Archives for January 2018

Affordable Travel to Unfamiliar Waters with these Exclusive Coupons

Frequent travelers know that accommodations and transportation are the monster expenses that can quickly eat into the budget and ruin a trip. According to multiple studies done over the years by different research and travel experts, about 44% of the travel funds goes to transportation while around 26% is used for accommodations. The most common way to save on these expenses is to share expenses or hope for a free ride and free accommodations from generous friends or relatives. But this limits your options! Based on the average traveler, only 9% of the travel budget goes to entertainment and fun!

Enter “Bleisure.” In the last years, bleisure has become a trending option and refers to travelers who combine business with leisure mainly to save especially with the advent of exciting and value-worthy online travel coupons. There are 3 reasons for the growing popularity of bleisure:

  • Average ticket prices are lower
  • Additional nights in hotels are also lower
  • Coupons, coupons, coupons!

The best website to get valid and fresh coupons is couponcause.com where vacation deals pour in from top companies like Expedia which offers $20 off on $200 adventures using the code LXSHOP20 or Hotels.com which currently offers a $50 off for a $300+ with the code SLOPES50!

Travelers can now enjoy a buffet of travel discounts that covers air tickets through Travelocity in partnership with Frontier Airlines or CheapOAir.com with code PRESIDENT that offers up to $24 off on both flights and hotel accommodations.  The travel industry has been enjoying a tremendous boost mainly from Millennials who want to experience as much of the world as they can while they are footloose and fancy-free. According to travel and marketing professionals, the young people are now able to enjoy more luxurious vacations compared to the generations before them because of the sheer popularity of online coupons.

Today, you can enjoy the travel and holidays and don’t have to live with regret about lost opportunities. You also no longer have to settle for reading about fancy and exotic places. With websites like TripAdvisor, your next romantic getaway can be $25 cheaper which means you can afford the room upgrades or sign up for more experiences and adventures while on your trip!

And if you are on a business trip, it is now considered practical and logical if permitted by corporate to extend a few more days to enjoy whatever the place has to offer by way of fun and entertainment! Most corporate travel is limited to one to three days. With online coupons, an extension of a couple of days means you save on airfare, gas, or other means of transportation and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses if you compare the costs to separating business and leisure trips.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless Earbud Headphones #ad @bestbuy @Sennheiserusa #MOMENTUMTrueWireless

Disclaimer- The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

wireless earbuds

Looking for awesome new wireless headphones? Look no further.  Best Buy now has Sennheiser’s flagship MOMENTUM range of headphones, which continues to break new ground through an outstanding fusion of advanced technology, uncompromised sound performance and the highest quality materials. Now, they have the peerless MOMENTUM ethos to a breakthrough new product – the MOMENTUM True Wireless. The premium Bluetooth earbuds set new standards for audio quality, comfort and craftsmanship.

Check out John’s first solo video review, done on the Sennheiser headphones.

Some additional Product Specs:
• Listening clarity that’s like ’being there’ thanks to Sennheiser’s category-leading wireless sound technology.
• Hassle-free connection via Bluetooth 5.0 and low latency for perfect audio and video sync.
• Fingertip control of calls, music, and voice assistant through touchpads on each earbud with one tap access to Google Assistant or Siri.
• Smart Pause – so your music pauses the second you remove an earbud.
• Two-Mic Beam technology for High-quality voice pick-up even in noisy conditions.
• Slim, lightweight design with ear tips in 4 sizes for all day comfort.
• Internal equalizer on the app lets you personalize your audio.
• Up to 4 hours of listening per charge with 2 additional charges from the case.
• Stay aware of your surrounding sounds with Transparent Hearing.
• Durable splash resistant (IPX 4) materials go as hard as you do.
water resistant headphones
If you, like Pinocchio, don’t want strings to hold you down, and are not a fan of wired headphones, check these out. Get yours here, and let us know what you think.

Healthy Food You and The Family Will Love

Looking for healthy food you and the entire family will love? These fun finds will keep everyone happy, and taste as good as they are good for you- which isn’t easy!

We have been fans of noosa yoghurt for a while now, and were excited that they have introduced both new flavors and new combination yoghurt/topping combinations, which are delightful.  These mix-in-style yoghurts are called noosa mates, and pairs the creamy noosa whole milk yoghurt we already enjoyed so much with delicious, high-quality toppings like crunchy granolas, roasted nuts, pretzels and premium chocolate. Just pull off the top, flip the “mix in” side into the yoghurt, and stir.  It’s very satisfying and satiating- not to mention it just tastes great.  They have also added apple and pumpkin flavors to their growing line. 

