Easiest Place to Spend a Paycheck

The Cribsie Awards will honor the top 60 products, brands, services, and websites for babies and tots. Out of 4,000 nominees, they've selected 344 finalists and  now we can vote for the very best! One of my favorite sites, Layla Grayce has been nominated in the Web category as "Easiest Place to Spend a Paycheck" and with their gorgeous hand-picked products for women, home, and children, I have to agree. Check out the Cribsie Awards to find some new resources for your little ones and vote for your favorites including Layla Grayce Cribsie Award Finalist in the Web, for the Easiest Way to Spend a Paycheck. now through March 18th.

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EdenFantasys - (Adult Post) Go Green For St. Patrick's Day

Want to bring in St. Patty's day with a kick?  Check out EdenFantasys which is an adult store that you can shop at from the privacy of your home for all your sensual needs whether you are a beginner or expert.  They have goodies that can make your St. Patty's Day festively green. 

When you place an order you have an option of a FREE Gift as well, just be sure to enter the promo code at checkout!!  This is great for any of you wanting to try something new but not sure where to start and the Free Gifts switch up about every week so keep checking back.  Ordering is easy, shipping is fast and packaging is very discreet!   The mail man won't even know where it's from.

One thing I especially like about the site is that there are customer/reviewer ratings on products so you can get an idea if a product is loved or not so much by other consumers.  They actually have very in depth reviews and even video's that explain a product so you have an idea of exactly what you are getting.  So go ahead and surprise your wife or husband with something HOT just for him/her that will rock their socks off this St. Patrick's Day! 

While you are there be sure to check out the promotions section for the best deals!

Disclosure - This not a review post.  These are simply my honest opinions.  In exchange for this post I may receive a gift card.

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Achooz Review and Giveaway ENDED

In the Fall I reviewed Boogie Wipes which some of you may be very familiar with.  Most recently I was able to try a NEW product launched by Boogie Wipes called Achooz.  The new product is basically the same idea except Achooz is geared more for adults.  I get allergies in the Spring and in the Winter my nose gets very dry and sensitive.  The Achooz wipes have been very helpful in gently soothing and moisturizing my nose.

The Achooz are made with saline which dissolves mucus and vitamin E and aloe to not only moisturize but prevent chapping.  This new line is available at Walgreens, Marc's, online at the Achooz website where you can also print a coupon and more.  It comes in two different varieties - soothing(fragrance free for everyday use) and cooling (menthol vapors).

WINNER #14

Kimberly said...

14

I follow with GFC.

Giveaway - To enter simply tell me why you would like to win the Achooz wipes!

*Bonus Entries*
--Follow Simply Bug via Google Friend Connect
--Follow Simply Bug on Twitter
--Follow Achooz on Facebook
--Tweet about this giveaway - 1 per day
--Follow Achooz on Twitter
--Follow Simply Bug in a reader
--Blog about this giveaway

Giveaway ends March 6, 2010 - 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be chosen at random and will have 48 hours to respond.


GOOD LUCK!!!



There was no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not swayed by the items mentioned above.

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Simple Green Cat Pet Stain and Odor Remover Review/Giveaway ENDED

As most of you know that read my blog, I have a cat well actually two!  So when I was asked to review the NEW Simple Green Cat Pet Stain and Odor Remover, I was all over it.  My cat likes to puke up his hair balls and everyday cat messes can be a pain. 

As luck would have it, he didn't puke once I received the Simple Green that's how good it works!  Just kidding!  Actually it's like getting your kids to pose nicely for a picture and they don't.  So, finally he did make a mess.  This time it was oddly something he never does, which is take a dump on the carpet.  I think the reason for this is because we brought in a carpet that must of had a hint of a cat on it because as the male he is he wants to dominate.  Other than that in the years we've had him he's never went anywhere outside the litter box.  Once I smelled the funk I immediately swooped up the glob and quickly sprayed the Simple Green on the smudge it left on the carpet and no joke it oddly just started disappearing on its own with little to no scrubbing at all!  I was so surprised by this because most cleaners you have to scrub and scrub again to get the junk off but not with this product.  Simple Green definitely knows animals and this product is very recommended by us.

