Dreaming of Hawaii

August 16, 2012 by 2 Comments

Aqua Resorts

 

Are you thinking about planning a trip to Hawaii in the future?  What about, wanting to go but thinking that there is no way you could possibly afford it?  That’s probably where I’m at.

 

My friend spent a few years in Hawaii with her husband and I just love to see their pictures on Facebook.  It’s gorgeous there!  One thing I’ve always want to do is swim in a crystal clear blue ocean.  I guess you could say that it’s on my bucket list.  While browsing around on Pinterest I kept finding beautiful pictures tagged with the name Aqua Resorts.   I ran into it so many times that I decided to check it out.  I don’t think that was a good thing to do.  This place looks like paradise AND they have affordable options.  Seriously!  Of course I would still have to buy airfare but I’ll try not to think about that right now.

 

As I sit here dreaming about day dreaming on the shore side I’ll share some of Aqua Resorts’ coupons/deals with you.  Who knows?  Maybe you can send me a picture of you there!

 

From the Aqua Resort website:

 

  • Help save a vet & save on rates! Write a thank you card to a veteran and enjoy 10% off our best available rates at all participating Aqua Hotels. Plus, when you book the Mahalo To Our Veterans rate, a portion from every sale goes to support the U.S. Veterans Initiative, Hawaii Chapter, Barbers Point Homeless Veterans Program.
  • Aqua is celebrating local style with Hawaii’s favorite footwear, and we invite you to go local and slip into savings! Book the Slip into Savings rate, show us your slippers (flip flops) and save 10% off at participating Aqua Hotels on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai.
  • In conjunction with the remake of the classic hit TV show, Aqua Hotels & Resorts is offering an “Aqua Five-O Special” at its 12 hotels in beautiful Waikiki. Only $50 for the first night in Waikiki.
  •  Book* at least 60 days in advance and save 15% on your next Hawaii vacation. Call866-971-2782 for details.  *Full prepayment required at time of booking. Non-cancelable or refundable.

 

Filed Under: Tips, Travel, True Beauty Tagged With: , , ,

Bulk Business Mail Tag

August 15, 2012 by 13 Comments

Bulk Business Mail Tag

 

Today was a great mailbox day!  My weekly inserts arrived from Krazy Inserts.  My double jogging stroller came to review and even though that didn’t fit in my mailbox it still consider it mail. : )  I had a bunch of great freebies but along with them I found a Bulk Business Mail tag.   Has anyone ever received a card like this in your mail?  From what I’ve read in a few forums it seems that this belongs to the USPS and wasn’t meant for me.  That only seemed to be speculation and I was hoping for a more concrete answer.  Can anyone confirm that this is true?  I guess if no one knows, I’ll just try to catch my mailman and ask him about it tomorrow.

 

Thanks for your help;  I have the best readers!

Filed Under: Tips

10 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Supplies

August 15, 2012 by 12 Comments

Back to School Savings

 

With the rising cost of gas, groceries, and just about everything else, people today are pinching their pennies like they never have before!  Here’s a list of 10 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Supplies.

-#1  Set a budget! This may sound like a waste of time but it is oh so important to staying on track financially throughout the year and in this instance for school shopping.

-#2 Plan ahead. Make a list of what you need before you leave home.  Don’t forget to check and see what items you can reuse from last year.  You may also want to bring bottled water and a small snack if you plan on being there a while.

-#3  Quality counts. Decide on which items you can buy cheap and which items it’s worth spending more on.  Crayons and clothes are probably worth the extra money because they will last longer.  Pencils and hair-bows will probably be the same regardless of the price.

-#4 Get your child involved. You don’t have to cave into every item that they want and you find repulsive but it’s a good idea to let them choose some.  Not only will it make the shopping experience more pleasant but they will be more likely to wear it, feel good in it, and take care of it.