Available nationwide in many groceries and super stores in single packs, four packs, and larger sized 24 0z containers, prices vary.  Visit https://www.noosayoghurt.com for varieties and to find a store.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, you will need some great snacks on hand. What’s a tailgating party without chips and dips? Heluva Good! is perfect for your favorite dippables or to be used in a recipe for game day (or any day). It’s the perfect take along when you get invited to a party as well- there is never anyone who will turn town a friend who brings snacks to the festivities. Available in French Onion, Bacon Horseradish, Buttermilk Ranch, and Jalapeno Cheddar, there is a flavor everyone will enjoy.  You can find fun recipes and creations to try out on their website as well- there is a potato skin concoction that looks amazing (and I’m going to try it for the big game day)- take a look and see what tickles your fancy. Visit http://heluvagood.com for info, where to buy, food ideas, and more, then head to your local supermarket to pick some up and try some for yourself.

Need to wash it all down? Honest Tea, a brand that has been around for a while and is known for both it’s great taste and it’s quality ingredients as well as it’s ethical business practices, has introduced a new flavor. Honest Tea’s Pomegranate Blue Herbal Tea is now available, and it’s not to be missed for tea fans.  Made with organic pomegranate, grape and blueberries blended with Hibiscus Tea—when they are in season. They only use organic and fair-trade ingredients, making Honest Tea a refreshing mix of delicious and integrity. Honestly. Available for $1.99 in stores nationwide. 

Looking for a little something sweet to wrap up your day? For a bit of indulgence, have you tried the latest from GODIVA? One of their recent offerings was the delightful Pumpkin Spice Truffle Flight  these luscious Pumpkin Spice Truffles are the perfect way to end any long day, or as a treat after a meal. They are really cute as well- GODIVA’s Foil-Wrapped Pumpkin Spice Truffles feature five delightful truffles made with pumpkin ganache inside a milk chocolate shell, and the foil looks like a little pumpkin, stem and all. An adorable gift for anyone, or just something sweet to treat yourself and your loved ones. Of course, with Valentines Day coming up, the boxes of chocolate are great options (for anytime of year, really) and come in tons of varieties and sizes. Classic heart shaped boxes, adorable gift sets that pair gourmet chocolates with sweet stuffed animals, the traditional gold Godiva boxes we all wait for longingly, truffles only -you name it, it’s available- AND can be delivered by the special day if you hurry and order soon. Or find a store near you- visit http://www.godiva.com to find one and for options.

5 Ways that your business may be impacted when you are low on supplies

Running a business is not always easy. There are a lot of things that you need to consider. From building marketing strategies to thinking of ways to cut costs, there are a lot of things you need to know in order to keep the business running. One of the most important things that you need to consider is the consistent flow of your supplies. You need to have proper prior planning on your supply strategy since having low supplies can greatly affect your sales and operations. In whatever important decisions you have to make, you will always have to look back on your supply chain strategy.

 

Here are 5 ways that your business may be impacted when you are low on supplies.

 

  1.       It can slow down the administration operations.

 

The administration department is the backbone of any company. They act as a link connecting staff members, vendors, and other departments. They do most of the paperwork needed to help the business running. They also manage the distribution of supplies to other departments and when there is low supply, it can slow down the operations on their part and other departments. For instance, if a certain department store is out of Eftpos Paper Rolls, the operations department will have a hard time printing receipts and when that happens, the administration and accounting departments will have a hard time tracking and documenting the business’ expenses.

 

  1.       It can affect customer satisfaction.

 

When your business is running low on supplies, it can greatly affect your customer’s satisfaction. Naturally, people can get impatient and in this fast-paced world, everyone wants to have their order fulfilled as soon as possible, with no delays. And as an important factor in running a business, customer satisfaction should always be uploaded and be given importance. Failure to do this will give your competition a greater chance to be the authority in your business field.

 

  1.       It can directly affect the profitability.

 

It is important that your business has enough supply to provide for their customers to maintain the consistent flow of supply and demand. When you are low on supplies, it can directly affect your sales operations giving your competitors a better leverage than you. Customers naturally want businesses that can provide them what they want as soon as possible. Running out of stock will drive your customers to find other companies and when a certain company can provide them consistently, you will lose their loyalty and eventually, it will affect your sales and profit.