Works On - urine, vomit, feces, scent-markings, mud, dirt-both new and old spots and stains

Apply Top - Carpets, rugs,  upholstry*, pet bedding, crates & carriers, tile, finished wood, laminates, concrete, clothing*, curtains & drapes*, auto carpet & upholstery*, sleeping bags, anywhere pet soils and stains occur.
* Do Not Apply to silk, velvet or leather

Where to Buy - Comes in 32 oz or 1 gallon size.  Available at PetSmart and The Simple Green Store
WINNER #27

mlynnw83 said...

27

Follow on GFC

Giveaway US ONLY - One lucky reader will win their very own Simple Green Cat Pet Stain and Odor Remover!  
Mandatory Entry - Simply tell me why you would like to win/try this product!


Extra Entries


--Follow Simply Bug via GFC

--Follow Simply Bug on Twitter

--Tweet about this giveaway - 1 per day

--Follow Simply Bug in a reader

--Blog about this giveaway



Giveaway ends March 6, 2011 - 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random.org and will have 48 hrs to respond.



GOOD LUCK!!

There was no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not swayed by the items mentioned above.

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Pros and Cons of Our Leather Furniture Set

Image by ian murchison via Flickr

Do you like leather furniture?  It's slick, appealing, clean, modern, and can also be expensive.  We bought our first set  in a very gently used condition from a  lady who simply wanted a newer set and was able to afford to at a whim.  For a bargain of $200 we bought her big glass coffee table and over stuffed leather sofa with two recliners built it and a separate recliner in tan color. 

We thought we had landed the deal of the century until we tried to move it.  It took more than two grown men to move this into our house as it was so heavy with the built in recliners.  Obviously quality made but a small piece of the leather ripped as it snagged on the screen door handle coming in.  After moving out of that home years later we took the set with us.  But vowed we would never move it again and thus far we haven't now that we've given the set to a relative. 

Here were the pros and cons for us when it came to our leather furniture.  Pro's - looked great, stylish, clean, big, comfortable to sit in and great for a tall big guy to lay on, smells great, great for pets and kids since it's easy to clean and lasts longer than most fabrics.  Cons - Very COLD in the Winter and blankets will slip off of it, over stuffed so much that it was uncomfortable to sleep on for anything longer than a nap, the cat's claws liked it too much, it was heavy as you know what which made cleaning under it impossible, and had to be treated to maintain the leather. 

Currently we have a fabric living room set that we bought at a bargain on Craigslist and it looks brand new.  It's super cozy, great to sleep on, warm, just enough cushion and looks great.   So far we have not one complaint about it. We are extremely happy with this set and it will be a very long time before we'd consider leather again.  To each his own but for us it wasn't as great as we thought it would be.  What's your pros and cons with leather?

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Barely Coming Out Even

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Owning a home in today's economy can be tuff. I personally know a homeowner of an old 100 year old home that is in need of major repair. When she bought it the economy was booming. It was easy for her with a near excellent credit standing to get a mortgage with a great interest rate.


Now that she's owned the home for some time it has become difficult for her to maintain the expensive up keep on the home. It is currently under remodel and she has tried to get help from the bank (with her still great credit) but to no avail because of the appraisal value of the home in its current state not to mention the role the economy has played into this.  

Mind you some of the home renovations have been done like fixing a chimney after lightning struck it, tear down of crumbling plaster for drywall and insulation, bathroom renovation with up to date plumbing and on and on.  But these costs are very expensive and over time can be hard to keep up with especially in such an old home that continuously needs care or repair of some sort on a regular basis.   Sure she can claim some of the work on taxes but all it does is go back in the house with no light at the end of the tunnel. 

