A Girly Weekend Away

July 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

So you and your girls have all planned time off work to relax, rejuvenate and have fun, but where do you go and what do you do? You don’t have the opportunity to have a really indulgent time very often so you have to make the most of the time you have!

 

City breaks are so much fun for girls and with cheap flights all over Europe there really is no excuse not to make your trip continental. Some of the best cities for shopping are Milan, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and St Tropez, of course you may have to have pockets lined with gold to go on a spree in many of these destinations but it’s fun to window-shop none the less!

If you would rather something a little more low-key, why not search for some luxury spa breaks with spabreaks.com. For this type of trip, the perfect destination is the great British countryside. I’ve read that there are some amazing spa towns in Britain where the water from fresh springs has natural rejuvenating properties.  Hmm, now I’m thinking that I should have been a travel blogger!

 

For the alternative girly outing, why not go completely off the wall and do something really out of character? Paintballing is a great idea for girls sick of being stereotyped into femine activities!  Running around all day in a boiler suit shooting your friends can really build up an appetite, so make sure you make reseravtions at a good restaurant for the evening time. You might want to have a shower first though!

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Reduce Odors with Filtrete Air Filters

July 11, 2012 by 10 Comments

Filtrete Odor Reduction Filter

For years I have battled with allergies.  Some places I’ve lived have made it easier to deal with than others but unfortunately living in this part of North Carolina has me continually struggling.  I try my best to keep the floors vacuumed, surfaces dusted, sheets changed, windows shut, and air filters up to date.  I’m a huge fan of Filtrete air filters for a little allergy relief but now they have a new Odor Reduction Filter!  A filter that blocks dust, and pollen, and ickiness is great on it’s own but now it helps minimize obnoxious odors!  I’m in love!

 

Healthy living expert and author Lisa Beres has shared tips with us on how to naturally remove odors from the home and I hope you find them helpful.  I know I have!

 

Lisa’s tips include:

  • Clean the fridge drawers and shelves by adding a few drops of natural dish soap to a bowl of baking soda and stir until it creates a thick paste.  This will remove odors as well as stains left behind from food.
  • To rid towels of the mildew smell, first wash them once in hot water with a cup or two of white vinegar. Then wash them again with a natural or eco-friendly laundry detergent. Finally, dry the towels in the dryer on high heat.
  • Reduce the unpleasant smell of pet dander by bathing and grooming your pet weekly.
  • Pesky ants and other insects can make their way into your kitchen but instead of using harsh toxins, set a line of coffee
    grinds, lemon juice, cinnamon or cayenne pepper around doors and windows to create an effective barrier they won’t cross.  {I need to try this!}

 

Filter Benefits:

  • 65 times more effective than other carbon filters at removing odors, such as those from cooking, tobacco smoke, pets, mildew and cleaning chemicals. {65% is HUGE!}
  • Starts to remove even the strongest odors in minutes, after the furnace fan is turned on.
  • Captures large airborne allergens such as household dust, pollen, mold spores and dust mite debris.
  • Captures microscopic particles such as smoke, pet dander and smog.
  • Last up to three months for odor removal and particle capture for air passing through the filter.

These Odor Reduction Filters have a suggested retail price of $15.99 which isn’t much more than a regular filter!  They can be found at your local hardware, home center, grocery store, or they can be purchased online.

 

I LOVE this!  Filtrete has an eNewsletter that will email you when it’s time to change your filter!  I’m actually going to sign up for that right now because we’re always a month late.  They’ll also email you clever tips and money-saving coupons.  You can also follow @Filtrete on Twitter and like Filtrete on Facebook to stay up to date on their latest products and promotions.

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Filtrete and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Free 0% APR Loan for 15 Months!

July 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Discover

Discover card is offering 0% APR for 15 months!

Here’s my tip of the day:  If you must use a credit card, Discover More Card is one of the best.  Take advantage of it’s 0% APR offers and 5% cash back but never go over the 15 month limit!  It’s just not worth it!