-#5 Shop early for school supplies! With coupon usage on the rise you can find several manufacturers coupons for basic school supplies.  Pair them with Walmart’s earliest mark downs for the best deal.  Don’t forget office supply stores!  They have some great back-to-school bargains around the middle of summer. {We post a round up of the best deals weekly}

-#6 Buy clothing items that go with {almost} anything! I learned this trick from my great grandmother who grew up not having much.  Instead of buying a complete coordinating outfit that will  go with nothing else, opt for versatile articles that work well with each other.  This exponentially multiplies the number of potential outfits available.

-#7 Shop for off-season, clearance items.  When it is 99 degrees outside it is hard to go shopping for long-sleeve shirts and coats.   However, this is the optimum time to pick up clearance deals on these winter items as stores are practically giving them away.

-#8 Shop off-price retailers. Shopping at stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Gabriel Bro., and Rugged Wearhouse will help you get quality {and designer} clothing at affordable prices.  Discount stores may offer similar prices but the quality is different.  For instance, at a discount retailer a $20 backpack was meant to sale at that price.  At off-price retailers, a $20 backpack was made by designers to sell at $40+.

-#9 Shop online. Especially if you know your child’s size in a brand, shopping online can save you big.  Don’t forget to search our Coupon Code Database for a coupon before you check out!  Shop through Ebates to get cash back in the form of a check!

-#10 Follow Embracing Frugality! You can follow Embracing Frugality on Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for daily deal updates!

I hope these tips will help keep some extra money in your pocket this school year.  Do you have any back-to-school savings tips to share?  I would love to hear them!

If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

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Bloggers: Get $100 for Each Blurb Affiliate Referral!

August 7, 2012 by 12 Comments

money

 

During the month of August Blurb is offering $100 for each affiliate that you refer to them!  That is good money!  Their normal referral rate is $10 per referral and this $100 bonus is only good through the month of August.  This is a great opportunity for you to make money with referrals!

 

Never heard of Blurb?  I’ve been a fan for a few months but here’s how they describe themselves:

 

Blurb enables anyone to design, publish, share, and sell their own bookstore-quality books. Blurb books feature professional printing, top-notch binding, and a range of creative customization options that customers use to make all kinds of beautiful books, from wedding books and cookbooks to baby books, travel books, portfolios, and more. Ranked 47th overall on Inc. 500’s list of the fastest-growing privately held companies, Blurb created and shipped more than 1.8 million books in 2011 alone.

 

Our affiliate program offers the opportunity to earn generous commissions by promoting Blurb’s book-design and publishing platform. Good Blurb Affiliate Program candidates include photography, gift, travel, mommy, family, education, scrapbooking, cooking, wedding, and creative professionals’ sites as well as their related blogs.

 

Sign up to be a Blurb affiliate now!

 

After you have been approved grab your affiliate link and start inviting your blogger friends as well.
When your friends are approved for the Blurb affiliate program you will get $100 for each one!!! EACH one!

 

All you have to do is go into your Share A Sale Account and click on Blurb. Your link to share will be unter the two tier tab.  Enjoy!

 

Oh and I almost forgot!  Blurb offers a bonus, free Blurb book to all affiliates.  It’s their way to welcome you into the program and give you some one on one experience with their product…which is amazing!  I bought one myself before I knew they even had an affiliate program.

 

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Nielsen Homescan: Now Accepting Applications!

August 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment


 

Nielsen Homescan has opened up new opportunities in hundreds of new zip codes nationwide. Go here to Nielsen Homescan to fill out a brief survey to see if you’re one of the lucky ones who qualify. If you do, you’ll be sent a scanner and you’ll earn points for recording your store purchases. With each shopping trip you scan items you’ll earn more points that are redeemable from their huge gift catalog.  Some readers have reported earning steam mops, coffee makers, toys, jewelry, health and wellness items and various kitchen appliances but reward items may change at any time.

 

Here are a few of the details:

  • It’s absolutely free to join! If you ever decide to stop participating, you’ll have a postage paid envelope to return the scanner. You are never obligated to participate.
  • Scanner comes with USB cable, instruction manual and installation disc. Once you’ve installed the disc and followed the simple set up directions you’re ready to get going.
  • Keep the scanner handy to scan your purchases as you bring them in the house.
  • Once a week, hook your scanner up to the computer using the USB cable. The data will automatically be uploaded. Voila! It’s that simple!
  • I’ve heard that you could expect to spend 30-45 minutes on average PER MONTH scanning items and uploading data.
  • You’ll earn 3,000-6,000 points on average per month which obviously depends on how much shopping you do. Gift catalog items start at around 9,000 points.

