July 2015 - DealDash Blog

Goodbye July, Hello August!

July is winding down, and August is right around the corner. Have you been getting the most out of your summer? Let’s think of some ways to make August even better!

Do you and your family all have bikes? My family does, and one way or another I got them from DealDash! I purchased mine and my fiance’s bikes from Target with gift cards from DealDash, and the kid’s bikes I won for less than $2 final value fee. Amazing! Riding bikes around the neighborhood with my family is one of my favorite summer activities. If you haven’t gotten bikes for your whole family to ride together, I suggest you put it on your list of things to do in August.

Another great thing to do in August would be to take a short trip. There’s nothing quite as satisfying to me as to “play hooky” on a Friday from work, and take the kids on a road trip for a long weekend. Luckily for us we live in New England, where the states are on the small side; We can easily take a long weekend to New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, or even Maine and still have lots of time left over for fun before we have to head back. If you’re looking for some new luggage for a trip, DealDash has you covered. They have full sets, single suitcases, and even rolling duffle bags.

Lastly, how can your summer be complete without taking your family fishing together? There are definitely a few things that you need to remember if you’re going to be taking the whole family along:

Bring sunblock -Nothing ruins the memory of an awesome family fun day like a painful sunburn.
Bring bug spray – See above. Bug bites ruin your day.
Bring food/drinks – Especially if you have small kids. They get hungry, and hungry quickly turns to crankiness if they aren’t fed.
Bring a first aid kit- Better safe than sorry.
Have fun! Enjoy these precious moments with your family and enjoy the day together!

DealDash not only has all sorts of fishing gear, but they also have coolers and first aid kits if you need to replace yours. Go check out the Hobbies, Outdoors, & Sports category on DealDash and see if there’s something that you and your family can use for your awesome family activities in August. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Baby Talk: Let’s Talk Strollers!

How do you know what type of stroller to buy? Well, it depends what you need it for, of course! There are many different types of strollers depending on your needs and budget. Let’s talk strollers!

In this article we will go over some of the most popular types of strollers and when and where you would use them. Included in this article is the Full Size Stroller Travel System, the Jogging Stroller, and the Lightweight Foldable Stroller. All of these strollers can be very useful, and serve specific purposes. Safety 1st SleekRide™Premier Travel System, Sail Away

The first type of stroller we will talk about is the Travel System, which includes a Full Size stroller. The travel system consists of a Full Size stroller, a “baby bucket” baby carrying system which doubles as a car seat, and a car seat base. The Full Size stroller usually has more “options” than any of the other strollers that we are going to talk about. These strollers almost always have at the bare minimum dual cup holders, place for your keys/wallet, and a large travel basket underneath. The Full Size stroller also usually has front and rear brakes. In addition to the Full Size stroller the Travel System also includes the baby bucket, which is a portable car seat with a handle you can use to carry the baby or transfer it from stroller to car. The Travel System also includes a car seat base, which attaches into your car and your baby bucket snaps into it easily. These sets are typically more expensive than just a stroller because of the multiple pieces.

Schwinn Turismo Double Jogging Stroller, Gray & Blue

Another very popular stroller is the jogging stroller. They are built on a sturdy base and have 3 wheels in a triangular pattern. They typically are more rugged and can stand more abuse than a regular stroller. They are used for jogging, walking, hiking, and other athletic pursuits. Jogging strollers usually have a place to put your water bottle, keys, etc. The Jogging Stroller has a much better turning radius and you can use it to go in and out of crowds without accidentally running over anyone’s feet. Jogging Strollers have been picking up in popularity lately, everyone wants to be healthy!

The Lightweight Foldable Stroller is a great stroller to have. I have gotten more use of out this particular stroller than all of my other ones combined. They are so easy to just fold up and carry with you, stick them in a trunk, or some of them even have a strap so you can wear it on your back when you aren’t using it. Some of the nicer ones even have baskets underneath and cup holders.

After reading this article I hope that you have a better idea of what type of stroller that would be best for your child and family. All of these strollers have their own specific uses, and I myself own all of them, and use them in different situations. Good luck in finding your ideal stroller! How about starting your stroller search on DealDash? They have all types of strollers there, check out the Toys, Kids, & Baby section and see when the next stroller auction is coming up. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: Let’s Learn About Yoga Together

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is going to give you a quick and easy introduction to yoga. Let’s get started!

I’m sure that you have heard the word “yoga” before, but I bet that you didn’t know that the word yoga came from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means to yoke or bind. Yuj is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline. If you are just getting started into the practice of yoga, you will be pleased to know that you can spend as much or as little time doing yoga and you will still be able to reap the benefits of this healthy and calming exercise. Even if you only practice yoga for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of that practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. I suggest starting with two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. If you can only do 30 minutes per session, that’s fine too. Don’t worry or stress, just get another practice in when you have the chance.

