The return of...? HotPants! #hotinhotpants {review}

I'm a Baby Boomer. And I remember the hot pants craze very well. We all wore them. The shorter the better. Of course we were much younger then. I'd feel absolutely naked (and.. er.. embarrassed) wearing them now.

So imagine my surprise when I was given the chance to try out a pair of... HotPants!

No, these aren't the shorty-shorts of decades ago (has it really been that long??). These HotPants are exercise shorts that are supposed to help you drop two jeans sizes in about 2 weeks.

Oh yeah. I'm so in.

If you're a regular blog reader, I bet you've already seen several reviews of HotPants. I have been reading the other reviewers' reports to see if their experiences paralleled mine, and they pretty much did.

The thing is, when a product review blogger is sent a product to review, it is expected that the item will be used fairly immediately and written about as soon as possible. But when a product like this requires constant use for two weeks up to two months to see any noticeable effects, that's kind of hard to do.

So I can't really say whether HotPants work as advertised or not, because I haven't been using them long enough. Their website has all kinds of testimonials from women from all walks of life who swear by HotPants. I'll have to take their word for it, at least for now. In another month or two, maybe I'll have some spectacular results of my own to share!

But I can at least tell you about this product, can't I? After all, the holiday season is nearly upon us and that means parties and get-togethers, and that means fancy clothes that we probably haven't worn since last year.

Ahhh... and what if those clothes no longer fit? Do I really have time to rush out and shop for a new little black dress, with the chaos of consumer Christmas shopping in full swing?

Not me. I'm betting that by Christmas, if I've used my new HotPants faithfully until then, I'll still be able to slip comfortably into anything in my closet, with room to spare for all the inevitable goodies I know will be tempting me whichever way I turn!

HotPants are definitely not as short as the old hot pants. They are more like Bermuda shorts. Mine come to just above my knee, and hit right at my waist. They are made of a soft neoprene-like material, kinda like a scuba wetsuit, that stretches to fit.

But there's more. HotPants are specially engineered using Celu-Lite technology, which reflects back the heat naturally generated by the body to promote deeper warming of tissues, leading to higher levels of perspiration and therefore breaking down fat and toxins that contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

This is the same principle used in spas to reduce the appearance of cellulite. But you can do this in the comfort - and privacy - of your own home. HotPants are most effective when used while exercising and working out, but can be worn any time, while doing housework or running errands, or even while sleeping.

Hmm... waking up to reduced cellulite? That sounds good to me!

Like I said, I haven't used them long enough to see real results, but they definitely increase warmth and sweating and blood flow. My tummy feels more controlled and flatter, and my "Thunder Thighs" look much sleeker while wearing them. So I am optimistic about results.

HotPants are all the rage in Europe, and now they are available in the USA too. If you've got a lot of parties planned for the holidays and want to look your best, you've still got time to grab a pair and use them for two or three weeks and see what kind of results you get.

I'm positive that at the very least clothes will fit more smoothly with less unsightly bulges. And who wouldn't be happy with that? :)

{Disclosure: I received a pair of HotPants to facilitate my review. No monetary consideration was involved and my opinions are my own.}

Shady Lady recommends... Pump Gloves {review}

It happens every year.

You've whittled down your gift buying list to a manageable size, and you know exactly what you're going to get for the people left on the list.

Except one...

Maybe she's a co-worker whom you don't know all that well, so it's hard to "personalize" a gift.

Maybe she's a mother-in-law who is hard to please (no offense to mothers-in-law!).

Maybe she's a wealthy relative who already has everything -- and I mean everything.

Maybe she's a mail carrier, delivery person, babysitter, hairdresser, teacher, Secret Pal, helpful neighbor...

No matter who she is, chances are she pumps her own gas.

Take a look around next time you're out driving. How many full-service stations are there anymore? Not many. Most gas stations are self-service now.

We all know what it's like to pump gas in cold weather. The metal of the nozzle can be ice-cold! Not to mention standing there in freezing temperatures while pumping gas.

A recent new law eliminated the little "auto-flow" latch bar that would allow you to keep the pump going while you let go of the handle. Which means that you must keep your hand on it to pump your gas into your vehicle.

Ever think about the millions of germs on those handles? Me either, until I heard about a great new product called Pump Gloves designed specifically for women who pump their own gas.

Pump Pure, Pretty and Protected.