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Choosing the Best Vacation

July 11, 2012 by 4 Comments

Beautiful vacation spot

 

If you ever decide to go on vacation you’re left facing a number of difficult choices. Making the right ones should mean that your break will be an enjoyable, but what are those decisions, and what do you have to think about before booking a vacation? Before you think about deciding to book a luxury cottage with cumbrian-cottages.co.uk, or a laid back TN Bed & Breakfast, here is what you need to ask yourself in order to choose the best vacation for your family:

 

  • Work out where you want to go. If you have a clear idea of your ideal destination, then you should do all you can to seek the right accommodation. Also, the destination should have what you and anyone else, who’s coming with you, likes to do.  For example, if you’re travelling with kids and you all enjoy walking, you should visit somewhere like the Lake District with its many walking routes.  If not all of your family can swim a trip to a water park might not be too enjoyable.  Just think about what relaxing activity your entire family would enjoy.
  • Know what you can afford. You should try to find a vacation that fits easily within your budget. In doing so, you’ll have enough money left over to spend on things like food, travel and souvenirs.  Personally I have to avoid souvenir shops because I get sucked in and want to buy every t-shirt and key chain they’ve got but that’s another story.  If you don’t have enough money in your budget to go to a big resort this year scale back to a smaller vacation spot or save up for next year.  Don’t use a credit card to fund your vacation!
  • Is the accommodation suitable? You should get accommodation that’s big enough for you and everyone else who’s coming with you. Staying somewhere that’s too big or too small could ruin your vacation.  This usually isn’t a problem unless you have a very large family or you’re vacationing with another family.

 

Aside from choosing a vacation which suits your needs and tastes, you should also be wary of a number of things before making a final decision. These include any extra costs you have to pay for.  For instance,  parking and internet access, local facilities, and transportation.  You may also want to take note if a destination is family-friendly, pet-friendly or if they have wheelchair access. Also, if you’re heading to the beach you may want to avoid special weeks like Senior Week and Biker Week.  Once you know all of that, you’re ready to pick a place and hunt for the best deal!

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Swagbucks = Easy Way to Earn Free Gift Cards

July 9, 2012 by 1 Comment

swagbucks

 

I haven’t talked about Swagbucks for a while and since we have new readers I want to share about them again.  I love them!  It’s the best and easiest way I’ve found to earn free gift cards.   If you’re new to Swagbucks, be sure to read my comprehensive Swagbucks tutorial on how it works plus how I bought a SLR digital camera with my Swagbucks!

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Buying Energy-Smart Appliances

July 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Kitchen

 

Investing in a new energy-smart appliance could be the best thing you could do for your energy bills, short of not using your electric at all! A new fridge for example uses 42% less electricity on average than one bought 30 years ago, this isn’t just because of wear and tear but the manufacturing process of appliances and the amount of energy used has been refined over the years.  Ours is probably around 20 years old and we’re seriously thinking about making the plunge to buy a new one.

 

When deciding on a new appliance, a lot depends on the needs of your household. For example, if you are living with just your spouse, you can get away with a much smaller smart washing machine than perhaps a larger family could.  A slimmer design means you’re not wasting any space.  I’ve read that with fridges it is recommended that 10 cubic feet is a good amount of space for a couple and then an added foot for each additional person in the house.

 

Stove

It’s also important to decide on what features you want your appliance to have. Smart energy efficient appliances are great for saving money but they also have amazing new features offered that weren’t offered previously. For example, some fridges now have areas within that keep food regulated at different temperatures. This is a good feature for a family that eats a varied diet with ingredients that require differing environments.  I also love the energy efficient pull-out lower freezer!  These fridges are also very roomy inside to allow for a few leftover casserole dishes side by side, a large snack tray for a party, or even a tall cake.  Can you tell what style of fridge it is that I’m leaning towards?

