Easy Office Holiday Decorating Ideas – Marchpower and Areker Holiday Lights

If you want to inject some fun and holiday festive feeling into your office space, and make those long work hours just a little bit more enjoyable, utilize these excellent design tips and class up your office space in a jiffy. Whether you’re working in a home office or go to an office building across town, there are simple fixes to help you improve your work space and make the long days go by quickly. Like anything, your output will always depend on the tools you have in place. 

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Close up of decorated christmas tree in office with business people working in background. Xmas celebration in corporate office. Detail of christmas balls and lights with working office.

  1. Give Yourself Some Motivation

Make yourself more motivated with some well-placed inspirational quotes or photos that will give you an extra kick in the pants when your productivity is dipping. Find an image online of a quote you adore, or a place you’re working to visit, and make it your background image. You’ll see it every time you fire the computer up and receive that extra ounce of motivation with no effort at all.

  1. Bring In Some Nature

Plants are an excellent way to class up your office. They breathe a bit of life back into the often sterile office space, they improve air quality, supposedly can decrease stress, and make the humidity level rise to a healthier standard. Whether it’s a small succulent on your desk or a leafy green wonder in the corner of your office, incorporating plants into your design will do more than you think.

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  1. Extra Lighting for the Holidays

We all know that office lighting is the worst, so adding some holiday lights and layers of brightness to your desk space for a better vibe all around. Making your eyes strain all day long is terrible for your eyesight, so brighten up your space for both productivity and mood purposes. What’s more uplifting than Christmas Lights? New LED strawberry bulb colored or or white Christmas lights that you can string along the walls for an ethereal glow, your peepers will appreciate the extra illumination. The colorful or white twinkle options from Marchpower on amazon are so easy to use- since they wrap back up so neat and fast, they won’t tangle or make life messy for next year’s use, either. My son loves the strawberry bulb option so much, we got some for home use- they will be great for the buses outside the house this season. 

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  1. Clean up the Clutter

Clutter leads to a disorganized mind, and that’s the opposite of what your desk should be. Keep your items organized and keep your computer on top of a clean surface. Cleanliness and organization will help you remain focused and on task, and will look better should your boss or supervisor happen to walk by and check in on you. A clean and clutter-free desk looks more professional, it will help your company’s image, and a deep cleaning once a week can keep you protected from those year-round germs.

  1. Get Modern

It’s easy to find office gadgets and décor with clean, modern lines. Any of the trendy products will impress your colleagues and higher ups, and you’ll get tons of practical use out of them at the same time. Whether it’s thought-provoking artwork that lines your walls to impress clients, or amazing glass sculptures you’ll love showing off, you’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces in no time.

  1. The Power of Scent

Scent is one of the most powerful triggers of emotion, so make sure your office space smells calming and is beneficial for your productivity. Whether it’s a plug-in that you place in the wall, or a car freshener that you place in a drawer for a burst of good smells whenever it’s opened, you’ll be amazed at the effect scent can have on your day. It will also help you avoid the lingering stench of coworker’s lunches, and make your desk space one that colleagues and supervisors love to visit. You can easily throw some laundry sheets into your desk, or keep a small pillow perfumed with your favorite scent nearby for a mid-day sniffing pick-me-up.

  1. Surround Yourself with Memories

In the midst of a hard day we can all use a little pick me up. Help yourself recall fun times by placing pictures of smiling family and friends around your desk. Create a calendar on a photo site, and use each month to display some of your favorite photos. You’ll find it hard not to smile when you look up and see your little one or husband smiling back at you.

  1. Stay Healthy

Sitting at a desk hour after hour can have some serious health consequences and as we know, healthy employees are better workers, meaning your productivity will skyrocket if you keep your body in top condition. One way to do this at the office is to use a different type of desk or chair. A standing desk will help you fight the negative effects of sitting up to eight hours a day, or a core building office chair will help keep your stomach tight and toned throughout the day, improving your posture at the same time.

Win Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ T-Machines’

It’s that time of year again, and the holidays are creeping closer. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are going to be on the lists of kids everywhere this year, so it’s good to grab them early before the pickings get too slim.

Some of the most fun “Turtle Toys” this year will include the new T-Machines.  T-Machines is an all-new collection of die-cast vehicles and playsets from Playmates Toys, providing a unique play environment for kids. The fast-rolling vehicles feature a die-cast chassis, flashy rims and an action-posed, non-removable figure driving each vehicle.

