Wednesday, April 29, 2020

12 Must-Have Apps For Tweens

With a son who is 12 (going on 20! Ha!) And so there are all these apps out there that we allow his to use, for fun, for education, and for everyday life things. Here is a rundown of what Callan has on his new cell phone.
1)  The K12 app you've been waiting for is here! At K12, they offer tuition-free online public schools and tuition-based private schools. Explore K12 on your smartphone or tablet. With the K12 app, finding the right school, enrolling your student, preparing for the first day, and monitoring your school student’s academic progress is even easier. Find a School. Simply type in your zip code or state to see a list of K12-powered schools near you. Enroll Your Student: Submit enrollment information and documents, and track and complete the enrollment process in all one place. Create Parent and Student School Accounts: A mobile-friendly way to set up your parent and student school accounts. Receive Alerts and Notifications: Each step of the way, you’ll receive real-time updates - such as when your student’s materials have shipped, when courses and teachers have been assigned, and more. Prepare for the First Day of School Easy-to-access videos and online orientation sessions help prepare you and your student for the first day of school. Monitor Progress: Parents can access information about your student’s grades, course programs, and overdue assignments. View Daily Schedule: Stay up to date about your student’s online school experience with the schedule viewing feature. Log Attendance: Submit student’s daily attendance. Stay in Touch: Contact information for your school and teachers are conveniently indexed for you. The K12 app experience may vary by school. Most K12 app features are available for K12-powered online public schools and some K12-powered private schools at this time. Please refer to K12’s Privacy Policy for more information regarding K12’s collection and use of your information.
 2) Evernote was founded to address a growing problem that technology helped to create: how to succeed in a world where the volume and velocity of information are constantly increasing. People today are overwhelmed with information, and anxious about how to handle it all. Evernote helps people find focus now, in the moment, to make progress on what matters most.
3) Play it your way with Spotify. Look out for your special playlists. Play songs in any order, and skip all you like. Playlists made easy. Start a new one, and it’ll suggest similar songs to help you along. Make it yours. Tell them who you’re into by tapping the heart. They recommend tracks you’ll love.
4) Get your story discovered through the power of community and technology on Wattpad. The world's most-loved social storytelling platform, Wattpad connects a global community of 80 million readers and writers through the power of story.
5) Cozi is free, easy-to-use, and a 3-time Mom’s Choice Award Winner. With Cozi you can: Keep events and activities all in one place. Keep and share the grocery list in real time. Store recipes, plan meals, and shop for ingredients. Use from any mobile device or computer. Helps the kiddo learn the family schedule, and also a page where he can have his own tasks and mark them off as he goes. Updates in real time when someone makes a change to schedule.
6) Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! bring the experience of a classic Pokémon RPG to Nintendo Switch with gameplay that is easily approachable for newcomers to the series, but is also deep enough to keep veteran Trainers on their toes. And there’s a deep connection between Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon GO, so fans of the hit mobile game will find even more to enjoy.
7) Bringing you closer to the people and things you love. Instagram from Facebook Connect with friends, share what you’re up to, or see what's new from others all over the world. Explore the community where you can feel free to be yourself and share everything from your daily moments to life's highlights. Express Yourself and Connect With Friends. Add photos and videos to your story that disappear after 24 hours, and bring them to life with fun creative tools. Message your friends in Direct. Start fun conversations about what you see on Feed and Stories. Post photos and videos to your feed that you want to show on your profile. Learn More About Your Interests: Check out IGTV for longer videos from your favorite creators. Get inspired by photos and videos from new accounts in Explore.  Discover brands and small businesses, and shop products that are relevant to your personal style.
8) Life360 syncs your family into a private, invite-only Circle, making it easy to plan and coordinate at the pace of life. Location Sharing gives family members a view of each other’s recent and real-time whereabouts. Smart Notifications - Be notified when your family comes and goes from your most frequented Places. Plus, get alerts if anyone's phone is running low on battery.
9) Google liked this Android alarm clock app, Timely, so much that it acquired its Zurich-based developer, Bitspin. Where it's different is in using a cloud sync (via your Google account, naturally) so all your devices have the same alarms. It's a beautiful clock app suitable for tablets, using gestures to set alarms, color schemes for the clock to suit you, challenges to ensure you're up, a flip-to-snooze, and the option to quiet an alarm when the handset is picked up.
10) Makers of The Bible App wholeheartedly believe a daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives. That’s why YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences they create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately. The hope is that each person in the community is on an active journey to become who God made them to be, abiding in Him, and drawing closer every day.
11) Get the official YouTube app for Android phones and tablets. See what the world is watching, from the hottest music videos to what's trending in gaming.
12) Multiplayer Mode has arrived in Puzzle & Dragons, the go-to choice for the mobile Puzzle RPG experience. Team up with your friends and tackle all new enemies! Puzzle & Dragons is both an addictive and free match-3 puzzle game with classic monster-collecting RPG fun! 
 