 

If you’ve participated in the Nielsen Homescan program I would love to hear your thoughts!

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How to Tell the Temperature of Cooking Oil Without a Thermometer

August 1, 2012 by 4 Comments

Cooking

How to Tell the Temperature of Cooking Oil Without a Thermometer

 

Quick Instructions:

 

To check if oil temperature is hot enough for frying food, briefly place the end of a wooden spoon (or chopstick)  into the oil.  If it is at the appropriate temperature, the moisture in the wood will cause the oil around the spoon to bubble.

 

To be extra cautious and safe you should use a thermometer to check the temperature of the oil.  You can read a review of my favorite thermometer but this tip is for those occasions when you do not have a thermometer handy.  This is an old-fashioned method for finding the approximate temperature of the oil you’re frying.

 

Step by Step Instructions:

 

  • Just to be safe, I recommend having a fire extinguisher on hand whenever you’re frying with oil.
  • For best results when deep frying be sure and use an oil that has a high smoke point.  Peanut oil, safflower oil, soy oil, and refined sunflower oil are a few good options.
  • Heat the oil over medium heat.  If you heat the oil too fast it has the possibility of igniting so keep the oil on a medium heat.
  • Slowly dip the end of a wooden spoon (you can also use a chopstick or other wooden kitchen utensil) into the oil.
  • If the oil is at the appropriate temperature for cooking there will be bubbles in the oil around the spoon.
  • If no bubbles appear, wait a few moments and check again.
I hope this little tip helps you!  I forget when and where I first heard this but it has been a big help to me in the kitchen.  {Update: Recently, I’ve been using my favorite thermometer of all time, the Thermapen,to check the temperature of oil.  It’s amazing!}  If you have any cooking or homemaking tips to share I would love to hear them!

 

 

 

 

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How to Find the Best Sunglasses for Your Face

July 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sunglasses

If you did not know this before, reading sunglasses are available in the hottest designer frames. Handy to bring to the beach, pool, or for sitting outside on a nice summer day, these glasses will give the appearance of standard sunglasses with the hidden aid of reading glasses.  How cool is that? These reading sunglasses can be found online at retailers like ReadingGlasses.com and in retail stores like Wal-Mart. However, if you are looking for the hottest in designer reading glasses for women, online is your best bet. Once you know your desired lens strength, it’s best to pick frame styles that best fit the shape of your face.  Here are some simple guidelines to go by:

Narrow
If you are a woman who has a narrow face, creating balance throughout your face should be a priority when it comes to choosing sunglasses. The best types of sunglasses for a narrow face are frames that have a straight top line. The angle from cat-eye glasses can help balance a narrow chin. Some styles, such as the Maui Jim Sandy Beach 408, also provide a rimless bottom for additional style.

Narrow-Average
A face that is only slightly narrow in certain areas, such as the chin or cheekbones, can wear styles that soften the contour of the face. This can be done with oval or square frames. The Maui Jim Makaha 405 provides a straight line at the top with oval lenses to balance out and narrow areas of the face, while still catering to the average part of the face.

Average
A woman with an average face can choose nearly any style of sunglasses she wants. Whether the frames are wide and full or thin and narrow, an average face can pull it off. The Maui Jim Honolulu 520 style sunglasses are an adventurous wraparound style that an average face would look great wearing.

Average-Full
Women will a slightly fuller face than average can still choose from many different styles of sunglasses. Styles such as the Maui Jim Longboard 222 work to balance fullness and provide great style.

Full
Women with a full shaped face will want to balance out the roundness and find a pair of sunglasses that give the illusion of a narrower face. Most women with a full face will want to look for sunglasses that are rectangular and have defined corners. A pair of sunglasses such as the Maui Jim Black Coral 249 provides a defined, angular shape that will make the face look a little longer.

