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!

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!

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-GYIxMjI

Tonfisk Design Elevates Style for the Kitchen

Tonfisk Design is an awesome company from Finland that really knows their way around the kitchen…With style!

Translated from Swedish, Tonfisk actually means “tuna fish”, which might sound a little strange, but when you see their products you will forget their quirky name and enjoy the clean elegant style that the Finnish are known for. You might wonder who makes all of these interesting products – the main designer is Brian Keaney, however the company has taken products into production from several different Finnish designers.

Tonfisk Design has a lot of interesting and different things to explore, one of my favorites is actually an extendable flower vase – perfect for when someone brings you flowers that are just too short or tall for any vases you have. It’s made of two parts, the lower part is made of porcelain and the upper part is made of laminated oak or walnut. The upper part can be raised or lowered to fit your flower’s height and still look great. This flower vase from Tonfisk Designs is called KasVu, in case you would like to do a little more research on it.

Another Tonfisk Designs favorite of mine is the “WARM” collection. WARM is a tea and coffee set that combines ceramic teacups and teapots with bracelets of laminated bent wood. Held on by friction, the wood acts as a handle and also insulates your tea or coffee. Since its launch in 1998 WARM tea and coffee set has become a ‘mini classic’ of Finnish and Scandinavian design.

If you’re like me you want to be sure that it’s easy to clean all of your kitchen items. You might ask yourself, “Can I use a dishwasher with these products?” The answer is YES! You can wash these products in the dish washer. All of the Tonfisk Design products are tested and certified for safety and have a food safe and durable glaze. You can also clean the wooden parts with a wet cloth. However, afterwards you should dry the parts at room temperature with good air circulation. The wooden parts are waterproof in normal use, however you should definitely avoid leaving the wooden parts in water and getting soaked, though. If this should happen, remove the handles from the water and leave them to dry on a table for a day or so. The handles should return to their original shape.

If you like the products from Tonfisk Design that I have shown you, there are many more to explore, and DealDash will be offering them soon. The best part about winning these items from DealDash is that instead of ordering them directly from Finland, DealDash ships it to us for free! Saving on shipping alone makes me loyal to DealDash. It’s so fun to be able to try products that aren’t as easily available in America. Good luck everyone, and Happy Bidding!

3 BidBuddy Tips for DealDash.com

This blog entry is for those of you who don’t know how bidders are able to stay by their computer or why bidders seem to place their bids in turn. They answer to both of those questions is by using the BidBuddy!

The BidBuddy is an automated bidding tool available to bidders, and is by far the most important tool bidders have for winning auctions. Here’s a few different ways that the BidBuddy can help users win auctions:

The BidBuddy Keeps you in the Auctions

You preset the BidBuddy to use a set number of bids in each auction. Once you do that, the BidBuddy will automatically place your bids before the bid clock counts down to 0. By doing this you’re guaranteed to get your bids in before the auction closes, and you’re also free to leave the computer and do other things while participating in the auction. You can go to the bathroom, or you can go to a movie: the BidBuddy makes sure you can stay in it to win it!

Experienced Bidders Know not to Bid Against the Bidbuddy

Once you set a BidBuddy it will place the bids for you, even while you’re away from the computer. If more than one bidder has a BidBuddy active then the BidBuddies will take turns placing the bids. Experienced bidders know this and so they look for these patterns, and if they see it they’ll know that they won’t win until the BidBuddies have run out of bids. One way you can take advantage of this is by placing a small number of bids in your BidBuddy at a time and then watching the auction. This can chase people who are watching the auction away as they won’t be able to tell how many bids your BidBuddy is going to place, but it can also tell you whether other bidders have their BidBuddies set up.

The BidBuddy Makes it Easier to Bid on Multiple Auctions

Many bidders like to multitask and bid on several auctions at the same time. This can be challenging and can be an easy way to sink bids into an auction only to get distracted and then lose out. The BidBuddy provides a sort of safety net by placing the bids for you. It’s always worth putting 5 or 10 bids into your BidBuddy to make sure that you don’t miss out on a big win because you’re looking at more auctions or checking the winners list.

Most auctions on DealDash are won using the BidBuddy, so try using these tips to help YOU win more auctions. Check out this video below to learn how to set up your BidBuddy.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/45301662 w=538&h=343]

Tips to Save and Win on DealDash.com

DealDash customers love to win auctions, and they love to win big. By making auctions easy-to-win, DealDash has built up a large number of loyal customers who have spent years on the site winning great deals on a huge range of products.

But with so many well established bidders, it can be challenging for new bidders to jump right in and start winning. And while DealDash does its best to give new customers the opportunity to try out the site in a risk-free fashion, it’s important that new or less experienced bidders think about what they want from the site, and what they’re prepared to do to get it.

Here are five things to keep in mind when you set out to win that iPad or big screen TV. By keeping these five pieces of advice in mind, you’ll be able to save big bucks on your bidding AND winning on DealDash:

Stock up on Bids While They’re on Sale

DealDash is one of the only pay-to-bid auction sites that puts their bids on sale on a regular basis. You should keep this in mind when bidding and stock up when there’s a sale. You can always buy more bids if you think you’re reaching the end of an auction and just need a few more to put you over the top, but by buying when prices are low you’ll save big in the long run.

“Buy it now” When It’s Needed

If you find yourself getting in over your head you should consider using the “Buy it now” (BIN) option. In fact, you should check out the BIN price before you start bidding. When you purchase the item using the BIN option all of the bids you use in the auction are credited back to your account. Not only does this cover you if you go all in on an auction and get outbid, but you can also bid MORE to win if you know you can get your bids back.

DealDash’s BIN option is a great way to ensure you can always get a great deal in the auctions!

Set a Limit and Stick to It

Every bidder will be slightly different, and so everyone should decide for themselves what they want, how many bids they’re willing to use, and when to BIN or walk away. Because everyone is different there’s no formula or standard that will fit everyone, but it’s something you should consider before you enter an auction.

Really Focus on Bidding on the Things You Want

This might sound silly to include here, but lots of people “browse bid” or place bids casually on things they sort of, maybe want. You’d be surprised how these bids can add up, and are essentially wasted. You’re better off really thinking about what you want to get from DealDash that day and commit to it. By focusing your time, attention, and bids you’ll have a greater chance of getting that satisfying win bidders love!

Following these tips will help you win and save money while using DealDash, but you should also spend some time reviewing these blog entries and the website to learn more about the auctions. And don’t forget that you can always contact DealDash’s customer support team if you need help figuring out the site!