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Vehicles with Sound Assortment (Ages 3+ years, MSRP: $7.99 each)

  • With the T-Machines sound vehicles, kids can hear the engines roar, tires squeal and their favorite Ninja Turtles scream out battle cries.
  • Just press the button on the engine block and the vehicles come to life, playing 10-15 different Turtles phrases and vehicle sound effects!
  • Each 1/50 scale vehicle comes with a non-removable Ninja Turtle driving the vehicle.
  • Collection includes: Extreme Speed Demon with Talking Raphael, Extreme Party Wagon with Talking Leonardo, Extreme Monster Truck with Talking Michelangelo and Extreme Service Truck with Talking Donnie

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 T-Machines Single Pack (Ages 3+ years, MSRP: $3.99 each)

  • Race through the sewers with the new T-Machines die-cast vehicles!  Each 1/50 scale vehicle comes with an action-posed, non-removable figure who is driving the vehicle.
  • Vehicles are designed to capture the personality of the characters driving them.
  • Featuring a die-cast chassis, flashy rims and unique custom look, these fast-rolling vehicles bring a whole new level of play to the Turtles world.
  • All the vehicles are compatible with leading competitors track systems.
  • Collection includes: Raphael in Shellraiser, Fishface in Shellcrusher, Shredder in Shreddermobile, Leonardo in AT-3, Leonardo in Stealth Bike, Michelangelo in Hot Rod, Splinter in Rat Attack, Donatello in Service Truck, Raphael in Monster Truck, Tiger Claw in Safari Truck and Donatello in Patrol Buggy, Michelangelo in Patrol Buggy, Casey in Ice Machine, Raphael in Armored Truck, Rat King in Hearse, Turflytle in Buggy, Donnie in Speed Demon, Karai Snake in Sports Car, Raph in Military Truck, Leo in Sports Car, Mikey in Party Wagon and Slash in Demolition Car

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 T-Machines Basic Playset (Ages 3+ years, MSRP: $14.99 each)

  • Kids can start building out cities with the T-Machines Garage & Lair Playset, Sewer Gas Station Playset and the TCRI Building Playset.
  • Each playset includes tunnels, lifts and many other features for kids to roll and battle their T-Machines vehicles!
  • The playsets can also be snapped together to create a bigger T-Machines play environment.
  • Compatible with all T-Machines vehicles, each set come with an exclusive T-Rawket vehicle (Garage & Lair comes with exclusive Raphael in T-Rawket vehicle and Sewer Gas Station comes with exclusive Mikey in T-Rawket vehicle).

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Make sure to check out the new T-Machines Street Racers game at http://www.tmachinesracers.com/. You’ll be able to select a T-Machines vehicle, choose your track and your vehicle’s speed as you race!

One of you can win the toys above.  Feel free to use the RC form below to enter to win.  Ends Nov. 14, 2015. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Fun With New Toys

As it gets colder, and more playtime will be spent indoors, you might be thinking about cute new playthings to get your little ones.  These toys are adorable- keep your eye out for them, as they are sure to find their way onto holiday wish lists (those are coming up faster then we think!)

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Zoomer has been around for a few years now, first with the arrival of the adorable dog (at the time, just called “Zoomer”) and then with quite a few iterations and species since then.  There are now all kinds, sizes, and colors of “Zoomer” (Zoomers?) that your kids can play with, the newest being Zoomer Jester and Zoomer Chomplingz. The new Zoomer Jester is the all-new interactive Zoomer Dino ( the “Jokeasaurus”), and a silly version that loves to make you laugh.

Jester can detect your movement with his nose as he rolls around balanced on his two wheels.  Like the other “Zoomers”, he can get angry, spin around, chomp, growl, and more (this one giggles, too).  He is controlled by your hands or the remote control- he even “learns” tricks you teach him. Make sure you charge him up when you are done playing so that it’s all ready to go for the next bout of fun.  Prices vary, available in stores like Toys R Us and Amazon.