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Light A Candle To Honor Them #DonateLifeMonth #MasonsMission

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Dr.'s Remedy Nail Care #Summer2020 #MySummerRemedy

I love to paint my nails - both fingers and toes! I think I probably change my color at least once a week. And in the summertime it is especially important to have bright colors, and I am partial to pinks and reds. But the bummer is, I also chew on my nails. So they are not long and pretty like some gals' nails I see. But I do it for me and it makes me feel girly and happy. And then I heard about a vegan nail polish - Dr.'s Remedy!
From the Dr.'s Remedy website:
In 2005, Dr. Cirlincione was ready to become a dad for the second time. Upon reading and reviewing all of the many pregnancy do's and don'ts: Pregnant women should avoid raw and undercooked meat; Pregnant women should wash vegetables and fruit before eating them; Pregnant women should avoid unpasteurized dairy products, hair dye, potent cleaning chemicals, etc. It became clear there was a growing need for clean cosmetic options as well. As a Podiatrist and nail care professional, he noted a salon market saturated with questionable nail polish brands and recalled years of training in which he was taught to instruct patients to avoid (toxic) nail polish - which could cause weakness and discoloration to the nails as well as possible nail fungus. However, patients wanted to hide unsightly nail conditions as well as feel glamorous - so he thought: if we can't beat them, then let's join them! During surgery one afternoon, Dr. Cirlincione, together with Dr. Spielfogel, decided to design a polish that was not only free of the many harmful toxins found in traditional polishes, but was further enriched with natural healing ingredients. The conversation was followed by 2 years of research and chemistry, and in 2007 (approximately 18 months after welcoming his second son!), Dr.'s Remedy was born: the healthy alternative to nail care!
If you're going to paint your nails as much as I do, then it should be healthy polish. Pretty and good for your nails! No one ever thinks of nail health really. And it is super important. Dr.'s Remedy has 40 awesome shades, and nail treatments. They are free from harmful toxins such as: formaldehyde as well as formaldehyde resin, toluene, TPHP, camphor, phthalates, xylene, parabens, and ethyl tosylamide. Sounds like icky stuff, because it is! Dr.'s Remedy is enriched with organically grown, naturally occurring antifungal ingredients (tea tree oil, garlic bulb extract, and lavender), and is fortified with nail strengthening vitamins as well (biotin, wheat protein, vitamins C & E, ginseng, and kale extract)! And they are made in the USA! So get glam and get colorful this summer with Dr.'s Remedy! You won't regret it!

Check it all out at Dr.'s Remedy on Facebook, as well as Dr.'s Remedy on Instagram!
 
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Bedroom Furniture Must-Haves #Summer2020


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Friday, April 24, 2020

Home Patio Must Haves #Summer2020


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I Am Famous!

Our family was published in the paper recently. The local paper, which is called The Blackduck American. Here is the article, or you can read it digitally here.

