Party Planning With Help from DealDash

 

After hosting my daughter’s 4 year old birthday party this past weekend I was amazed at how many ways DealDash helped me.

 

Planning a birthday party can be such hard work! However, when you see all of the party-goers having a great time, especially the birthday person it makes it all worth it. Let’s take a quick peek at how many ways that DealDash made my life a little easier when I was making the party preparations.

Food preparations were number one on my list, and so many of the small appliances and kitchen-ware that I used to prepare and store the food originally came from DealDash. The pots & pans set that I got from DealDash about 6 months ago was definitely an integral part of the food preparations,  but even smaller things such as my bamboo cooking utensils and food storage set all played their part in making my party a success. If you are in need of anything in and around the kitchen check out DealDash’s Kitchen & Appliances section.

Rachael Ray Hard Enamel Cookware 10pc set (2-tone Red)Oceanstar 6 Piece Bamboo Cooking Utensil SetRubbermaid 40-Piece Food Storage Set

Another item that I got from DealDash that was absolutely a necessity for my party was my portable centerfold table. All of my normal table space was taken up by happy party-goers, so I tossed a disposable table cloth onto my portable centerfold table and it made a great buffet table to keep all of the big dishes and bowls of food on so people could come serve themselves. Speaking of tables, I had a few tiny guests that were too small to sit at my regular dining table or on a bar stool at my island, so I brought out my kid’s table & chair set and there was room for everyone, and no one got any “boo-boos” from falling off of a chair that was too big for them. If you’re looking for some inexpensive furniture that you can keep in storage until you need it, try browsing the Home & Office  category on DealDash.

Mainstays Centerfold TableKid's 5 Piece Folding Chair and Table Set

Since this was a 4 year old’s birthday party, I’m sure that you can guess the last DealDash section that I am going to mention…The Toys, Kids, & Baby section, of course! I was able to get my daughter a bunch of great toys that she was so excited to open and made her birthday extra special. My daughter absolutely loves all of the awesome things that I get her on DealDash, but I had saved some of her favorite characters for her birthday. Thanks for making her birthday great, DealDash!

Hello Kitty AM/FM Projection Clock Radio with Battery Back-upLEGO Friends Sunshine Harvest Play SetDisney Multi-Bin Toy Organizer

 

 

DealDashing Around the House for Basic Supplies

 DealDash.comEveryone needs basic supplies in their home – toilet paper, tissues, dish soap, etc. Why not get them at DealDash?

Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper Double Rolls

One of the most important thing to have stocked up in your pantry is something 99.9% of people use every day – toilet paper! I know that some people buy it as it runs out, but it’s really so much more cost effective to buy (or win!) in bulk. Also, just about everyone knows that sinking feeling when you have run out of toilet paper and really need some badly. Why use rough scratchy napkins or paper towels until you can get to the store? Just get it in bulk and be prepared! DealDash often has auctions for toilet paper. Some of the auctions have ended for an extremely low price – Take this 24 double-roll pack of toilet paper, which is frequently up for auction. It’s sold for a final auction value as low as .89! Now that’s savings!

Seventh Generation Facial Tissues, Unscented, 2 Ply, 85 tissues

Another great item to stock your pantry with is tissues. Almost everyone uses tissues, and if you have kids you probably go through a box every week or so. DealDash has tissues up for bid pretty frequently, almost always in bulk. These particular tissues have gone for as little as ONE penny!

Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Hand Soap Dishwashing Liquid

The last item that I think you should stock up on is dish soap. No matter if you wash your dishes in the dishwasher or do them by hand, dish soap has an extremely long shelf life, and it just makes sense to stock up on dish soap at DealDash. This particular dish soap is frequently offered for bid on DealDash, and has sold for as little as .50.

I hope this article helps you on a journey to make some smart decisions on what to choose to bid on at DealDash. If you’re interested in getting some new items for your office or home office, 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!

Baby Talk: What Should Parents Have Waiting for the New Baby?

 

Having a baby is such a joyous occasion, sometimes new parents (or parents of older kids) forget what they should have waiting for the new baby when they come home from the hospital.

There are many things that you are going to need to make a new baby feel comfortable when they get home from the hospital. I’ve compiled a list of some of the things that I have found essential when I’ve brought my babies home. You might not need or want all of these items, but I found each and every one useful.

 

 

 

The very first thing you are going to need is non-negotiable. If you live in America and you are going to be driving your new baby home you absolutely need an infant car seat. There are some car seats made for just infants, and there are “convertible” car seats that can go from infant to baby to big kid. It just depends what you prefer. Be sure that you are buying a NEW car seat, used car seats are just not safe, especially if they have ever been in any kind of car crash. Also, car seats have expiration dates on them that you really need to pay attention and heed the warning sticker. When you are picking out your car seat make sure that you also pay attention to the weight limits on the seat. Make sure that you get a seat that will keep a baby as small as 6 pounds safe, you never know what the weight of your baby will be!

 

I’m sure that if you are expecting a baby you are probably well stocked with baby clothes, baby blankets, diapers, wipes, and bottles, and a crib, but have you picked up a bassinet or play yard that has a bassinet attachment yet? These items are extremely handy when the baby is 0-3 months, especially if the new Mommy plans on breast feeding. My daughter slept next to me in the bassinet for the first 3 months of her life, and it made it so much easier to tend to her needs during the night rather than have to go into her room down the hall. It might sound lazy to you, but she was a very bad sleeper, waking up 9+ times every night. As with the weight of your baby, you never know if you will have a good or bad sleeper, and it’s better to be prepared. If you choose the play yard with bassinet attachment then when the baby has outgrown sleeping in the attachment then you can take it off and you have a great playpen to stick the baby in while you are showering or cooking.