 

I’ve done a lot of research on energy-smart appliances and I was surprised that the cost of them.  They are very comparable to the same appliance that isn’t energy efficient.  Some of these smart appliances even come in smaller models with an even lower price.   If you are looking to buy a large appliance I recommend you think about the needs of your family, look for a brand that is known to be dependable (we called an appliance repairman that we know and asked which one he recommends) and have great customer service, and lastly shop around for a great price.

 

Smart Appliances

I don’t know of any in my area but you could also go to an energy smart specific retailer that would be able to give you further advice on your needs and have expert knowledge in the field, a dishwasher from Appliances Direct for example, may be the same as from another retailer but the advice you get in choosing the right appliance could be very valuable.

 

Last but not least, when thinking about buying a new appliance you’ll want to think about the disposal of your old appliance.  This isn’t a problem for us because we’re going to put our old fridge into our garage and stock it with drinks and frozen meals.  However if you don’t have the room or your old appliance is broken, you may want to check if the retailer you’re purchasing from will offer their services to get rid of your old appliances for you.

 

That’s all the advice I have to offer from my shopping experience!  Now it’s your turn!  I haven’t decided on a new fridge yet and I would really like your input.  Do you have a fridge that you love or hate?  Is there a function that makes it worth it’s weight in gold?  What about an option you thought would be great but ended up being just a nuisance?  Please, please, share your knowledge! Thank you!

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Crafts with PVC Pipe

June 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I never knew there were so many uses for PVC pipe.  How fun!  What creative crafts with PVC can you come up with?

CIS

This data in this infographic was assembled by Commercial Industrial Supply, a leading pvc pipe and fittings supplier.

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How to Choose a Credit Card

June 25, 2012 by 11 Comments

Discover® More® Card
You may have noticed that I’ve never talked about credit cards here on Embracing Beauty and that’s because I’m pretty much an anti-credit card fanatic.  I know that’s an unpopular opinion so I’ve chosen to stay silent rather than start a debate.  The irresponsible use of credit cards has destroyed the lives of many people and I  just hate to promote something that could be so harmful.  While my attitude towards credit cards hasn’t changed I realize that people will continue to use them anyway.  I admit that there are responsible people who can pay their monthly bills with a credit card and pay them off every month.  My sister-in-law uses department stores credit cards and immediately following her purchase she’ll write them a check for the amount she just charged.  If you are incredibly responsible I can see the possibility of earning rewards on the purchases you would make anyway.

 

When not to get a credit card:

  • When you plan no using it  with no hopes of paying it off in the near future.
  • When there is an annual fee.
  • When you don’t have a budget in place or a good handle on your finances.
Things to consider if you want to get a credit card {against my advice}:
  • Make sure there is no annual fee.
  • Be prepared to pay off the credit card balance in full each month.
  • Find a card with a low interest rate (especially if you have a balance transfer).
  • Find a card with a cash back or rewards program.

 

Money magazine recommends you pay special attention to the Schumer Box which is table in every credit card application. It basically tells you which parts of the credit card application that you should look for.  Here’s a quick summary:

 

  • An annual percentage rate of 11% or less on purchases.
  • Low rates on other loans, such as cash advances or balance transfers.
  • Reasonable penalty terms. Find the penalty rate (or default rate), and follow the asterisk to see what triggers it.
  • Finance charges that are not computed using two-cycle billing. (Two-cycle is not good.)
  • Annual fee.

 

Don’t do like I did many times and sign up for a credit card just because of the sign up bonus, extra discount, or worst of all, a stupid promotional item.  {I never even liked that tote bag I got from Fashion Bug!}  Take the application home with you and read through the terms and conditions.  Try to have the mindset of car shopping.  Go looking for the best deal you can find but don’t settle for a one-time bonus.  You’ll want something that you can live with for the long term.

