Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Assistants #SRC2016

I am participating in the Summer Reading Challenge again this year! I love it! The book I am currently reading is The Assistants by Camille Perri.

About The Book:
Rule #1: All important men have assistants. Rule #2: Men rule the world. Still. Rule #3: There is enough money. There is so much money. Tina Fontana is a thirty-year-old executive assistant to Robert Barlow, the CEO of Titan Corp., a multinational media conglomerate. She’s excellent at her job and beloved by her famous boss - but after six years of making reservations and pouring drinks from bottles that cost more than her rent, the glamour of working for a media company in New York has completely faded, but her student loan debt has not. When a technical error with Robert’s expense report presents Tina with the opportunity to pay off the entire balance of her loans with what would essentially be pocket change for her boss, she hesitates. She’s always played by the rules, but this would be a life-changer. As Tina begins to fall down the rabbit hole of her morally questionable plan, other assistants with crushing debt and fewer scruples approach her to say that they want in. Before she knows it, she’s at the forefront of a movement that has implications far beyond what anyone anticipated. Featuring an eclectic clan of co-conspirators, a love interest far too handsome to be trusted, and a razor-sharp voice full of wry humor, The Assistants is a rallying cry for the leagues of over-educated and underpaid women who are asking themselves, How is it that after all these years, we are still assistants?

My Thoughts:
This is an amazing read. So much fun! I like the flow of the story line, and I finished this book faster than expected! A great read.

About The Author:
Camille Perri is the author of The Assistants. She has worked as a books editor for Cosmopolitan and Esquire. She has also been a ghostwriter of young-adult novels and a reference librarian. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from New York University and a master of library science degree from Queens College. Perri wrote the first draft of The Assistants while working as the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Esquire.
 
 

Thursday, May 26, 2016

4 Items That Are Worth Their Higher Price Tag

When your budget is stretched thin and you typically have more month left than money, it’s definitely a good idea to look for bargains whenever possible. However, while it is important to be frugal, you must also be wise about what you are buying. In some cases, spending less will ultimately mean paying more—especially if what you are buying is poorly made.
For example, the following items are definitely worth spending more on now, so you can save more later:

Tires

Buying new tires often involves a serious case of sticker shock, especially when you need to replace all four at once. But this is definitely a product that is worth investing in. Inexpensive tires are more likely to vibrate, wear down faster and perform poorly in bad weather, and you will probably quickly regret saving $25 or $50 per tire when you are sliding all over the road with your precious family in the car. Fortunately, it is possible to find affordable prices on quality name brand tires; for example, TireBuyer.com sells reliable brands like Michelin that will meet your specific performance needs and not cause your already-stretched budget to break.

Laptop Computer

Your laptop is another product that is worth investing in. Sure, you can find plenty of cheap laptops but they tend to be less durable, take forever to download videos and games and come with a low-quality battery that will die within a few hours. As Digital Trends notes, it is rare to find a laptop for less than $600 that offers more than six hours of battery life. Fortunately, if you up your budget by $200, you can find plenty of basic laptops that have around 10 hours of battery life, a decent sized and efficient processor and can handle anything you want to do or watch with ease.

Clothing—At Least Some of It

It's pretty easy to find really inexpensive clothing that is surprisingly comfy like T-shirts, shorts and jammie bottoms. But as LifeHacker notes, quality clothes that cost a bit more will definitely last longer and they tend to be more comfortable than their bargain companions. The key is to find a happy medium between expensive and quality clothing that is exceptionally durable versus over the top spendy haute couture items and really cheap stuff that will get holes in it after two washings. In other words, instead of a bargain bin $3 T-shirt or a $100 fancypants top from some boutique, aim for $25 for a really nice T-shirt that looks terrific, is made from all natural fibers and will last for seasons to come.

Kitchen Accessories

You can find all sorts of kitchen goodies in the dollar store and yes, they will do the job—for a meal or two. But why spend $1 for a set of chintzy pot holders that might burn your hands when a few more dollars will get you a really nice set of oven-safe mitts that can handle your hot tins of muffins with ease? The same goes for cheap-but-cheesy spatulas, silverware, frying pans and cookie sheets. If you enjoy cooking and are in your kitchen frequently, it’s well worth investing in heavy-duty cookware—think T-Fal or Calphalon— and sturdy cookie sheets that won’t rust after one washing.

Callan's Last Day Of 2nd Grade

Today is Callan's last day of 2nd Grade! Where did the time go? 
 

Set Of 4 Custom Design Coasters – Only $4.99


Use Code: SPCOAST.

Offer Open To New And Existing Customers. S&H Not Included. Offer Limited To 1 Set. One Time Use Of Code. Cannot Combine Coupon Codes. Exp. 07-07-2016. Standard Shipping: $5.99.

