Tag: BidBuddy

DealDash Brings Families Together

How do you like to spend time with your family? I like to DealDash with mine!

One of my favorite ways to spend time with family is to browse on DealDash. The kids love to look at all of the toys, games, and sports equipment while my fiance and I like to look around to see what household items will be coming up for bid soon. It brings us closer together to be able to pick and choose our new items together from DealDash together.

I have very fond memories of being a kid and pouring over the toy and game catalogs with my parents. DealDash is exactly like a modern version of a catalog, with anything and everything that your family might need or want. I wonder if my kids will look back one day and say “Wow, I used to have so much fun looking at DealDash with my Mom!”

Another way that DealDash helps me connect with my family is to search for gifts for them that I know that they will just love. For example, my sister lives a few states away and I only get to see her a few times per year. However, I think about her every day when I log into DealDash and see things that I know that she would like, such as kitchen items or animal items. She has cats, dogs, horses, and chickens, so just about anytime any sort of animal auction pops up I have to text her and ask her if she needs whatever item that was. See, I wouldn’t normally bother to text her in the middle of the day on a random Tuesday, but when an auction comes up that she might like I have to text her about it, and that keeps us connected. So thank you to DealDash for keeping my sister and me close, even though we live far away from each other.

 

I hope this article has encouraged you to reach out and connect with your family through DealDash. Another great place to connect with your family of all ages is in the kitchen.  If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to the Kitchen & Dining section on DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use to make awesome meals together with your family  Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

That’s My Pet: Saltwater Fish

 

We have already talked about freshwater fish here on DealDashBlog before, but I think it’s time we progressed on to the next challenge: saltwater fish!

In this DealDash Blog series we have been highlighting different pets, given some basic facts about pet ownership, and hopefully helped you make informed decisions about your new furry, feathered, or finned family member. Having a saltwater or marine aquarium is a significantly harder challenge than a freshwater tank, and some would argue much harder and more time-consuming than a cat or dog.

As a person who had worked at a pet store as well as having my own freshwater aquariums for years at some point I decided that I was ready for a saltwater tank. To be honest…I wasn’t! I jumped in feet-first and tried to make everything beautiful as fast as possible. It had always worked with freshwater aquariums before, and I was very surprised when all of my tank inhabitants died. I was very upset, and went back to freshwater for a while. I got the marine bug again about a year ago, and I am doing things correctly this time. Hopefully I can share some of my helpful tips so you don’t make the same mistakes that I made.

 

Hawkeye 2 Gallon 360 Starter Aquarium Kit with LED Lighting

There are a huge variety of different aquariums that you can get for your first set-up, most people find that the easiest thing to do is to get a kit that is already pre-assembled. DealDash has a few adorable nano tanks that some some equipment to get you started. Check them out in the Home, Garden, and Tools sections. However, if you would prefer to pick up the pieces yourself, here are the very basics that are recommended for a saltwater fish aquarium:

  • Fish tank or aquarium
  • Light source (LEDs or other strong lighting if you plan on doing corals)
  • External Filter, Protein skimmer
  • Water additives depending on if you keep corals or not
  • Power head for water movement
  • Thermometer
  • Fish food
  • Heater
  • Live rock
  • pre-made saltwater or RO water, bucket, and salt mix
  • Hydrometer (to measure how salty the water is)
  • Water testing kits (ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite at a bare minimum)
  • Sand (optional, some people prefer “bare bottom”)
  • UV light (optional, kills bacteria)
  • Magnet scraper (optional, to clean algae and salt deposits on glass without getting wet)

 

The size and type of aquarium that you purchase can determine the type and quantity of fish that you choose to put in your new aquarium. When doing saltwater fish, space is KEY. If you want a very small nano tank (10 gallons or less) then you probably just want to go with one small fish such as a clownfish (Nemo), or clown goby. Clown gobies aren’t quite as well known as clownfish, but they are amazingly cute and come in many different colors like yellow, blue, green, etc. Along with your one small fish and live rock you could also put in a small shrimp such as a peppermint shrimp. You can also add a few marine hermit crabs and snails. If you have good lighting you can also add some beginner corals such as kenya trees, pulsing xenia, mushrooms, or zoas.

If you are interested in having more than 1 or 2 small fish in your tank then you will need to go much bigger, I would say 40 gallons is the smallest tank that you should go with, but with saltwater, bigger is always better, because the water quality is more stable the bigger you go. I currently have a 90 gallon tank, and it’s definitely been the most successful (and biggest) tank that I have ever had.

Setting up your aquarium for saltwater is a simple process, but the key is patience. With freshwater you can basically go from no tank to a tank full of healthy happy fish in the span of a week. No so with saltwater.