Here is an infographic of some of the most popular yoga poses. Please note the color coding on the infographic, some of these are advanced poses not meant for the beginner!

Yoga_Poses

Now that you’ve seen some of the poses, let’s talk about some of the benefits of practicing yoga. Here are some great reasons to start:

1- Sleep. Yoga can help you sleep better. When you start practicing yoga you’ll be releasing pent up energy that could prevent you from falling asleep, and sleeping soundly once you do get to sleep. Yoga helps relax your nervous system, which is the part of your body responsible for restful sleep or a night of tossing and turning.

2- Builds muscle strength. Yoga requires you to get into and hold positions that will naturally strengthen your muscles, using only your body’s weight for resistance.

3- Lower blood pressure. Yoga is a great workout for your heart, and will improve your cardiovascular function over time.

4- Metabolism. Yoga helps improve your metabolism, which is directly responsible for helping you burn more calories with less work.

5- Better posture. Yoga will give you better posture naturally. All of the poses you’ll be performing are geared to get your body back into proper alignment the way that it should be.

I hope this article has encouraged you to take up the practice of yoga. If you’re interested in getting some items to get you started head on over to DealDash. DealDash has yoga mats, yoga balls, water bottles, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Hobbies, Outdoors, & Sports category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you just love. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is an important factor in staying healthy, but there are other factors than just getting 8 hours in. Let’s talk a little bit about Living Healthy, and how to get a good night’s sleep.

Everyone knows that you SHOULD get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but with kids, working extra hours on the job, household chores, and errands sometimes it’s hard to get to bed at a reasonable hour. You should really make your best effort to get your ZZZs, because your health can really suffer if you can’t make the time. Not practicing healthy sleep habits can lead to all kinds of health problems, poor sleep leads to cardiovascular dysfunction, a poor immune system , glucose and insulin abnormalities, weight gain due to fluctuating hormones that control appetite, and impaired cognitive function. Not only those physical problems, but lack of sleep can also lead to mental issues as well, including anxiety, depression, impaired reasoning skills, and mental sluggishness.

Well, what can you do to get not only the quantity but also the quality of sleep that you need? There are a few things that are fairly obvious such as cutting down on caffeine (especially after 3 PM), keeping your bedroom dark and comfortable, and clearing your mind of troubles and worries before you attempt to drift off.

However, there are some lesser known tips and tricks to get a better night’s sleep that I will share with you. For instance, did you know that using your tablet and smartphone right before you try to sleep can hinder the process? The light that is emitted by these types of devices wake up the senses and make it harder for your brain to get into “sleep mode.” For your best night’s sleep turn off your electronic devices about an hour before bedtime. Another great trick to getting a good night’s sleep is to keep a fan going in your bedroom all night. The fan serves two purposes – It’s easier to fall asleep when your room is a bit on the cooler side, and the fan also provides just the right amount of “white noise” to help you block out every little creak and crack that your house makes at night.

I hope this article helps you on a journey to better sleeping habits. If you’re interested in getting some new soothing items for your bedroom, including the fan that I recommended head on over to DealDash. If you browse the Home & Office category I’m sure that you’ll find something that you just love. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

The Endless Summer Days of DealDash

How’s your summer going? Have you done anything special? Well, DealDash has something special going on right now called Endless Summer.

Sounds fun, right? What would you do if you had a totally endless summer? I’m the type of person who can’t take the hot weather, so I like to stay inside until dusk, then get out the mosquito-killing tiki torches and hang out outside on my deck.

We also love to grill out almost every night in the summer. Burgers, chicken, steaks, even pineapple is great on the grill. Here’s the easiest and most delicious recipe for grilled pineapple:

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 pineapple – peeled, cored, and cut into 6 wedges

Directions

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
Whisk brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Pour sugar mixture into a large resealable plastic bag. Place pineapple wedges in bag and shake to coat each wedge.
Grill pineapple wedges on the preheated grill until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

See! Easy and so delicious, too. One of the best things about cooking out on the grill is there’s hardly any mess to clean up. No pots and pans to wash, and if you’re going to be eating outside you might as well use paper plates, too.

Another favorite summer activity of almost everyone I know is swimming. No matter if your pool is big or small, just about everyone loves to cool off in a pool when the summer weather gets hot.

However, as fun as swimming pools are, please remember your basic pool safety rules. An adult should always be actively watching children while they are in a pool. For infants and toddlers, an adult should be in the water and within arm’s reach, providing reassurance as well as an arm to grab onto if needed. For older children, an adult should be paying constant attention and free from distractions, like talking on the phone, socializing, tending household chores, or drinking alcohol. The supervising adult must know how to swim. If these simple safety rules are followed everyone should be able to stay safe and happy!

Of course, DealDash is always my go-to fun activity in any season. Go check out the Hobbies, Outdoors, & Sports category on DealDash and see if there’s something that you and your family can use for some Endless Summer fun. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!