Going to the store is somthing that needs to be done, but it does not need to be a challenge or difficult. These days stores are now trying to court older shoppers with all sorts of offers and gimmicks as well as ways to promote healthier eating for seniors and others. I think the hardest thing is getting the groceries home from the grocery store. That is why Folding Shopping Carts are the greatest thing for making shopping easy. Light weight Folding Wire Shopping Baskets and Carts are the way to bring your items back from the store. If portability is what you are looking for in a wheeled grocery cart then I reccomend the Transit Cart folding shopping cart. The Transit Cart folds up like an umbrella stroller and is water resistant and easy to care for. If you need to take a break or have a seat while you are waiting for the bus then the Shopping Cart With Fold Down Seat is what you are looking for. This tubular steel frame wheeled grocery cart is weighs just 8.8lbs. And if you are looking for a hybrid walker and shopping cart then the Market Mate is a great way to get around the Shopping Mall or Farmer`s Market.

No matter what you are looking for ActiveandAble.com is the place to find great values on all kinds of Folding Shopping Carts and Wheeled Grocery Carts.

www.specialtystoreservices.com: shopping baskets, security mirrors, door chimes and retail supplies

www.pawschoice.com: solid gold, eagle pak, artemis, evangers, azmira

So much for my New Year’s resolution to write a blog update every week. Here we are the 3rd week of 2009 and I have already blown it! There are many ways to help yourself stop breaking your New Years Resolutions. Some of the most popular resolutions are: Lose Weight, Manage Debt, Save Money, Get a Better Job, Get Fit, Eat Right, Get a Better Education, Drink Less Alcohol, Quit Smoking Now, Reduce Stress Overall, Reduce Stress at Work, Take a Trip, Volunteer to Help Others. Active and Able has a lot of helpful and innovative items to help you keep your resolutions.

To help you get fit we now carry the Chi Swing Master helps you get a full body workout and relieve stress while laying on your back. Sounds too good to be true! Believe me, it works. While we cannot help you get a better job we can help you with those heavy hardcover books that tire out your arms with the Book Mate book holder. The Book Mate holds books or magazines in an open position while sitting in bed, chair or at a table. A great way to save money is to eat at home more. If you have a hard time opening cans we now carry the One-Touch Can opener. I have one at home now and it makes opening cans fun. Just place the opener on top of the can and with a touch of a button the opener automatically opens the can.

Don’t give up on your New Years resolutions. You can do it, even if you need a little help from your friends here at Active and Able.

And if your pet’s new years resolution was to loose weight check out www.pawschoice.com for a complete selection of healthy and natural pet foods such as Orijen, Tiki Cat, Solid Gold and many more.

There is nothing worse than trying to go to sleep and having back or leg pain. A lot of people have back pain and there are many different reasons and cures for that pain. There are many people who have found relief from the use of therapeutic pillows and cushions. The two-part Contour Back Max helps both the back and legs. The upper portion gives relief to lower back pressure, reduces swelling, and improves blood flow while the lower part, The knee wedge relieves low back pressure and leg elevation reduces swelling and improves blood flow. And it even comes with an optional electronic massage. Sounds good right about now don’t it? After a long day on your feet sometimes you legs ache. The Elevating Leg Rest Pillow is the perfect remedy. Just lay back a put your legs up and relax and feel the aches and pains disappear. A lot of times people do not have time to lay down and relax that is why the Contour Freedom Back Cushion with Massage is a great solution. The cushion features 5 zones for proper alignment in any chair! Relieve stiffness and pain around the lower back, legs and tailbone area and keep pressure off of your tender spinal column. And for lower back pain try the Sacro Saver Pillow feel your lower back pain and tension melt away.

It is not just people who get aches and pains, pet do too. That is why treats and chews are a good way to keep them active and healthy. Try Breeders Choice Active Care Chews for dogs promotes healthy joints and teeth in dogs of all ages. For cats try Missing Link Feline Formula. Add it to your cat’s regular food and you will see the improvements. Check out www.pawschoice.com for all kinds of healthy and natural food and treats for you pet.

Believe it you can actually buy some great gifts that won’t break the bank this holiday season. In fact some people are saying that some people are spending less this holiday season. There is no reason to be a Scrooge this holiday if you know where to find the right gifts at. For a great stocking stuffer for the eco-conscious person in your life, get them the Reusable Chico Shopping Bags. I use these bags every time I go to the store now. When they ask “paper or plastic” I say no thanks cause I bring my own. The great thing about these bags is that they hold a lot of stuff, 25 lbs of stuff. For soothing aches and pains especially in the cold winter months the Herbal Contour Neck Wrap makes the perfect gift. Filled with a physician-formulated combination of herbs to help the body and mind relax and rejuvenate, heal and replenish. Just place it in the microwave and zap it for 20 seconds and you will be wrapped in warming comfort. And for my wife who claims she cannot find a good pillow, the Large Butterfly Pillow is made just for people like her. This pillow gives your head and neck the support necessary for a good night sleep. It helps ease muscles and nerve tension, relieves stiff necks, pain across the back and shoulders and morning headaches. I am getting sleepy thinking about it now.

Check out www.ActiveandAble.com for more great holiday gift ideas. Order by December 15 to ensure delivery for the holiday.