  • Put your aquarium on whatever surface that you will be keeping it on long term, be it an actual aquarium stand, a dresser, table, desk, etc. If you’re looking for a nice sturdy piece of furniture to put a smaller tank on, check out DealDash.
  • Get your pre-made or mixed saltwater and add it to the aquarium, leaving a few inches unfilled at the top
  • Put in your sand if you will be using it
  • Install your heater, filter/protein skimmer, and thermometer
  • Add your live rock and arrange it how you would like
  • Finish filling the saltwater to the top
  • Plug in heater and filter/protein skimmer
  • Wait
  • And wait
  • And wait some more
  • Add fresh RO (reverse osmosis) water every day to make up for the evaporated water. Make sure you don’t add saltwater! As the saltwater evaporates every day the water leaves, but the salt stays in the tank. If you top off with saltwater every day then your water will be much too salty after a few days.
  • After a few weeks add a few snails and hermit crabs
  • If your snails and crabs seem to be doing well then use your water testing kit and test the water after your tank has been set up for 6 weeks or so
  • If your water tests well 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 or less nitrate then you just might be ready to add one fish. Please pick and small and inexpensive fish such as a damsel fish, don’t go for an expensive tang right away.
  • Try not to add more than one fish at a time, and wait a few in between adding fish. Before you add any more fish do a water test in between to make sure that your water parameters are safe.
  • Sit back, relax, and enjoy your new pets!

I hope that this article has helped you understand a little bit about setting up a saltwater fish aquarium. If you are in the market for an aquarium, pet store gift card, or any other pet-related items head on over to DealDash and see what they have up for bid today. I have gotten so many pet store gift cards from DealDash. And the best thing is, if I don’t win the auction then I can just buy the gift card for face value, they ship it to me for free, and give me all my bids back to try again. It’s really win-win! Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Baby Talk: How to Encourage a Reluctant Older Sibling

 

Having a new baby is always so exciting, especially for the parents and grandparents. However, some kids are not quite as eager to meet their new tiny sibling.

I am currently pregnant with baby number 3, and I certainly remember how my oldest first reacted to the fact that we were going to have a new baby in the house – Let’s just say it didn’t go well. Since I have already lived through that experience, I am hoping that this one will be more smooth. Some new baby anger is inevitable, though the degree depends on the ages of the two (or three!) children, whether or not their personalities are similar, and quite a few other factors that may or may not apply in your own personal case.

Children over age three or four usually welcome a new baby into the home, and sometimes these children, at least on the surface, don’t seem to be jealous. For instance, my daughter just turned four, and she is very excited to meet the new baby, and she even said that she would change diapers! Being verbal helps them deal with the changes. However, it’s not unusual for kids younger than three to be upset for a while.

One of the best ways that I have found to “soften” the blow of having a new baby intruding into the household is to give both of my older kids more responsibilities and freedom. One of my daughter’s favorite things is jewelry, and I decided that it was about time she had a grown-up jewelry box. I was actually lucky enough to win a beautiful jewelry armoire  on DealDash. They have them up for auction every so often, and I was very happy to win the one in the white finish to match her bedroom furniture. If you’re interested in furniture of any type check out the Home, Garden, & Tools section on DealDash.

Acme Didi Jewelry Armoire, White FinishLinon Grace 4-Drawer Jewelry Armoire

 

My son will be 8 when my new baby is born, and I have already started giving him extra chores as an opportunity to prove how “grown up” he is, and he loves being able to earn extra ipad time in exchange for loading laundry or bringing in the garbage bins for me. If you’re looking for an ipad, try DealDash. They seem to have them up for auction almost daily.

Apple iPad mini 4 64GB Wi-Fi, Space Gray

Besides these small suggestions, the biggest one that I have is to try and spend the most time with your older kids as possible, before and after the baby arrives. Before the newbie is born tell your kids about when they were a baby. Even if they have heard the stories a million times before they still enjoy them. Look through old baby pictures, and if you have any of their old favorite outfits or toys bring them out and exclaim about how tiny and cute they were when they were babies…And how they are still cute, but so grown up now! When the baby is napping or with another family member try and take that time to spend some 1-on-1 time with your other children. Kids thrive on attention, so try to give them as much positive attention as you can on your limited time schedule.

 

After reading this article I hope that you have a better idea of how to deal with sibling rivalry with a new baby. If you’re looking for any baby or kid supplies check out the Toys, Kids, & Baby section to find some awesome products. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

DealDash

Basketball Fans! The Season is Ready to Start

It’s October now and the 2015-2016 NBA season is about to begin! Let’s learn a little about basketball, then I’ll show you how you can get your own equipment to play at home on DealDash.