 

Can I be completely transparent with you?  I work for a few affiliate companies but ya’ll knew that, right?  If not, you can read my full disclosure policy here.  Well, one of the companies is of offering a pretty substantial amount for everyone I can get to sign up for a particular credit card through my link.  At first I was appalled at even the thought of promoting a credit card!  After a few days I decided to do a little credit card research and if in fact this was a “good credit card” I would write and tell you all about it.  To my surprise, it actually is!  I don’t know everyone’s circumstance and what they are looking for in terms of rewards but if you’re insistent upon having a credit card this is legitimately a good one to have.  CardRatings.com even listed this card as having the “Best Introductory Rate Credit Card” for 2012.
Discover® More® Card

Which card am I talking about?  The Discover card, specifically the Discover More Card!  You  can apply for a Discover More Card and receive a response within 60 seconds.

 

Again, I’m not encouraging anyone to sign up for a credit card but if you’re looking for one anyway this is one with a low interest rate, no annual fee, 5% cash back, and I get a little bit for you signing up.  You can apply for a Discover More Card here.

 

Thank you for letting me be so open and honest, I appreciate it. 🙂

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How To Create a Light Summery Look With Makeup

June 21, 2012 by 7 Comments

Have you updated your makeup for summer yet? Bikinis and beaches call for a light,summery sparkle. For a light look, you need light products…check out one of my favorite beauty supply stores, Image Beauty, for all of the products you’ll need to get that beachy, carefree style that looks so perfect in the summertime.

During the warmer months, you’ll want light coverage that does double duty by protecting your skin from harmful rays. Use a tinted moisturizer for light coverage that won’t melt, such as Cover Girl Aqua Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 for added protection.

Blush is a bit heavy for a summery look; substitute a light bronzer or luminizer instead. A bronzer is perfect for those early days of summer when you’re still pale but want that sun-kissed look. Try L’Oreal True Match Naturale Shimmer Bronze for luminous color.

With all that color, you don’t want to neglect your lips! Lip color for summer is light and natural looking. Heavy lipsticks look out of place at the beach or barbecue. Try a lip stain like Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain in Flirty Nude. A little color goes a long way.

The eyes are perhaps the trickiest feature to play up for summer. Heavy shadows and liners can feel thick in the summer heat. Your best bet is to forego eye shadow and liners altogether. Define your eyes with mascara instead. To guard against water, sweat, or tears from that summer break up, use a waterproof mascara. Try Physician’s Formula Aquawear Mascara in Black/Brown.

Don’t forget your nails! Summer is the time to show off an immaculate pedicure. You could go with a clear polish or French manicure to showcase your pedicurist’s hard work. Alternatively, try Art Club Nail Art in Gold Glitter for a little color and shine. It really shines against tanned toes.

You can find all of these beauty supplies online or at any beauty supply store. Image Beauty is one of my favorite places to buy beauty supplies because they ship their products super fast and offer them at really great prices! So make sure to lighten up with these products for a fresh, beach-worthy look. Your skin and fellow beach-goers will thank you.

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The Best Gifts for Mom

June 19, 2012 by 1 Comment

If you’re stumped on what to buy your favorite lady for Mother’s Day then look no further! We’ve found unique ideas for spoiling her rotten.  Here is our list of the best gifts for mom:

 

Blanket

Soft Blanket

There are a million different soft and soothing blankets out there to please Mom.  This Fouta blanket is 100 percent cotton linen and sells for $53.50.

 

 

Personalized Jewelry

Jewelry with Personalization

There are many options available but the beautiful necklace pictured above is $129.

 

 

tilandasia kit

Tilandasia Kit

This adorable hanging kit comes with vase, tilandasia, stones, and how-to instructions.  It retails for $40.

 

If it comes from the heart your mom is sure to love your gift no matter what it is!  If you have a unique Mother’s Day gift idea we would love to hear about it.  Feel free to share your ideas or past Mother’s Day gifts in the comments.

 

 

 

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