Tag: Deal Dash

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

  1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!

 

 

 

 

 

Nab Yourself a Nabi Jr. on DealDash

Kids love electronics, it’s a fact of life. Instead of letting them use your expensive adult tablet, how about nabbing them a Nabi Jr?

There’s a lot of talk these days about making learning fun, so that kids actually want to participate. The world around us is changing so quickly, when I was in Kindergarten in the mid-1980s the most academic thing that we did was learn our numbers and colors. However, now with a child in Kindergarten myself I see that there are clear, very specific core fundamentals a child must master in order to succeed in Kindergarten. The kids need to grasp these reading, writing and math concepts before entering elementary school. My son was really struggling last year, so much that he had to repeat Kindergarten this year, and I believe that it was because he didn’t learn these core skills in Preschool that he really needed for Kindergarten.

 

Luckily, the Nabi Jr. tablet that I want to talk about today was designed as a tool, not as a toy. Nabi Jr. is powered by a dual-core processor, including 4GB storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and rotating front and back camera. The operating system is Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is really easy to use. The Nabi Jr. also comes pre-loaded with Wings First Steps, which are  age-appropriate lessons that help your child master skill sets and build core fundamentals in math, reading and writing. Parents can check progress with N-Site, a program that allows parents to monitor time spent, skill gains and also to identify trouble spots. Do you have a kid who is reluctant to help around the house? Even the most stubborn kids can learn to be responsible and make good choices with Nabi Coins, Chore List and Treasure Box.

In case you’re curious what Nabi Coins are, Nabi Coins is a parent-managed virtual currency that teaches children how to save, earn and spend money. Nabi Coins can be earned when your child completes lessons in the Wings Learning System or finishes their chores in the Chore List program. Your child can use their Nabi Coins to buy stuff in Treasure Box. Pretty cool, right? The Treasure Box is basically an app store where kids can use their hard earned Nabi Coins to purchase new music, movies, games, and more.

If you would like to introduce your kids to a Nabi, head on over to DealDash and check out the upcoming Nabi auctions. If you see one you are interested in, go ahead and hit the blue “Alert Me” button and DealDash will send you a quick email when one becomes available. Good luck and happy bidding everyone, set your Bid Buddies and go out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather!

 

Rachael Ray Knows Her Way Around a Kitchen!

Who pops into your head when someone mentions the Food Network? I’ll bet Rachael Ray is in your top 3 that you think of! She’s everywhere!

Most people might recognize Rachael Ray as a celebrity chef on the Food Network. She was born on August 25, 1968 in New York, and has been around restaurants all of her life, thanks to her mom who was a restaurant manager when Rachel was young. She is also an author as well as hosting the syndicated daily talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray, and three Food Network series: 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, and $40 a Day. 

 

One of the most interesting things that I found out about Rachael Ray is that in 2007, The Oxford American College Dictionary announced the addition of the term EVOO, short for extra-virgin olive oil, which Ray had helped to popularize, and credited her with coining the phrase. This phrase started on her television programs, she has used catchphrases such as “E-V-O-O” (extra-virgin olive oil) as well as a few others that haven’t caught on quite as much such as  “stoup” (cross between a soup and stew), and “choup” (thicker than a soup but thinner than a chowder).

Why am I telling you all about Rachael Ray? Well, if you like her products then you should see what DealDash has for you! DealDash offers many of her high quality products such as Stoneware Oil and Vinegar Bottles, 3.5-quart stoneware covered rectangular casserole dish, and my personal favorite, the Hard Enamel 10pc Cookware set in 2-tone red.  I got this cookware set from DealDash right around the time that I was moving, and it was one of the very first things that I unpacked when I moved in.  This set includes: 1 Qt. Covered Saucepan, 2 Qt. Covered Saucepan, 6 Qt. Covered Stockpot, 3 Qt. Covered Saute, 8.5″ Skillet, and 10″ Skillet. All of these items have a nonstick interior. The nonstick interior allows food to slide off and makes cleanup quick and easy. All of them also have soft grippy handles. The rubberized dual-riveted handles are comfortable and oven safe to 350°F. The lids are made of tempered glass – Watch your foods cook without having to remove the lid to keep moisture locked in. Here is a picture of me with my Rachael Ray cookware set!

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Head on over to DealDash and check out the upcoming Rachael Ray product auctions. One of my favorite things about the Rachael Ray products is that they come in so many different colors – purple, orange, and red to name a few. If you see one you are interested in, go ahead and hit the blue “Alert Me” button and DealDash will send you a quick email when one becomes available. Good luck and happy bidding everyone, set your Bid Buddies and go out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9×7-GYIxMjIRachael Ray

HAPPY 4th of JULY from DealDash & Coleman

What activities do you think about when you think about the 4th of July? Grilling? Camping? All things outdoors?

Coleman has products for the whole family to enjoy the 4th of July together. Let’s start with grills! Do you ever travel to a relative’s house for the 4th of July only to find out that they don’t have a grill? Well, not to worry! Coleman makes an awesome portable grill that you can travel with. Be it to the relatives, tailgating, or camping, the Coleman Roadtrip LXX Grill is what you need for grilling on the go.

 

Speaking of camping, do you ever go camping on 4th of July weekend? One of my closest friends is going camping up in New Hampshire for the long weekend, and I told her about an awesome Coleman product that she HAS to pick up before she goes — The Grilltop Camping Coffeemaker! The camping coffeemaker is one of the best camping “luxuries” that I can think of,  camping coffeemaker the brews drip coffee just like you have at home, and it’s compatible with two- and three-burner camp stoves. You can also use the camping coffeemaker as a warmer for hot cocoa, hot cider or instant soup. The solid steel base can be placed atop a burner for delicious drip coffee without grinds, spills or messes. The Coleman Coffeemaker’s removable, swing-out filter basket lets you change out coffee flavor or customize coffee strength, just like you would at home.

If you’re going to be camping make sure you pick up some essential gear – Coleman has a great selection of sleeping bags, coolers, lanterns, and more! Make sure that you are getting the best items that you can easily afford, being comfortable out in the wild is priceless!

 

Camping isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun 4th of July, of course. If your idea of fun centers more around home than the wilderness then you could give the Coleman Back Home 12’x10′ Instant Screened Canopy a try. It’s a great portable shelter that is very easy to set up and takes less than three minutes to assemble. It’s great for an afternoon at the lake, tailgating at the football game, or even just in your backyard at home. Worried about eating your 4th of July hot dogs and burgers amidst the bees and bugs? The Coleman Canopy comes with an accessory screen that protects you from insects and dust – now pass the burgers over!

 

 

 

If you’re ready to have a great 4th of July celebration at home or at a campsite, head on over to DealDash. There are great Coleman auctions starting soon. Be sure that you have enough bids in your account to stack your Bid Buddy up to the Buy It Now (BIN) price. Just remember, if you don’t win the auction you can always BIN the item and get all of your bids back instantly. Good luck and happy bidding everyone.