Zoomer Chomplingz are little versions of the Zoomer Dinos, and just as much fun. They are interactive, having mouth and nose sensors as well to detect motion, and come with a bone to play catch with. These dinos make all sorts of noises- including passing gas.  Yes- gross.  So, you know your kids (and dad) will love it even more.  Chomplingz can also be set into “gaurd mode” to protect your room (or dinner!) and will ferociously growl at those that dare to tread near your belongings. There are 3 versions available everywhere, and 5 that are each exclusive to a certain store (IE Walmart, Toys R Us, etc).  Check out http://zoomerdino.com for info on where to buy your favorite, prices, and more.

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When you are ready for bed, check out Cloud Pets. These cuddly companions are good for more then snuggles- mom, dad, or anyone you choose can leave your child a message that can be replayed over and over again- just in case they are being missed. This Bluetooth-enabled plush toy from Jay at Play lets families and friends connect by downloading the free app from the Apple Store or Google Play and then recording a message to your child.  After the message is received by the cloud (where they got the name)  your adorable pet, which is available in Puppy, Kitty, Teddy, Bunny, Elephant, or Unicorn, can play back that message as often as desired. Only one message at a time can be played, and you must be close to the pet when you are making the recording- no sending messages from Alabama to Florida! A blinking red light lets your child know there is a new message waiting for them- they can just squeeze it’s paw to hear it, and even reply back to the sender. Get yours at http://cloudpets.com.

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The fun to build littleBits Gizmos & Gadgets Kit is so much fun for kids who enjoy building, tinkering, and inventing. The one kit provides all the materials and instructions to design 15+creations, not to mention what kids can experiment and design on their own.  Kids can build anything from a functioning racecar, or a bubble machine, to just figuring out how the gears work- it’s even good for smaller tinkerers- you know your kids best, but I would say 7 or 8 and above (and adults can play, too).

Yes, mom and dad, there IS and handbook- some of us need it.  Here is a list of what it comes with- “The Gizmos & Gadgets Kit comes with a range of electronic building blocks, a detailed, step-by-step handbook with instructions for 15+ inventions, and all the accessories and craft tools needed.” (From manufacturer) There is more online, on the littleBits website and the free littleBits app.  Get yours at http://littlebits.cc/shop

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For the Starawberry Shortcake lover in your life- or the girl who grew up in the 80’s- there are a bunch of awesome options this year, as Strawberry is celebrating her 35th birthday.  In celebration, there are some special toys to mark the occasion. There is a cute Strawberry Shortcake Classic 35th Anniversary Edition Small Doll, and she looks and smells just like she did when I was a kid- really.  It brings back great memories for me, and she inspires new games and imaginative play for kids today. This special edition reproduction of the original doll can only be found at Target. Retails for $10. 

Looking for something more cuddly?  The Strawberry Shortcake Classic Rag Doll 35th Anniversary Edition will do the trick, and she is adorable. She is great to take along on trips, put in your “baby” stroller, and tuck in to bed with your child at night.  Also- great for the collector.  She is $20.

Not retro, but still fun for kids (and a great take along toy) is the Strawberry Shortcake’s House Playset.  Of course, with it’s signature “strawberry” scent, this house will be the best place for Strawberry and all her pals to get together for parties. It comes with (an exclusive to this playset) 6 inch Strawberry Shortcake doll and Custard the cat figure to start off the collection. The strawberry shaped house opens up to show off the interior of Starwberry’s  café , and comes with quite a few accessories like cakes, pies, items for Custard, a table, and more.  Retails for $40.

Jet.com For Your Ultimate Family Halloween Costumes @Jet

There are many options in regard to buying Halloween costumes for your family online.  Many places carry the same exact costumes, and as a consumer it can be a pain to weed through the results and find a reputable retailer who also has the best prices and value for your hard earned money.

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Jet.com is a brand new retailer that sprung up this summer, and has a plethora of goods available.  The pricing algorithm Jet uses not only finds the items you are looking for but also finds them for the best available prices as you shop, factoring in additional parameters such as waiving free returns or choosing lower cost payment methods as well as buying items from a single seller instead of multiple sellers.  This is very useful when piecing together Halloween costumes for the family.  From face paint to plastic accessories, everything is available on Jet at a low price.  They provide free shipping on orders over $35.  This is without paying extra to belong to a savings club as well, which is the added perk of not factoring in additional costs.  The free shipping does take some time, so to be sure you get your costumes by Halloween I would suggest expedited shipping just in case.