 

 

Another item that I found very useful was a baby swing. My kids only liked it up until about 6 months or so, but it was really very handy for calming them down when they were upset, or entertaining them for a bit so I could eat or get housework done. There are a few different styles, but they all have the same basic functions of swinging as well as playing music. Some are battery powered and others use a wall cord. If possible I would go with the wall cord option, my old swing took 4 D batteries at a time, and they really didn’t last very long when powering the swing, especially as my kids gained weight.

 

 

After reading this article I hope that you have a better idea of what types of things that new parents should have waiting at home for their newborn. How about getting some of these essentials on DealDash? They have all types of items in many different categories there, check out the Toys, Kids, & Baby section to find some awesome products. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

DealDash

12 Weeks Until Thanksgiving, Time to Get Ready

It’s only 12 weeks until Thanksgiving! As a first-time Thanksgiving host for my family I have already started my prep, and I have learned a few tips along the way.

The first thing that I noticed when I began my Thanksgiving prep was that I just didn’t have the right tools to get the job done. I definitely needed to get a roasting pan for the turkey itself, but I was also in need of a selection of different sized casserole dishes to put all of my sides in to bake and serve. After all, what’s Thanksgiving without the green bean casserole and the sweet potatoes? Luckily for me, DealDash has a great selection of kitchen items.

 

Speaking of delicious casseroles, here are a few recipes that you might like to try if you are going to be hosting your family’s Thanksgiving this year.

 

Classic Green Bean Casserole – This is probably the exact recipe that your Mother or Grandmother got off of a soup can 40 years ago.

Ingredients:

1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk 
1 teaspoon soy sauce 
1 dash black pepper 
4 cups cooked cut green beans 
1 1/3 cups French’s® French Fried Onions 

Directions:

1- Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a 1 1/2-quart casserole.

2- Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling.  Stir the bean mixture.  Sprinkle with the remaining onions.

3- Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

You’re done! Even people who don’t normally like green beans usually enjoy this casserole.

Another favorite around the Thanksgiving table is another seasonal casserole, the Sweet Potato Casserole. If you aren’t familiar with Sweet Potato Casserole, it’s based on sweet potato pie, a favorite in the South. This famous Thanksgiving side dish has a delicious history. The marshmallows were added by Janet McKenzie Hill, the founder of the Boston Cooking-School Magazine, in 1917, when the marshmallow evolved from a specialty confection into an everyday treat. If you’ve never had it you should definitely give it a try this year. Here is a quick and easy recipe.

Ingredients:

4 1/4 pounds sweet potatoes 

2 tablespoons butter 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cooking spray 

3 cups miniature marshmallows 

Directions:

1- Preheat oven to 425°.

2- Place sweet potatoes in a shallow baking pan lined with foil. Bake at 425° for 1 hour or until tender. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

3- Peel sweet potatoes; place in a large bowl. Add butter and next 3 ingredients (through cinnamon); mash with a potato masher until pureed. Spoon potato mixture into a 2-quart glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.

4- Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Top with marshmallows; bake an additional 10 minutes or until marshmallows are lightly browned.

That’s it! If you don’t tell the kids what it’s made of they will be sure to tear into the marshmellowy goodness.

If you are going to be hosting your family’s Thanksgiving this year be sure to check out DealDash. There are so many things there that you will be able to use for Thanksgiving dinner, but also be able to incorporate into your everyday use as well. Some examples of things you might want to look for in the kitchen section are: knife sets, pot & pan sets, cutlery, baking items, and much more. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

Fun in the Kitchen

Do you love to cook? Well, even if you don’t, here are some ways that you can have fun in the kitchen.

One of my favorite ways to have fun in the kitchen is to have unique kitchen gadgets and fun-colored small appliances. There are a few popular brands that make an awesome array of different colored small appliances to appease anyone looking for something a little “different.”

 

There are also a number of lesser-known brands from other countries such as France and Finland that make really adorable kitchen items that definitely ramp up the fun factor.

 

 

Another great way to have fun in the kitchen is to get your kids involved! Babies love to sit on the floor while you cook and play with pots and pans, while kids as young as 3 can learn to crack an egg or pour and mix for you. Elementary school-aged children can really be a lot of help to you, with very specific safety instructions and close supervision they can learn how to chop veggies and fruits, measure ingredients, and read to you from a cookbook so you don’t have to keep wiping your hands off before you touch the book. If you still don’t like cooking by the time these trained tiny chefs go to Middle school, well, maybe they can take over the cooking for you!

 

 

 

My last suggestion for you to help you have more fun in the kitchen is to get some gadgets that you don’t really need, but ones that make your life easier. Personally, my favorite kitchen gadget is my stand mixer, which I definitely don’t need, but it comes in handy now and again, and it always looks beautiful sitting on my kitchen counter. My sister is a little more practical, her favorite kitchen gadget is a margarita maker. It gets significantly more use than my stand mixer, and everyone gets excited when she brings it out of the pantry and yells “Margarita Time!!!” If we’re really being honest here, maybe my sister is the one you should be asking for advice on how to have fun in the kitchen!

 

I hope this article has encouraged you to try some of my strategies for having fun in the kitchen. If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make your time in the kitchen a little more fun. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!