Archives for January 2014

One Can Easily Save Money By Using Promo Codes

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At every time of the year, a lot of shoppers are looking for good deals on the items they have to buy. Some of these codes apply when shoppers use their credit cards, although they can still get savings if they pay with another credit card, cash or debit card. For those large orders, free shipping might be the best deal for shoppers trying to save money. The shopper ordering small appliances, for instance, can save money using a Home Sale promo code. The key? Reading each code offer to find just the ones that apply to that day’s shopping trip.

How Promo Codes Save Money

Promo codes, or promotional codes are special online codes that enable shoppers to save money. While the savings might not come at the virtual cash register, they could come in free shipping or a discount offered if the shopper uses her JCP credit card. Finding and using a JC Penney promo code–saving money, therefore, becomes easy, especially when that shopper has taken the time to read through each promo code’s language. When she notes down exclusions and limitations, she saves herself time and frustration when it’s time to check out and pay for her order.

Because the discounts from each promo code are applied before the shopper proceeds to checkout, she can see just how much money she has saved herself. Whether she’s buying a wedding gift or new sheets for one of her children, saving money is important. It’s for this reason that these codes have become so important.

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Grapevine, the Christmas Capitol of Texas

 

Everything’s bigger in Texas!  Be it Christmas, or ice storms, Texas doesn’t play.  Grapevine, Texas, known as the Christmas capitol of the state, really showed me it’s stuff with it’s recent ice storm- but that didn’t keep a good city down. Texas still got it’s holiday groove on- albeit about 50 degrees cooler then it might be used to.

pic1We spent quite a lot of time in the Hilton Lakes DFW hotel, but I didn’t hear any complaining.  The rooms were very comfortable, and there were amenities like a pool and gym (which I never get to use, so hooray!).  However, I did do a “Supernatural” marathon with a friend while there, while eating chips and salsa.  Yep, the finer things in life  🙂  The rooms all had free cable and WiFi, and it was pretty fast, too.  Not just “fast for a hotel”- fast. There were several restaurants to check out (such as the below Bonnie and Clyde’s Hideout), so we were not hungry even when the storm kept us in.

Shrimp grits and chicken lettuce wrap

Shrimp grits and chicken lettuce wrap

The  Winewood Grill has a good variety of food (and imbibements if your heart so desires) as well as a super friendly staff. The ribs were a favorite of many, but the smoked Gouda mac and cheese was by far and away the best eats of the night.  It is also one of the restaurants’  most requested items, and for good reason.  Creamy, warm, and with a bacon topping (and mix in), there was nothing not to love about this comfort food created for grown up palettes.  Save room for dessert- you will need it with these Texas-sized portions!  But it’s worth it- share with a friend if you are running out of steam, or get a few to share with the table-none of them were disappointing.

hiltonWhen I awoke the next morning, Texas was officially frozen.  We were going to be spending the day at the Hilton- so down to The Vineyard I went to get some breakfast.  They had a quite large hot and cold buffet, as well as table service and an omelet station.  I was glad to see my favorite- biscuits!- which I don’t’ see a whole lot of in my neck of the woods.  All that eating sure does make you hungry….  LOL

texasWhen you are in Grapevine, be sure to check out Grapevine Mills, a huge shopping mall (which is also REALLY close to the Hilton, and you can be bussed there by the city busses for nearly nothing- it’s one of the many, many stops they offer for convenience for travelers. We ate lunch at the  Rainforest Cafe which is always fun.  Since the weather outside was frighting, we made sure to light our way with fun hurricane glasses of bright drinks that turned the table into a disco party.  The food was good- the chocolate volcano desserts and fun drinks made the meal, though  🙂
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Prince Lionheart Travel Gear

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own and honest.

Having kids can be tough on your vehicle.  With sticky fingers and lost snacks, muddy feet and spilled milk, lost toys and cheerios- all will eventually be found (or not) in the cracks and crevices of your vehicle.  There are quite a few products available to help cub the ‘kidification’ of your vehicle.  Prince Lionheart has two which are particularly effective.

seat saver

First up we have the back seat organizer.  This organizer has pockets, clips, zippers, clasps, and pouches for just about everything.  This organizer installs to the back of the front seat with a few simple straps and can be put in, in minutes.  The organizer is also easy to remove so when spills do happen, clean up is a breeze.  One of the most interesting features of the organizer are the ‘distraction’ pouches.  These are opaque pouches on the upper left and right sides of the organizer meant to be grabbed and handed to your little ones to act as a distraction.  Traffic with a screaming child in the back can only be tolerated for so long before something must be done and a distraction can be all that is needed sometimes.  From a new toy, a snack, or a new book all could work and would fit in this special pocket.  Prince Lionheart calls it ‘sanity restore’, and for those who have been in the situation that is definitely the best way to describe it.
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The Top Foods for Long Lasting Weight Loss

Most people agree that eating food and lots of it will eventually lead to weight gain.  In today’s world, it can be hard to distinguish between what is considered healthy and what isn’t.