Top Sports Movies Lists By Redbox

As spring winds down and long summer nights approach, the movie experts at Redbox have put together a timely list of top sports movies to watch with the family! From the best baseball flicks to all-time favorite sports films, I am sharing these lists as a family-friendly way to beat the heat this summer.

Redbox Releases Top Sports Movies!
Please note: Movies are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked.

Top Baseball Movies:
• A League Of Their Own
• Bad News Bears
• Bull Durham
• Eight Men Out
• Field of Dreams
• Major League
• Moneyball
• Pride of the Yankees
• The Natural
• The Sandlot

Top Sports Movies:
• Brian’s Song
• Caddyshack 
• Chariots of Fire
• Field of Dreams
• Hoosiers
• Raging Bull
• Remember the Titans
• Rocky
• Rudy
• Slap Shot

Top Basketball Movies:
• Above the Rim
• Blue Chips
• Coach Carter
• Glory Road
• He Got Game
• Hoop Dreams
• Hoosiers
• Love and Basketball
• Space Jam
• White Men Can’t Jump
 
Sports Movies Currently Available at Redbox:

Creed
 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Pirate's Booty Featuring Finding Dory

Pirate’s Booty dives head first into summer by collaborating with Disney’s Finding Dory. To celebrate the premiere of this long awaited movie, Pirate’s Booty is releasing limited-edition, themed packaging featuring the beloved Finding Dory characters.

From April to June, Dory, Nemo and their new friend - Hank the Octopus - will join Pirate and his first mate, Crunchy the Parrot, to bring adventurous snacking to kids of all ages. The limited-edition packaging comes in a variety of sizes, including 7 ounces, 10 ounces, and a 12-pack of half-ounce bags of Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar.

Check it all out at Pirate's Booty on Facebook, as well as Pirate's Booty on Twitter.
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Be A Stroke Hero!

Big graphic 
There are many super heroes out there. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, people who are simply lending a hand to others. We consider those people super heroes. Many of those super heroes are behind the scenes; they never get recognition for what they do, and that is okay with them. But what if you could be a super hero that saves lives? You might be thinking – wow, that would be a big deal – right? It is much easier than you might think!
 Flying 
 May is American Stroke Month, so we’re working with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to raise awareness about Stroke knowledge, prevention, and what to do in an emergency. Stroke is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability – and 80 percent of strokes are preventable! You don’t need superpowers to be a Stroke Hero.
  super hero 
You can be a Stroke Hero by controlling your blood pressure and other risk factors and by knowing F.A.S.T, the warning signs of stroke, so you’re ready to take action and help others know when and how to take action! Only 9% of us can identify all the letters in the F.A.S.T. acronym for stroke. When you recognize a stroke and immediately call 9-1-1, the person has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options like a clot-busting drug or clot-removing device.

  • F - Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
  • A - Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • S - Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred? Are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like: “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
  • T- Time to call 9-1-1 - If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
If you know someone who could be at risk for a stroke, or even yourself – take the #StrokeHero quiz. It is fast, easy, and could save your life or the lives of people that you love. Superpower 
While stroke threatens millions of lives, it is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. Together, we can end stroke. Share this with your family, friends, co-workers and community by sharing on social media. You can share this post or tweet: You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero. Live healthier and know the F.A.S.T. warning signs - StrokeAssociation.org/StrokeHero Chat 
Want to get more involved? Join the #StrokeChat hosted by @American_Stroke on 5/18 at 12pm CDT. Stroke experts will join from local AHA/ASA handles coast to coast and we’ll have an engaging conversation about superpowers, the face of stroke, what’s in the news, and give away some swag from NBA All Star Paul George and ALEX AND ANI who just debuted a new bangle honoring stroke survivors.
 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Tani Underwear

Tani USA is a premium underwear brand that was founded more than 10 years ago to meet the demands of the growing population of consumers who appreciate the very best in performance fabrics. Tani uses the finest and most advanced fibers to create comfortable fabrics that are innovative in underwear. They develop their own fabrics in Europe and use very high percentages of the best fibers. Tani’s aesthetic is simple, modern, and masculine. The designs are meant for today’s sophisticated person who expects the finest fabrics in their sartorial choices. All of the products are designed for comfort, quality, performance, and longevity. Today, they own and operate more than 300 stand-alone Tani boutiques across Asia with distribution in the Middle East, Australia, Japan, North America, and Europe.
 I got some great panties from the Womens Line. SilkCut Hip Hugger Panty - This limited edition soft touch sheer waist band SilkCut Hip Hugger Panty is luxuriously soft and lightweight, yet extraordinarily resilient to keep up with whatever the day brings. Knit in Europe with the brilliant fabric Micro Modal Air, it is actually thinner and even softer than silk. And Tani is the first and only underwear brand to use this innovative fabric. Despite it’s remarkable soft feel, the SilkCut collection stretches and recovers as it lightly forms and shapes to your body in a level of comfort and style you will definitely get used to.
SilkCut Shorty Panty - The SilkCut Shorty Panty is luxuriously soft and lightweight, yet extraordinarily resilient to keep up with whatever the day brings.