 

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Infinity Train: Book One Now On DVD

Explore the mystery now on DVD. Created by Owen Dennis, Cartoon Network’s mysterious and critically acclaimed series Infinity Train: Book One was released on DVD on April 21st, 2020 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Go on a journey will all 10 episodes from the first season and bring home some extra magic with over an hour of epic bonus features including commentaries, documentaries, animatics, and more! 

Join Tulip on a mind-bending journey aboard the mysterious Infinity Train, alongside her companions Atticus, the canine king of Corginia, and One-One, a robot with dueling personalities. With puzzles and perils awaiting them in every car, and the relentless Steward on their trail, will Tulip ever find a way off the train and return home?

“Developed through Cartoon Network’s award-winning Global Artists program, Infinity Train’s original short provoked immediate attention, garnering more than 5 million views on its YouTube page,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE, Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation and Family. “We know that fans are going to love the behind-the-scenes extra content, in addition to the 10 highly anticipated episodes from Book One.”
 
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Sales Tax And What You Need To Know

A sales tax is a tax, or essentially a fee, paid to a governing body for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase. Such as tax in a grocery store. It is hard to teach the Sales Tax concept to my son, Callan, because if he wants to buy something and it is $23.75, and he has $25, he thinks he has enough money to cover it, and he does not understand the total price is going to be $25.38, and he will be short the change. The state sales tax rate where we live in Minnesota is 6.875%. With local taxes, the total sales tax rate is between 6.875% and 8.875%. Minnesota had recent rate changes at the beginning of the year.

There are so many things that can get taxed, like goods to buy and services to use. Things that can be taxed that you would not normally think of being taxed are services, such as lawn care, parking in a big lot, pet grooming, and even ticket sales to a concert or event. But there are also some things that cannot be taxed. Examples of services not subject to sales tax are capital improvements to property, medical care, education, and personal and professional services. Each state gets to decide what is taxable or not. Most food is not taxable, except for alcohol, candy, soda, and hot food sold at a restaurant or like out of a food truck. I think that school supplies should be tax-free, but generally they are not. And you also can not write off school supplies on your yearly taxes for primary school, though you often can for College supplies. There is a sales tax holiday every year just before school starts usually. During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales and use tax: Clothing priced at $75 per item or less; School supplies priced at $20 per item or less; things like that, though the amount can vary. So that helps save some money. Because sales tax really can add up.

I found it interesting that people selling things online do not necessarily have to charge a sales tax. The basic rule for collecting sales tax from online sales is: If your business has a physical presence in a state, you must collect applicable sales taxes from online customers in that state. If you do not have a physical presence, you generally do not have to collect sales tax for online sales. Sometimes businesses need help trying to figure out their sales tax, especially with rates changing, so a business person might use a sales tax consultant. A sales tax consultant can help you understand the process to maintain compliance within your business and state, find the advantages and disadvantages of both in-house or outsourcing, and go over the key questions you should ask when considering a new compliance vendor. Sales tax compliance is preparing and filing sales and use tax returns. Once a taxpayer is registered to collect or pay sales and use taxes in a jurisdiction, returns must be filed and the tax must be remitted on a timely basis. There are a lot of options and confusion to some business matters. So find a good company you trust before you make any final decisions. 
 