All over the news there are stories about how people are going to spend less this holiday season. That may be true, but I have decided to forgo the luxury items and buy useful items for the people on my gift list. For my Aunt Rose with her bad hip I thought I would give her the Security Pole And Curve Grab Bar to help her up from the couch or toilet. For my Dad who denies that he is loosing his hearing I plan to get him a pair of The Bebe TV Sound Wireless Headphones so he and my mother can watch TV in the same room. And for my wife I am getting the Rear Gear Sport Cushion so she can watch my niece’s volleyball game without complaining about the cold hard seats in the school gym.  So remember this year give a gift that your loved one will use and not toss in the closet.  For more great gifts visit www.ActiveandAble.com to see a great selection of gifts including talking watches, big button TV remotes, and UpEasy lifting cushion.

This morning the weatherperson said that we can get 12 inches of snow overnight. It is only November and snow already. Some people say that global warming is happening and some people say that global warming is a myth, but all I know is that with snow on the way I want to spend the day indoors with a good book or some other diversion. There is nothing more enjoyable than reading a good book with a cat sitting in your lap. I finding that as I get older I need more light to read by, not to mention reading glasses. Active and Able has several great reading lamps to choose from, but my favorite these days is the Flexi-Vision Floor Lamp. This stylish lamp features an energy saving bulb that reduces glare and improves contrast allowing you to read and write for longer in optimal comfort.

My wife tells stories of how her parents used to have friends over on the weekend and sit around the kitchen table playing cards late into the night. To continue that great tradition and not to be stopped by low-vision, Active and Able has Low Vision Playing Cards with a set of four card holders. And if shuffling is a problem we can help, the Automatic Card Shuffler. Just stack the cards in to the shuffler and press the button and you are ready to play.

As people age vision loss becomes more acute, but why should that keep people from doing what they enjoy or from reading the Bible. With the hand held solar powered Talking Bible. This Talking Bible comes in 3 versions: the King James, New American Standard and a Spanish Version. It is powered by the sun or any light source.

Soon spring will come back or someone will send you a ticket to Florida, but until then stay warm and cuddle up with your kitty and a good book. Visit www.ActiveandAble.com and see all our great products to help you enjoy your time indoors and out.

When going outside in winter people face all sorts of treacherous weather. The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a doozy this winter. What is especially dangerous is the front walk and the area in front of the front door. Besides, who wants to shovel or pick away at the ice in 50 below weather? That is why the Ice Away Automatic Snow Melt Mat is truly a modern marvel. Just plug this 24″ x 32″ mat into any outdoor outlet and your walk will be ice-free all winter long. Once your outside in the freezing air get the Cold Weather Mask. This fleece mask makes cold air breathing more comfortable and easier. A slippery ice covered sidewalk is extremely dangerous, especially for people with a cane. That is why this James Bond style Retractable Ice Tip Cane is a real life saver and can be a lifesaver at the push of a button.

For to make your steps non-slip check out this item I found here at www.specialtystoreservices.com. It is called Grip-on Anti-Slip Formula for hard floors.

I looked outside and suddenly it seems that all the leaves are off the trees and that means that winter is on the way. Winter is dangerous for everyone, but seniors and those who are home-bound are more at risk. The Red Cross has information about preparing for travel during the winter months, but what about people who choose to stay around the house? Here are some pointers about winter safety for seniors.

Active and Able has some great Winter Weather Aids for staying warm and safe during the winter months. During the winter people turn down their heat to save money on bills, but that is dangerous. We now have radiant heat products that are much safer than traditional space heater and cost pennies a day to operate. The Toasty Toes Heated Foot Rest, Foot Warmer Heated Indoor Mat, and the Cozy Legs Radiant Heat Panel are designed to keep you safe and warm this winter season.

Don’t forget your 4-legged friend the winter. Pets need plenty of exercise and special care in the winter. Check out this article I found on www.pawschoice.com regarding pets and winter safety.

Check back later for more ideas about winter weather. Next time I discuss outdoor winter safety.

A bad back is really painful. Thousands of people suffer from back pain, but there are ways to reduce it and lessen them pain. Active and Able has a new line of Comfort Pillows and Cushions to help with a wide range of back pain. A great item to make you back feel better is the Sacro Saver Pillow. It has a built in lumbar section to ease lower back pain and encourage proper posture. The Back Support Pillow is a wonder, it gently stretches the spine to help relieve stress, pain and stiffness. Just lie on it and feel the pain and stress melt away. Back and spine health is important and Active and Able has the items to help.

We are adding new items all the time at www.activeandable.com for daily living aids that can help improve your health and well-being.

Sometimes now matter how old a person is they have a difficult time getting up from thier seat. As people age they loose muscle stregth and flexability in thier joints. For that reason exercise is important to keep seniors mobile and healthy. Keep your legs strong with just 3o minutes a day of exercise. With the Pedal Exerciser you don’t even have to get up from your couch. If you already are having difficulty getting up from a seated postion there are plenty of options for your. The Up Easy Lifting Cushion is a great solution. This handy device gently boost you up from a seated to a standing postion. With your choice of the standard lift cushion and powered lift cushion models, there is a lifting cushion to fit any lifestyle and budget.

If you are looking for an all in one chair that includes an integrated lift cushion the Risedale Lift Chair is for you. This stylish chair looks great in any living room and inculdes a lift cushion.

Don’t suffer from mobility problems, find that little extra help at www.ActiveandAble.com.