To get more information and find a variety of options, visit a website like ReadingGlasses.com or do a Google search to find a highly rated shop.  There you can search for glasses that will best match the shape of your face, giving you the confidence to choose a great pair of sunglasses, all without leaving your living room!

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DIY: Amplify Your iPod’s Sound for Free!

July 24, 2012 by 5 Comments

iphone in glass

Here’s a trick to amplify your iPod’s sound for free!

 

I heard that if you put your phone (or iPod) in a glass that it will make the music loud enough to fill the room!  I had to try it for myself and I couldn’t believe it, it actually works!

 

Here’s how you do it:

 

1- Grab an empty and clean glass from the kitchen

2- Grab your iPod or phone

3- Turn your favorite song on

4- Gently drop it in and voila – instant amp!

 

Go ahead and give it a try.  Just remember to make sure you use an empty glass! : )

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Summer Outfits

July 18, 2012 by 6 Comments

My love for summer is only deepened by my love for summer outfits! So today I thought it would be fun to play around and design a casual summer outfit.  This aqua color caught my eye and just seems to scream summertime!

 

Typically my summer wardrobe consists of sundresses, jeans, khakis, shorts capris, tees, tank tops and a ton of  accessories!  I’m not a super trendy dresser but this is a tiny peek into my summer style!  What do you think of the outfit?  What are your summer favorites?

 

 

Mossimo, Maybelline, Oasis, Enzo Angiolini

 

 

 

 

ShopStyle

 

Someone mentioned in the comments that they liked this outfit but they were worried about the cost of it.  Most items I chose are affordable with the exception of a few more expensive pieces.  I’ll list the prices below and if you’re interested you can click on the picture of the item above to be taken to where you can find more information or purchase it.

 

Shirt – $10

Jeans – $19.50 On sale for $18.50

Shoes – $89

Ring – $19.88 On sale for $9.94

Necklace – $68

Earrings – $159

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5 Quick Tips for Getting Your Husband Looking Great

July 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

happy urban couple

 

When there is a rush to get out the door and your husband needs to be looking great, it might be tough to pull him together. However, there are a few quick and painless ways to make sure he looks good. With just a few minutes and perhaps a little preparation, going out can be as easy to him as dressing for yard work.

Keep His Wardrobe Up to Date 

Sometimes it is hard to rush out the door when your husband has nothing to wear. In order to make those rushed evenings easier, make sure his dry cleaning is done well in advance and that his clothes fit him well. Something like a Brooks Brothers suit can make your husband look great just by fitting his form properly.

Beard or No Beard 

Your husband may not have had enough time to shave. In these cases, make a quick decision about his facial hair. Have him do a once over with an electric shaver that leaves a quarter-inch of stubble before dressing instead of having him carefully shave. Many men look dashing with a five o’clock shadow.

Hair Without the Fuss 

Instead of trying to make his hair look perfect and stay put, let his hair look naturally good with a little help. Rub a quarter-sized dollop of gel on your palms and rub it through his hair, letting it stay just a little messy. That slightly messy look can go over well even at fancy dress events, so do not sweat it.

Odds and Ends 

In three minutes, you can pull together all of the little things that will make your husband very attractive for the evening. Run a lint brush over his clothes to make sure he looks sharp and clean. Give him a nice cologne or aftershave. Lastly, if his shoes need a polish and you lack the time for a buffing, just rub a little polish on a washcloth and rub it into his shoes in a circular motion. Take one minute per shoe.

Accessories 

A man does not need accessories to look sharp. Therefore, if your husband is wearing accessories that are inappropriate for the evening, such as a paint smeared work watch, have him go without accessories. If he has the right accessories handy, bring them along in the car. He can get them on in a hurry as you go.

Remember that there are some things that cannot be done in a rush out the door. For example, ironing and washing. Try to make sure these are done ahead of time so your husband only needs a bit of the above to look amazing.

This was a guest post written by my friend Amanda.  I hope you enjoyed it!  What tips do you have for helping your husband look great?

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