You might wear your winter gloves to pump gas when the weather is cold. But they are usually bulky, right? Not to mention you've still touched millions of germs with those gloves, and now you're transferring those germs to your wallet, purse, steering wheel, face...

Yuck.

Pump Gloves are designed to be used not only for pumping gas but doing other things around your car, like a self-service car wash or drive-up ATM for instance. They come in their own zip-lock bag which stores easily in your car's glove compartment. You put them on to pump gas and you take them off and put them away in their own bag when finished.

Your hands never touch the pump handle. And they are thin enough for pressing any electronic buttons you need to press on the pump itself (unlike heavy winter gloves which usually must be removed for that!).

Bottom line? Pump Gloves make the perfect gift for any woman on your gift list, but especially for those who seem to have everything and are hard to find gifts for. I bet they don't have a pair of Pump Gloves in their glove box!

Pump Gloves add Comfort, Class and Style to Pumping Gas. Available in Classic Black or Light Gray, the gloves are machine washable and one size fits all. And at only $14.95 pair, they are also affordable for everyone on your gift list.

Pump Gloves are...

• Smart, Safe and Stylish
• Protective Gloves for Pumping Gasoline
• Available in Classic Black or Light Gray
• Designed to protect a woman's hands and manicure
• Add comfort and class to pumping gas
• Handy vinyl storage bag for car’s glove compartment
• Ultra comfort nylon spandex fabric with grip-tight palm
• One size fits all
• Handy where washing hands isn't
• Nurturing for the nurturer in women
• Flattering, form fitting, fashionable, functional
• Designer multipurpose gloves
• Handy around the house
• Machine washable
• Leatherless
• A great gift

Ideal For...

• Gas station pumps
• ATM machines
• Work around the car
• Protection against sun damage
• Light weight warmth in cool weather
• Exclusive use as comfortable driving gloves
• Protection from gas, grease, grime, and germs
• Protection from filthy public places such as subways, planes, trains, and automobiles
• Stylish travel gloves

I'm always on the lookout for great new products that fulfill a need, and Pump Gloves fit that description perfectly! Shady Lady recommends Pump Gloves for any woman on your gift list!

{Disclosure: I received Pump Gloves to facilitate this review. No monetary consideration was involved and my opinions are my own.}

New Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Varieties! {review}

I love popcorn. No, seriously, I LOVE popcorn! I eat it at least twice a week. And nobody makes microwave popcorn like Orville Redenbacher!

So I was excited to hear about some new varieties soon to hit stores. My favorite is of course extra butter (yum!!) but now and then I'll grab a bag of pre-popped cheese popcorn or white cheddar popcorn. My second favorite popcorn aside from Orville Redenbacher!

Well, guess what? Okay, I won't keep you guessing... the news is that Orville Redenbacher's new varieties are going to be White Cheddar, Extra Cheese, and Sea Salt & Vinegar.

Can you say delicious???

I couldn't wait to toss my sample of White Cheddar in the microwave and check out the wonderful new flavor. It popped up just perfectly - there wasn't one single unpopped kernel - how unusual is that?! - and I didn't even notice a lot of husks. Orville Redenbacher is simply the ultimate in microwave popcorn!

The popcorn was plain, no added flavor or salt or anything. The white cheddar topping came in a separate little package, so you can add as much or as little as you like.

I, of course, used the whole package of white cheddar. :)

And it was too much. The white cheddar clings to the plain popcorn very nicely and really isn't as messy as most bagged cheese popcorns. But using the whole package made the popcorn too salty for my taste.

And I love salt. So if I say it was too salty, it was definitely too salty. You will want to experiment to find the right amount for you and your family, and DON'T add any extra salt. You won't need it, I promise.

In fact, that one little packet of white cheddar was so intense with flavor (and salt) that I could have used half of it, and saved the other half for another serving of plain popcorn later.

So if you pick up a box of Orville Redenbacher White Cheddar, you might also want to grab a box of Orville Redenbacher plain microwave popcorn as well, so that you can get DOUBLE the amount of white cheddar popcorn!

I don't know if this holds true for the Extra Cheese or the Sea Salt & Vinegar varieties (since I didn't get to sample them) but my guess is that it does. You'll just have to try them for yourself. I can't wait until they hit my grocery shelves!

{Disclaimer: I was provided a bag of Orville Redenbacher White Cheddar microwave popcorn gratis to facilitate this review. No monetary consideration was involved and my opinions are my own.}