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Sweetology

Sweetology is the perfect activity for every age. Whether you are looking for a special place for a Mommy and Me outing, to share some fun with friends, or a girls night out, Sweetology is the perfect setting. They offer naked cake and all of the edible fun for you to make your own delicious creation. All products are offered a la carte, so you control how much you spend. Mix up your own all-natural award-winning buttercream to the perfect shade of green. Pipe on your perfect flower or roll fondant monogram or sculpt a ski slope. Learn the art of flooded cookies. The only limitation to the creative fun is your imagination. Sweetology's professional staff is available for assistance and guidance at all times. Gluten-free and almond free options available.
We got a Doggy Cookie Decorating Kit since have a new puppy. Ready-to-decorate cookies, frosting, sprinkles, and toppers can be shipped to your door. Includes baked cookies (they have cupcake kits as well), and all the toppings for creative fun at home. Your kit arrives with everything you need to start decorating right out of the box! No baking necessary, no trips out to the store for supplies, no hassle. Kit includes ready-to-decorate cookies, colored buttercream frosting in pre-fill piping bags, decorating tips, sprinkles, and toppers. Callan and I had a ton of fun decorating these cookies. And it made it even more fun that we were decorating cookies out of the blue and for no special occasion. Nice bonding time and something fun to do.


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Gap Kids Collection #SummerMustHaves


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Happy Earth Day 2020 #EarthDay2020


 

National Hug A Plumber Day – April 25, 2020

It’s National Hug A Plumber Day on April 25! I know, I know - you may be thinking, "Why would you hug a plumber?" Well, my reason would be that an awesome plumber helped my aging parents when they came home to Minnesota from their Winter in Florida. Their well overflowed and flooded the entire basement. There are many other reasons, too. Because without people like plumbers, electricians, heating and repair folks, we would have a lot more broken things because we tried to fix them ourselves.

Below are some National Hug A Plumber Day activities you can do, and also find out more about plumbers and their history on the page.

Hug A Plumber
Nothing says thank you like a friendly hug! Let your plumber know he is appreciated.

Send A Gift
How about a colorful plunger ornament for that Christmas tree?

Take a picture, post, and recommend
Show gratitude by helping your plumber find new customers.


Also, for more info on Top PR, click the link!
 
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Gap Women's Collection #SummerMustHaves


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Gap Men's Collection #SummerMustHaves


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Emeril's Footwear For Essential Workers

Chef Emeril Lagasse and Jack Schwartz Shoes Inc.(JSSI) are in partnership to produce a shoe line specially designed for professionals in the restaurant industry. A private company, JSSI has been in the footwear business for over 80 years, designing and distributing footwear. Culinary icon Emeril Lagasse, the founder of twelve restaurants and star of popular shows Emeril Live and Top Chef, brings to the footwear industry his years of restaurant experience and an intimate understanding of the particular demands of culinary professionals. Emeril's Footwear is slip and stain-resistant footwear that offers restaurant industry professionals shoes designed to provide maximum protection and comfort for demanding work days. Emeril’s shoes feature multiple innovations that are specifically tailored to the restaurant environment. Knowing that duty shoes need to stand up to the tough environment that culinary professionals face, Emeril worked with JSSI’s creative and engineering teams to integrate antimicrobial and water repellent technologies into the material of the shoe upper itself, while also introducing a memory foam insole for enhanced comfort. Each shoe also includes an Emeril-inspired slip-resistant outsole to provide reliable traction on any surface, an essential consideration in busy kitchens. Beyond the functional innovations, the shoes are designed to meet the evolving tastes of culinary professionals, offering both style and substance.
Jason got the Quarter Shoes. And while Jason is not in the restaurant industry, these shoes are awesome for him in healthcare and his role in Environmental Services at our local clinic. He is on his feet for over 8 hours most days as an Essential Worker at this time, and has slippery floors, etc. The Men’s Quarter is an athletic lace-up work shoe that features a nubuck leather upper, a pull tab for easy on, and a gusseted tongue to keep debris out of the shoe. These slip resistant work shoes feature the ultimate combination of cutting edge design and technology to provide top notch performance for occupational footwear. These stylish and innovative sneakers can be purchased in both regular and wide width sizes and are also available for Women. I am jealous Jason got these shoes, because I sure could use a pair for my job, as well as I believe they would help my Plantars Fasciitis, but I am not on my feet nearly as much as Jason is these days. He really loves these shoes and says these will be his go to work brand from now.

30% Off sitewide with Code: April30.


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Happy Spring Equinox

~Hayley