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Another great point to make about Jet.com is the coupons.  The coupons do not just take a certain percent or amount from certain buyers or items available on Jet but have potential to bring your cost down even less then previously thought, so keep your eye on their homepage for additional savings on your favorite items from your favorite sellers.

The items available from Jet.com include dog food, laundry detergent, grocery items, and of course Halloween decorations and costumes.

Check out Jet.com as one of your go to shopping destinations for any of your shopping needs.

Barnes & Noble Maker Faire Partner- and WIN a $50 Gift Card #BNMakerFaire

We all know Barnes & Noble is a national bookseller, but did you know they’re committed to building all forms of literacy for our children – reading, art and technology? As part of that commitment, they’ve partnered with Make: Magazine to present a Mini Maker Faire at every single Barnes & Noble store across the nation Friday, November 6-8.

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Maker Faires are community-based learning events that inspire everyone to become a Maker and connect with people and projects in their local community. Guests ages five and up can experience hands-on learning and making opportunities in creative thinking, art, design, construction, programming, coding, and 3D printing. The Mini Maker Faires will consist of three main areas:

  1. The Make Workspace: Attendees will experience the latest technologies in 3D printing, robotics, coding and programming, including: da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer from XYZprinting, Ozobot, The Slipstream Drone from Protocol, and Meccano Meccanoid from Spin Master.
  2. Meet the Makers: Leaders and top brands will discuss the latest trends in designing, building, creating and making.
  3. Make & Collaborate: Guests can immerse themselves in the process of ideation, rapid prototyping, circuitry and more. Among the featured products for children are: Electronic Snap Circuits from ELENCO, littleBits, Maker Studio™ from ThinkFun, and LEGO® Bionicle Bricks

You can contact your local store to find out what special guests are participating during the Mini Maker Faire, or visit www.bn.com/storelocator.

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We know its important to keep our children engaged and to expand their minds in new and wonderful ways, and the first-ever Barnes & Noble Mini Maker Faires provide an incredible opportunity for both children and adults to experience creativity and learning in an authentic, hands-on event.

In addition, I have a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. For a chance to win, use the RC form below to enter.  Good Luck! Ends Nov. 21, 2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easy Dinners with Bertolli® Pasta Sauces #BertolliTuscanTour #sp

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this post.  All opinions are my own and honest.  Please see “I disclose” for more information.

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My son and I took a recent trip to BJ’s recently.  The stock was getting a little low, you know how that goes.  Time to replenish. We grabbed the staples, of course, and some maybe not-so-staples (maybe I consider salsa an important purchase) and wanted to grab some items for fast and easy dinners.  As a working mom, there are plenty of nights that get away from me.  Between work, my son’s homework, his after school clubs and groups, and my own (what???? Moms DO stuff?) life happens, and I can’t pretend every night is a 3 course meal.  Sorry, June Cleaver I’m not.

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One of our purchases was pasta and Bertolli® Pasta Sauces.  They came in three-packs, which made it easy to stock up for future dinners.  Pasta dinners are pretty fast and easy, and Bertolli® products have a premium taste and quality that are almost as good as home made.  Not to mention they are Tuscan Inspired, so you can bring a touch of Italy to your table.  Shopping at BJ’s has the additional perk of being able to buy good bread or even garlic knots right in the store (fresh or frozen- I chose fresh) to help complete the meal.  Just head to the produce department and grab the desired items to make a salad, and viola. Done!

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It’s also the 150th anniversary of Bertolli® Pasta Sauces bringing authentic Tuscan taste to your dinner table.  If you haven’t tried any of the sauces yet, now is the perfect time.  They come in a variety of options and flavors, including white sauces that are available in some stores. You can follow them on Pinterest for recipes, ideas, and more.  Follow them with the hashtag #BertolliTuscanTour on social media.

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bertolli®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Game Day with Dr Pepper® at Kroger

Disclosure- This is a sponsored Post. All opinions are my own. For more information, Please see “I Disclose”.