 

  1.       It can ruin your reputation.

 

When you are constantly running out of stock, it can send a message to your customers and potential customers that you are not reliable. It can ruin your reputation as a business and people will soon go to your competitors instead.

 

  1.       It can be challenging to attend to returns.

 

When you are low on supplies or constantly out of stock, attending to returns could be a potential problem. For instance, when a customer returns a damaged product that is still under warranty, you are expected to process a replacement as soon as possible. If you are unable to do this as soon as possible, it can lead to dissatisfaction.

ScotsFestival at the Queen Mary Giveaway!

Kilts are not required, but are encouraged… Comment and Enter Below

The 25th ScotsFestival is taking place at the Queen Mary in Long Beach California this February 17-18 from 9am-6pm and we are giving away 4 General Admission Passes for opening day! Food, fun, and family activities are all on the agenda with live music, dancers, and the Scottish Highland Games. If your only connection to Scotland is Braveheart than this is the perfect opportunity to get an authentic feel for the culture and the history.

So what are the Scottish Highland Games? They consist of some activities you might be familiar with and others that might sound strange. Putting the Shot is similar to what we do in track and field today, but then the Scotts start throwing the interesting stuff. The Caber Toss – a large pole, The Hammer Throw – an actual sledgehammer, The Sheaf Toss – throwing a burlap bag of straw with a pitchfork. Who doesn’t want to check that out?

After watching the athletics you might want to put yourself to the test. ScotsFestival comes complete with a sixty-foot obstacle course FEAT OF STRENGTH. No joke. You can see where you stand after competing against your peers and rising to the challenge. I am for sure going to give it a try! For the little ones there is a whole section of kids activities to enjoy so everyone can get involved in the games.

There is plenty to see and hear with piping competitions, drums, dancing, and at night the Greyfriar’s Pub for live entertainment and a few cold pints. The athletic displays are more than just those involving pitchforks and sledgehammers. The dancers are there to compete as well with the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, and the Scottish Lilt.

Food and other venders fill the rows of the Scottish Market offering traditional wares and tasty treats for visitors. You can take home your very own kilt or other authentic garb so when you come back again next year you are ready to rock it. Find out more at the Queen Mary site – Queenmary.com or on Social Media – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

So one more time – Enter here to win 4 General Admission Tickets for Saturday February 17th to the Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival in Long Beach California. Be sure you are close enough to travel to the Queen Mary before you enter!  Giveaway ends February 13th.

Leave a comment on the post and enter below!
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Ski Mountain High in California

Just outside LA you can hit the slopes!


A short drive from the major cities in Southern California, Mountain High Ski Resort is a must visit this winter. Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, or looking to go down the hill by sled this is the place. My visit was a pleasure from start to finish. The drive is pleasant, the food is tasty, and the winter sports are where it’s at.

Me in my Mountain High Yeti mask!

If you didn’t know January is National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. So I figured I would take on the challenge at Mountain High. Skiing is totally new to me and I could not have picked a better destination to get started. Everyone raved about their ski instructors and I agree. Mountain High has a top notch ski school, their instructors are certified PSIA and AASI, use the latest equipment, and boast some of the highest success rates in the country with lessons for all skill levels.

If you are an expert already there is plenty to keep you busy. Mountain High is broken into three resorts, East, West, and North. Each is packed full of great runs and when the weather gifts SoCal with snow we are ready to rock. There are 290 acres of skiable terrain, The trail breakdown is 25% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 35% Advanced to keep everyone racing along. With a maximum elevation of 8,200 feet keep hydrated and don’t be surprised if you get winded more easily. Hydration is key.

Mountain High’s North Pole Tubing Park offers some family fun for everyone no lessons required! They have ten lanes of high speed sledding with a magic carpet to get you back up to the top of the hill! All the fun and none of the awkward climb with your tube to suck up your energy. The Park is only open on weekends and holidays weather permitting so make sure you check online.

NORTH POLE TUBING PARK PHOTOGRAPHER: MOUNTAIN HIGHYou can read up on all of the ski and weather reports before you go, and you should! The drive is not terribly windy, but you might need chains on your tires at certain times. Or you can take advantage of my favorite feature, the Rally Bus. Go from one of the central pick-up points in LA or Orange County and avoid the drive all together! If you are a local who has never dealt with icy road conditions keep that option in mind.