Check it all out at Tani USA on Facebook, as well as Tani USA on Twitter.
 
 

National Water Safety Month #Infographic #Springtime2016

 
May is officially National Water Safety Month! Here is some shocking news for parents of small children: a swimming pool is 100 times more likely to kill a child than a gun. Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional death for children under the age of 14. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4. According to these statistics from Life Saver Pool Fence and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 390 children drown each year in their own backyards. A pool fence from Life Saver offers a solution to this problem. Below is an infographic with some fast tips on how to keep your children safe this summer:

The House Of Bradbury #SRC2016

I am participating in the Summer Reading Challenge again this year! I love it! The book I am currently reading is The House Of Bradbury by Nicole Meier.
About The Book:
Mia Gladwell's life is going nowhere. The media has skewered her debut novel, her fiance Carson, a successful Hollywood producer, has jumped ship, and now she's living in her sister's carriage house unattached, unemployed, and uninspired. Then she learns that the Los Angeles estate of iconic author Ray Bradbury is up for sale, and she feels an immediate urge to buy the wonky old house, convinced that moving into the late author's home will inspire her to create her best work yet. Life in the Bradbury house is not what Mia imagined, however. Soon after moving in, to fulfill a debt she owes to Carson, she agrees to take in a pill-popping young actress as a tenant, and suddenly she finds herself in a balancing act between her needy ex, an unpredictable starlet, and her disapproving sister, who's keeping a close eye on her. Add to this a series of mysterious sketches left at her doorstep by a stranger, and Mia's life is more complicated than ever. As she searches for clues, though, Mia discovers insights into her own life. Maybe moving into Bradbury's house was a big mistake, but maybe not.

My Thoughts:
This was a fun interesting read. A little bit mystery, a bit romance, and altogether fun! A decent first novel!

About The Author:
Nicole Meier is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest. She works as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer. She lives in Oregon with her family. The House of Bradbury is her first novel.
 
 

Monday, May 23, 2016

3 Educational Activities That Will Benefit Children With Dyslexia

Dyslexia is one of the most well-known learning disabilities, with 1 in 5 students facing the challenges it presents. Although it used to be widely believed that boys were more likely to be dyslexic than girls, recent studies from Yale University show the disorder affects both boys and girls equally. While dyslexia can present some roadblocks to the intellectual development of many children, it can be overcome with creative approaches to learning. Here are three activities that can help children get beyond their struggle with dyslexia.

Play Word Games

A great way to help children pick up new words and phrases is to play a game that engages their minds in different ways. Whether it’s Scrabble, a crossword puzzle or a homemade flash card memory game, by adding an element of fun to the learning process you encourage them to develop new strategies in recognizing different words and making connections to words they already know. Games like these put more focus on a single word, instead of sentences and paragraphs, which helps young students stay focused on the basic elements of language. Word memorization games can be highly effective to help dyslexic children get ahead.

Read Aloud

While reading is typically a solitary activity, having children read aloud can help them approach the text in a new way and inspire them to develop their reading comprehension abilities. When dyslexic children read out loud, they must externalize their thought process, which makes it easier for you to recognize which words or phrases trip them up and provides you with the opportunity to help guide them along in real time. As children become better at reading out loud, you can have them memorize short monologues or poems and perform them for a small group, which will improve their public speaking ability while forcing them to internalize the syntax and semantics of the text they’re reading. Another activity akin to reading aloud is to put the words into song, and whether you go with songs written for children or a karaoke machine with the latest pop songs, music is a powerful mnemonic device not only for remembering words, but also the order they go in.

Practice in the Real World

The classroom isn’t the only place where children can develop better reading skills. One of the most effective strategies for helping dyslexic youngsters boost their reading comprehension is to have them practice in a real-life environment. Walk through public spaces and read anything you encounter while out and about. Street signs, menus, advertisements and food labels all give children a chance to practice their reading in a practical way, which will help them not only improve their abilities, but it will also help them make the connection of how reading can be applied in the everyday situations.

Awesome Hair Finds

Esha Natural line from Esha Girl - Unruly hair and frizz don’t stand a chance when indulging in this terrific collection. It’s a one-stop s...