This upcoming 2015–16 NBA season is the 70th season of the National Basketball Association, isn’t that amazing? This year’s regular season will begin on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at the United Center, which is the home of the Chicago Bulls, who will be hosting a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early game. Later on in the night game the 2015 NBA champions Golden State Warriors will be hosting the New Orleans Pelicans. Who’s your favorite team? I live in Boston, so everyone here is wild about the Celtics, but in my heart I will always be a North Carolina girl, so the Charlotte Hornets are my top pick. Speaking of North Carolina and basketball, my fun trivia question for you is: What high school did Michael Jordan attend? If you answered Emsley A. Laney High you would be correct! I also attended Laney, but quite a few years after Michael.

Even though the NBA was established in 1946, the actual game of basketball was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Mass. The inventor of the game was a Phys Ed teacher named James Naismith, he invented basketball as a less injury-prone sport than football. After spreading around the fun of his new game, The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.

If you enjoy watching basketball, then you might agree that playing basketball is even more fun! However, not everyone has easy access to a basketball court, so the next best thing is to set up your own basketball hoop in your driveway at home. DealDash has quite a few different basketball hoops that you can choose from, there are freestanding basketball hoops in both adult and youth sized, as well as stationary hoops that need to be mounted. Of course, if you’re setting up a basketball hoop you’re going to need a ball! DealDash has you covered on that one, too. They offer both official and youth sized basketballs.

Lifetime 90022 32-inch Youth/Indoor Portable Basketball SystemVoit Lite 80 Junior BasketballLifetime 44-Inch Court Height-Adjustable Basketball HoopOfficial NBA Zi/O Excel Basketball, Size 7

If the outdoors aren’t really your thing, I totally understand. Up here in New England it’s absolutely too cold to be hanging out outside anytime after November, but don’t worry. DealDash has a solution for that, too. They occasionally offer an arcade-style basketball game up for auction. It’s just like the kind you might find at a family fun center, and it’s a great edition for your basement or playroom. You can get your basketball fix no matter what the weather!

MD Sports Medal 2-Player Basketball Game

I hope this article has got you excited about basketball! If you’re interested in getting some items to get you started head on over to DealDash. DealDash has all of the pieces of equipment that we talked about, as well as water bottles, sports watches, and plenty of other items that you can use to start yourself off right. Check out the Hobbies, Toys, Outdoors, & Games category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you just love. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

 

Lessons on Coffee With DealDash

 

Every age group from teens to seniors love coffee. However, a lot of people go through life not knowing much about it. Let’s change that.

Most people know that coffee is prepared from roasted coffee beans, but do you know how they get the beans in the first place? Coffee beans as you know them actually come from the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant. Coffee plants are cultivated (almost) all over the world, but primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. You won’t find any coffee plants growing in Antarctica, though,  they need a temperature of about 59 and 75 °F to grow and thrive. The two most commonly grown coffee plants are arabica, which coffee connoisseurs tend to love, and the slightly lower regarded but stronger robusta.

 

You might be wondering how you get the coffee beans from plant seeds. Well, it’s a long time-consuming process starting with the picking of the berries. After the berries have been picked (some places do it by HAND!) then they are sorted by ripeness and color and then the flesh of the berry is removed, usually by machine, then the seeds are fermented to remove the slimy layer of berry flesh still on the seed. After this process is finished, the seeds are washed with fresh water to remove the fermentation residue. Finally, the seeds are dried. After the drying is done the beans are called “green coffee.” The final step before being shipped off to your local supermarket or cafe is roasting the beans. After they have been roasted then they are the nice brown yummy-smelling beans that we are all used to.

There are many different ways to enjoy the coffee beans – espresso, cafe Americano, Turkish, cold brewed, or even the most humble instant coffee. When you think of having a coffee at home most people probably either think of the “regular” coffee maker that’s found in most homes or offices, and coming in a close second would probably be the newer “one cup” coffee makers that use the individually portioned “pods”. No matter which type you prefer you can get the machines themselves and also the re-fills from DealDash. Getting items such as coffee from DealDash makes so much sense – If you don’t win the item and end up having to Buy It Now (BIN), you will get all of your bids back, and a great product that you would have bought anyway.

Mr.Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker,Stainless Steel/BlackStarbucks Colombia Ground Coffee, 12 ozKeurig Platinum Mini BrewerKeurig Donut Shop Sweet & Creamy Iced Coffee K-Cups (16-Pack)

 

I hope this article has furthered your knowledge about coffee and how it goes from plant to your cup.  If you’re interested in getting some items to enjoy your coffee at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has everything you need to have a nice hot cup of coffee at home. Check out the Kitchen & Dining category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make your perfect cup of coffee. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!