Find out about all the Mountain High adventures on their website mthigh.com

See pics and get updates on Mountain High’s Social Media – TwitterFacebookInstagram

Mountain High Ski Resort
24510 State Highway 2,
Wrightwood, CA 92397

 

 

Really Tall Man? Try TallOrder.com (And Enter to WIN! )

 

Got a really tall guy on your shopping list? TallOrder.com isan online fashion brand that caters to the big and tall market, provides socks for men with big feet, shoe sizes 12-20. It’s a category that has been severely underserviced – until now. Family, friends and significant others with tall men in their lives can gift them with an accessory that helps them express their personal style.

 These socks are soft and comfortable to wear, as well. Long enough to cover as much as you would want to, and fun themes and patterns to choose from. A portion of your purchases will also go to “Tuesday’s Children”, a nonprofit organization that helps children after traumatic events.

A little bit about the founders;

“Standing at 6’11” and 6’9”, twin entrepreneurs from Long Island, Mike and Dan Friedman, have been reaching new heights all their lives. Growing up, the brothers stood out for their size and were commonly referred to as the “Twin Towers.” Sadly, this nickname would take on a much different meaning when they were 11 years old and lost their father, Andrew Friedman, in the World Trade Center attacks.

The Friedmans were overwhelmed by the unwavering support and kindness they received from their community and several amazing charities, including “Tuesday’s Children,” an organization that played a vital role in their lives after 9/11 and supports youth, families, and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss. While caring for the families of nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 was truly a “Tall Order,” people went out of their way to show The Friedmans their love and generosity.

In this spirit and by recognizing a niche in the men’s market, Mike and Dan created TallOrder.com to offer their fellow “Tall-Stars” stylish socks for large-sized feet, while also giving back to “Tuesday’s Children,” an organization that has deeply impacted their lives. Ten percent of TallOrder.com’s profits will be donated to “Tuesday’s Children.”

You can view the entire collection here.

Customers who purchase Tall Order socks are also giving back – proceeds from TallOrder.com are donated to Tuesday’s Children, a nonprofit that offered support to co-founders Mike and Dan Friedman after losing their father on 9/11.

You can also enter to win here- feel free to enter using the RC form below.  Ends Feb. 8, 2018. Good luck.

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Is It Necessary To Filter All The Water In My House?

Did you know that the average person uses 1 gallon of water per day? This is for cooking, washing and for drinking. Generally, you will simply turn on your tap and assume that the water is safe to use and drink.

But, every so often you will hear about issues with the water and it will be enough for you to think twice about the water you are consuming. On solution is to start buying bottled water for drinking and just use your tap water for washing. But this can be an expensive solution and what happens when you need a drink and you’ve run out of bottled water?

The solution is to fit a sink water filter. This is not the same as a whole house filtration system and there is a good reason why.

The water board runs regular tests on the water they dispatch from the treatment works. It will be certified as safe to drink. However, they cannot know for certain if there are any contaminants between the treatment works and your home.  This means this water is safe to use but, at times, may not be safe to drink.

You can, of course, add chemicals to the water yourself and even boil it to make sure it is clean. However, this will increase your exposure to chemicals and may even give you health issues through over exposure.

It is much easier to fit a filter under your sink and have a dedicated tap on your work surface. The filter will remove debris and bacteria from the water, if there are any. You can even get filters which will reduce the hardness of the water or remove the salt associated with softening water!

You then simply drink and wash your food with the water from this tap. You know it is safe to use.

For all other things, including washing yourself and washing the dishes you can use the standard water. It is certified as clean and, even if bacteria have managed to get through, you will not be consuming any of it.

Assuming you wash in hot water the bacteria will be killed and will not be able to survive while you keep them in the cupboard.

The main benefit of using a water filter on your drinking water and not the whole house supply is cost. The filter you need will be smaller and very easy to fit. You will also not need to replace it very often.

If you fit it to the whole house, you will find hundreds of gallons of water being processed simply to go down the drain. You will simply be wasting money as the purpose of the filter is to provide clean water.

A water filter is a good idea but one in the kitchen, with a dedicated tap should be enough to supply your drinking and food preparation needs. The expense of adding a whole house filter is really not justifiable in the majority of cases.