It is Saturday, and your turn to ‘cater’ to the boys during the big game. What is the easiest and most fun way to make this game day memorable and raise that bar ever so slightly for the next person? Easy, a shopping trip to Kroger for Dr Pepper® and snacks. Kroger makes it easy and fun to stock up on your favorite soft drink, Dr Pepper® and your favorite snacks. You can even grab some ingredients for some awesome finger food or appetizers. Decorate, grab team colors and other “flair”, and make things that are your personal specialty for the big game day. On our trip we spotted lots of fun stuff like Dr Pepper®, Diet Dr Pepper® and Cherry Dr Pepper®. We also saw a ton of snacks that caught our eye in the snack sections, such as Cheez-It®, Keebler® Town House® and Club® Crackers. These cover all my bases, as we have people who like sweet, salty, savory and everything in between.

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Kroger is the perfect spot to stock up on any of your college football game day needs and makes shopping a breeze instead of the headache of going to multiple stores to find all your favorite items. Another way to make game day special is with themed napkins and plates. Whether it is team colors or just footballs and grass pattern. Either way it’s a great way to liven up your living room in a fun simple way. Whatever you end up doing during the next big game be sure to include Dr Pepper® in your plans, your guests will not be disappointed. So be sure to grab them at a Kroger near you.

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After you do your shopping, you need to make sure that everyone gets enough good food to eat while they are watching the game. Who would have thought that you could use Dr Pepper® as more than just a choice of beverage at your Game Day Event? I have the perfect solution to everyone’s hunger that is sure to make your get together memorable and of course tasty.

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Everyone knows that the typical game feast includes pizza and wings, but these are not just any wings. They are Dr Pepper® Wings that have just that little push of flavor that you won’t find any other way. This recipe is enough for 2 servings so if you want to make even more than 12 wings adjust accordingly. These wings are so easy to make! Just toss into the crockpot and set it to Low for about 6 hours in the morning, just in time for the game that afternoon.

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Ingredients

12 chicken wings

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sea salt

1⁄2 tablespoon sugar

1 pinch garlic powder

1 pinch black pepper

1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

12 ounces Dr Pepper®

DIRECTIONS

Mix up all the ingredients for the sauce minus the chicken wings, of course.

Put as many chicken wings as you want into the crock pot and pour your sauce over the top evenly.

Let your creation cook on low for about 4-6 hours.

Enjoy!

Now you have a game day favorite that is sure to please everyone and become a new favorite of theirs too! This recipe is so simple that you can even take it to go if you decided to do tailgating at the game instead of at home. You should be enjoying the time with family and friends before and during the game, not worrying about what’s going on in the kitchen! So relax and let the crockpot do the work for these fantastic wings and pair it with a party platter. Tailgating and Game Day done simple, right and tasty!

Don’t forget- there are in-store sweepstakes with Miller Coors®/Kellogg’s®/Dr Pepper® for fly away trips to Rivalry Games. Visit Krogers for more details and to enter!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dr Pepper®. Game Day Greats brought to you by Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.

Swingy- Ping Pong with your Feet

Disclosure- I received the below in order to compensate this post.  All opinions are my own and honest. Please see “I Disclose” for more information.”
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We all know that learning to Balance is very important for people at all ages. I must say that I am incredibly impressed with this awesome new game called Swingy.

About Swingy:

SWINGY is the world’s first wireless balance board for playing games on tablets and smartphones. It is redefining screen time by turning digital gaming into a beneficial physical activity. Swingy is handmade of wood and was developed for children aged 4 and up. There are also special Kickstarter designs for the young-at-heart adults who seem to enjoy playing just as much. 🙂

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My Thoughts:

This product is absolutely amazing. My girls are both enrolled in dance class, and have really been working on their balance. I feel that they are pretty good for their ages: 3 and 5. I also would say that I feel that I am pretty balanced as well as my husband so it was fun to test out our abilities together as a family. As of now my best score is only 50…I haven’t played a lot because the girls have wanted to play it so much. My oldest has a score of 32 already and the 3 year old is at 26, so they are doing exceptionally well if you ask me 🙂

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I think that this is a great product to work on balance for your kids, as well as the fact that it is lots of fun. I can’t wait to see the other games that they come out with as well. I teach and am planning on taking it to school to help a few of the kiddos in my class be encouraged to balance better!

KickStarter:

This great game is on KickstartER right now. I can’t wait for it to launch and go on sale because I know of several people that are going to love it. Head on over to KickstartER and help get the ball rolling for swingy. I promise that your family will be addicted.

There also is a special Super Early Bird price. Let me know if you are interested!  I promise that you won’t be disappointed.