In addition if she had known all the work that would need to be done on the home within a ten year span of owning it, I wonder if she would of reconsidered buying it. I think it always pays to have someone on your side checking out the home and it's value in the long term regardless of what kind of credit or deal you can acquire.   Besides who could have forseen the market value of homes decline?

It's not just her I know but in an entirely different state I know of a homeowner who is trying to sell a home based on a job relocation and will barely come out even (that's if someone buys it) based on the value of the home today which means it didn't appreciate at all!   Currently this person is living with relatives while paying on a mortgage of a home he can't live in.  After all isn't a home supposed to be one of the best long term investments you can make?  I guess these two should be thankful they even have a home considering the number of forclosures in the past years.  What are your thoughts?

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Layla Grayce is Ready For Spring!

Just in time for spring, Layla Grayce is now offering gorgeous fashion for women! In addition to their trendsetting handbags, they have stylish cardigans, modern frock dresses and chic tops from four fabulous designers! Here are some of my absolute favorites:

The Charlotte Tarantola Chacha Ruffle Dress in Heather Grey is the perfect dress for spring! The unfinished edge ruffles take this sassy Chacha dress from day to night and the neutral color is perfect for mixing and matching with cardigans and light jackets.

The Amy Butler Sweet Rose Tote in Sun & Moon Sepia is a modern twist on the classic tote. The bag is impeccably constructed from organic cotton and its leather handles give it a sophisticated, chic feel. This tote is the ideal accessory for all your spring looks!

Whether you're globetrotting or tot-trotting, the chic Petunia Pickle Bottom Travel Train Case announces your arrival. This stylish travel case is the perfect accessory for your spring getaway!

The Ellen Moss Khloe Striped Tank is an updated version of the timeless tank top. Taking the tank to a new level, the Khloe offers an easy going feminine look in stripes of spice red and heather gray. Pair this trendy tank with skinny jeans or your favorite leggings for a super stylish ensemble! Equally as appealing is the Ellen Moss Khloe Striped Dress in Charcoal. This jersey striped heather gray and charcoal dress is perfect for day with leggings and sandals or you can dress it up with a great pair of heels. Best of all, this dress can be hand washed!

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I Broke Them...

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We opted to do without nightstands in our bedroom because it’s one room where the carpet is brand new and we don’t want the temptation of bringing a drink in or midnight snack that could spill on the carpet plus our bedroom isn't big enough to house too much furniture anyway.  Not only that for us it just becomes a throw all like pocket change, a book or other odds and ends that don’t belong.  Because of this my husband usually sets his eyeglasses next to the bed on the floor when he goes to bed at night and usually puts them on when he wakes up.

So one morning I was making the bed and felt something under my foot.  Only it was too late and then I felt the crush.  I flat out broke his eye wear which I will admit he seriously needed a new pair anyway.  If there’s someone who wears out a pair of glasses past their time it’s my husband.  They were crooked, scratched and pathetic.  In his defense, I truthfully don’t make the bed every day so it’s not like he was expecting it. 

Luckily he can see without them just not as well and he does have to be extra careful driving at night.   He called around and browsed online to try and order a replacement pair quickly but since it has been over a year since his last eye exam the last eye place won’t give him the script without a visit. This is one incident where a pair of back up contacts would come in handy or maybe I need glasses so I can see where I'm going!

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Indoor Workouts Until Spring

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Today actually feels like Spring in NE Ohio but I'm sure it's just a tease!  With a lot of us having goals and plans throughout the year I'd thought I'd share again some indoor exercising that you might find is right up your alley especially if you’re not a member of a gym and Spring has not yet sprung in your area.  These are just basic things and it's not an insanity workout like some people may get into. I am by no means a fitness buff of any sort but I will be partaking in some of these throughout the winter until beautiful spring arrives.  To get started I first pop in some great Workout Tunes!

Run up and down the stairs (just like the kids)!!  Similar to running up and down the bleachers in gym class.  