People who are able to properly identify healthy foods and then consistently use them in their everyday life will ultimately create a healthy lifestyle for themselves. No more worrying about losing or gaining weight, just understanding these foods and how they can help you achieve a healthier weight.

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Foods To Lose Weight With

Whole Wheat

One of the reasons why whole wheat is so popular is due to its high nutrition.  One that comes to mind immediately is dietary fiber. This not only helps with digestion, but also increases the metabolism which in the end results in weight loss. On top of that, whole wheat has been known to be much harder to break down. Sounds bad right? In reality, due to this your body uses more resources and thus more calories are burned.
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Let Your New Years Resolution Work For You

Do you have any New Years Resolutions? According to a 2012 survey by the University of Scranton, an estimated 190 million Americans make a yearly list of things to do or improve upon. If by chance, one of your items is to create a financial plan, live on a budget or get debt under control, then January is the perfect month for you to map a course to stronger financial stability.

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January has been designated National Financial Wellness month in the U.S. and MyJobChart.com recommends making resolutions that are achievable for you but can also serve as teachable moments for your children. The average adult will make thousands of financial decisions during the next year, including many which will be made with kids watching or listening.

To help move your children in the right direction in 2014, Greg Murset, CEO of MyJobChart.com and a Certified Financial Planner offer the following out of the box suggestions:

No More Hand Outs.

Start the year off right by deciding that you are not going to just shell out money to your kids anymore. When they come to looking for money, let them know that they will have to work for it. The bank is now closed unless they start pulling their weight a little more around the house. Tying work and reward together in some meaningful ways will help them understand responsibility and accountability. It will also help them understand that in real life, no one ever gets money for doing nothing.

Smash The Piggy Bank.

Piggy Banks are a bad way to teach kids about money. That’s right, take that piggy bank and smash it or throw it away. Long gone are the days when we should be teaching our kids about money by dropping coins into a bank that looks like a pig, jar or favorite sport team mascot. Using banks like these only teach children about money in a manner that isn’t as relevant anymore. Get them a real bank account and teach them how to manage their money though online services. It is far more useful to learn to manage money in a bank rather than a pig.
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Adorable Aurora Stuffed Toys

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

stuffed toys

Looking for soft and snugly?  If you are like my son, winter (ok, all times of the year) mean cuddling up with a soft, fluffy stuffed animal.  Or 12.  There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that makes him happier then a new stuffed animal.  If I save it until the end of the day, he will even willingly go to bed.  It was one of the only things he asked Santa for this year- Stuffed animals, action figures, and Skylanders.

stuffed dog

Some adorable stuffies come from Aurora.  They have some of his favorites, including the popular “YooHoos” (many of which make funny sounds, speak, or sing when their stomach is pressed) and the new Miyoni, which are available in several sizes.  The have such sweet faces, very expressive- even the smallest ones.
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Livie and Luca Fashionable Shoes and Boots

Disclosure: The Marchita and Marcha boots from Livie and Luca were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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About Livie and Luca:

If a Livie & Luca shoe could whisper in your ear it would say…Spread Joy! 

It would tell of its journey from a sweet bubble of an idea to a final inspired design. Working passionately is the way of life at Livie & Luca, you can see and feel it in each shoe that they make.

Girls Boots

girls boots

Livie and Luca is all about whimsy and joy. They embrace bold designs and modern touches that capture the playful, jovial essence of childhood. The designs are inspired by nature, folklore, vintage, and the rich imagination of children. They are about comfort and durability – They want kids to be able to be on playgrounds, city streets, and dirt pathways with style and ease. Live and Luca uses brightly colored velvety soft leathers and other textiles to bring the utmost comfort and resilience to their shoes.

girls boots

About Marchita Boot Taupe Suede:

The favorite women’s boot, Marcha, is now scaled down and adorable for girls. Marchita’s mid-calf style, combines playfulness and comfort in true Livie and Luca fashion.

  • Taupe suede exterior
  • 3 buttons for sizes 4-8, 4 buttons for sizes 9-13
  • breathable and removable inner sole, (great for handwashing)
  • Flexible rubber outer sole
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21-Day Tummy: The Revolutionary Food Plan

As the holidays are winding down and resolutions or goals are made many people find themselves making a goal to lose weight. It’s no wonder considering we eat the most around the holidays. We’re stuffed like turkeys and well, who can help it? Good food is hard to pass up, which makes this 21-Day Tummy diet brought to you by Liz Vaccariello a solid win for anyone needing to jump start their year and make some healthy choices.

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Diving into the book right away you are thrown a lot of helpful facts and tips. There’s practical tips everyone would need not just those trying to lose just holiday pounds or more.

Many of the recipes in this book are focused on getting the system working well. If our gut isn’t working the rest of us isn’t doing too good either. So many other plans target just dropping the pounds not the fact that some foods can trigger reacts deep within and cause us even more troubles. I found this to be a major plus in the book.

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The recipes were easy to follow as well as easy to make. There’s simplicity in here and true focus which can really help those who suffer from a slow digestive system. This should jump start the gut and get you ready to start feeling better inside and out. I made a lot of sides from the books, salads and some of the dressings which are fresh and tasty.
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