Eskimo kisses either. Air kisses are fine, just don’t get too close and maybe hold your breath. Colds and viruses are passed most commonly through the hands, and through rubbing the eyes, nose and mouth. If you’ve been around people, especially sick ones, try not to touch yourself unless your hands are clean.
3. Clean your house. I know, it’s gross, but just do it. Or get someone else to do it. Be sure to tell them to clean surfaces like doorknobs, handles and stairway handrails. And tell them to not sneeze all over the place.
4. Stop eating crap. Eat your greens. Drink lots of water. A well balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will boost your immune system and water helps you function better.
5. Exercise every… single (yes, that’s what I said)… day. You don’t have to go all crazy like you’re training for a marathon but just do something every day. Make it fun! Wooppee! Seriously, moderate daily exercise is a huge part of overall health, and will help your immune system fight illness.
6. Take vitamin supplements. Every morning I take a multivitamin with antioxidants, calcium, fiber tablets, Holy Basil (reduces stress & cortisol) and Glucosamine w/Chondroitin. I’m not sure how they work, but I’m convinced they keep my immune system strong. They say that taking Zinc and Vitamin C helps too.
7. Consider getting a flu shot. I got one once but only because I was standing where they were giving them for free. Regardless, it’s still our best weapon against the flu. Who needs a flu shot and who doesn’t?
8. Always get at least 8 hours of sleep. Whatever you’re doing instead of sleeping isn’t more important, I guarantee it. On the other hand, if you’re sleeping, like, 10 hours every night then you need to get a life. Staying rested and relaxed will lower your risk of getting sick. If you feel a cold coming on, stay home. If you have to go out, do us all a favor and cover your mouth when you sneeze and don’t touch anyone or anything… and don’t breathe either. On second thought, don’t go out.
9. Reduce your stress and I promise your immune system will improve. Here are 15 Stress Tips that Could Save your Life.
10. Even if you don’t get sick, chances are someone you live with will. Avoid the midnight run and stock up on a few Cold & Flu Essentials
We care about you. Thanks for your business. Now, go do some jumping jacks, drink a glass of water, eat a piece of fruit and wash your hands. Go on, git.
Stock up on everything you need to go to battle with colds and flu this season.
Allegro has every type of vitamin C you can imagine, including 250, 500 and 1000 milligram tablets, capsules, chewable tablets, liquid and drink mix for fast absorption. Check out the super popular Emer’gen-C Packets.
And, get your zinc here! Zinc is found to assist the immune system in fighting off illness. Echinacea is an herbal supplement that can stimulate immune system responses. It is also thought that the combination of echinacea and goldenseal can help relieve the symptoms and reduce the duration of the flu and the common cold. A good multi-vitamin can give your body’s defenses the kick they need to ward off colds.
Keep the air in your home clean and pure with an air purifier. Choose from several manufacturers offering filter based and ionic purifying, for many room sizes. Cleans smoke, pet dander, dust and even bacteria from the air.
When the weather turns cold and we turn on the heat in our homes, the dry air can affect our health. To prevent dry skin, cracked lips, itchy eyes, sore throat and even sinus headaches, a humidifier adds much needed moisture to the air. You can also go for a humidifier and ionic purifier all in one!
And, keep hand sanitizers handy, to kill the germs and bacteria that spread cold and flu. Supersize your efforts with Viraguard hand wipes and disinfectants.
If the flu does catch you, sooth your aches and pains with moist heat. Allegro has every type of heat wrap you can imagine. Moist heat packs have been the chosen treatment for thousands of doctors for years! It penetrates deep into tissues to relieve soreness, and make aching muscles feel better. Comes in several shapes and sizes for different parts of the body.
And, for the latest in pain relief, Light Relief Infrared Therapy offers another drug-free alternative. Infrared light therapy works by emitting energy in the infrared spectrum to provide temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, to relieve stiffness, relax muscle tissue and temporarily increase local blood circulation.
Keep an eye on illness with a new thermometer. Choose from ear, underarm, oral, rectal and disposable thermometers with digital or standard display. Take your baby’s temperature the easy way, with a pacifier thermometer. It only takes a minute and a half, and even beeps when the fever is high.
For flu symptoms and painful congestion, pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin can help.
Stuck in bed? Make yourself comfortable! A new specialty pillow may be just what you need. Allegro has contour pillows, the latest in head and neck positioners, and cervical pillows. And, to chill out a fever and bring relief to your achy head, try the Chillow Pillow. Activate it once and it brings a fluid-cool sensation every time you lay on it. You will not know how you got along without your Chillow Pillow. I have one and I love it.
Avoid midnight trips to the store this cold and flu season. Stock up on everything you need to make your family healthy and happy in Allegro’s Cold & Flu Season Category.
Get a laugh and some good advice with these 10 Easy Ways to Prevent Colds & Flu.
And last but not least, Do You Need a Flu Shot?
Co-Owner Valerie Paxton and Director of Product Management Dave Williams of AllegroMedical.com are featured in this major television news story on Fox Channel 10 News in Phoenix on November 5th. The story is about Breast Cancer Awareness, where the donations go and the affect of pink products. See Dave Williams’ wife April’s moving account of her fight against breast cancer. I’m not sure how long the link will last, so catch it while you can!
Is Buying Pink Making a Difference?
Thanks to all of you who promote PINK. Every bit of awareness helps. Keep in mind that donations from the sale of Allegro’s Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Shower Chair and Pink 4 Wheeled Rollator go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need.
As always, we appreciate your support and your business. Have a great day!
-v