High Step it right in your living room while watching TV.  Does it like the Army marches that you sometimes see?   

Head back to the basics with good ole jumping jacks, crunches, pushups, and sit ups.

Watch exercise videos and mimic what they are doing. Denise Austin's DVD's are some of my favorites. 

 Aerobic Dance or any kind of dance is good too. Use Hand weights or hand dumbbell weights. 

Yoga 

Squats

I intend on starting small and in increments.  I don't want to feel sore the next day so for me moderation is key until stamina is built.  As far as time, I may just start with 15 minutes a day and build it up depending on the exercise.  What about you, do you work out indoors if so what work outs do you do?

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Insurance Can Be Messy

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Most everyone that drives in today’s world has car insurance.  If not it can be a hefty ticket if they ever get popped.  There is actually cheap insurance to be found just by shopping around.  We actually got a better deal and rate on our car insurance by upping our coverage if you can imagine that.  We also went through an independent that got us a better rate with the company that we’ve been insured with for years which was better than the company itself was willing to give us directly.  It does pay to shop around! 

Unfortunately not everyone has adequate health insurance which can be one of the most important insurances out there.  Life and health insurance can go hand and hand but often it’s hard for people who can barely afford health insurance to opt for life insurance as well.  I’ve been one of those people before.  

I have a few qualms about health insurance but I’ll save that for another day.  My sister is fresh out of college and newly married where the both of them are fully employed.  However, the price of health insurance is crazy and barely affordable for them considering they have no children, make decent money and are young and in good health which doesn’t make any sense.  I can only imagine what it must be like for people who are in desperate need of health insurance or who don't have any at all and struggle with making the payments to insurance, prescriptions as well as the doctor’s as I’m sure it is rather expensive.  

On the flip side there are people with insurance that don’t use it.  They have it for the sake of having it but never use it when they are sick because they don’t like doctors thus never getting routine exams etc.  It’s more like a last case scenario for them like how sick do I need to be before I go get seen.   Insurance in any form can be a mess and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.    

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Logos and Perception

Image by captcreate via Flickr

Do you ever wonder if it’s a logo that sells you on a product?  I admit that recognizable logos will sell me faster than one I may not recognize.   Companies work hard to get their brand out there just like bloggers do.

When I think of logos and brands a few come to mind like Bush’s Baked Beans, Chevy, Budweiser, and plenty more.  They are commercials and advertisement that I see regularly on TV.  From magazines I recognize Clinique, Cover Girl, Huggies and more.  

If your blog or company isn’t generic then why should your logo be?  There are plenty of  Logo Designers that can help in going from blah to ta-dah!  If you sell something this would come in to play especially if you hand out business cards, magnets, or other.  

Brands that we recognize sells us on many products whether we care to admit it or not.  It’s just something about seeing and hearing a brand so much that we sometimes make it our go to item.  It’s almost as if we trust that item to be better than the generic which may not always be true.  What do you think? What are some brands that stand out to you based on logos and advertisements?

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Twitter Hop Thursday - Want More Twitter Followers? - Join the Hop!

Welcome to Twitter Hop Thursday, hosted by Simply Stacie, The King’s Court IV, Little Yaya’s, Kelly's Lucky You and Dear Crissy.

Would you like more Twitter followers and be introduced to more neat blogs and businesses out there? Come and join us!!

1. Add your Twitter to the MckLinky (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all).

2. Click on the Twitter for the four hostesses and follow each of them on Twitter. We will follow you back.

3. Follow as many people on Twitter as you like, but make sure to leave comments with links so they’ll know where to follow you!

Spread the word and add this MckLinky to your blog! Write  your own post or copy and paste this one. Below the MckLinky box,  you’ll see “Want to be a part of this Blog Hop? Click here for  instructions and code”. Have fun Twitter-Hopping along!

Please only add your Twitter url. All other entries will be deleted. Thank you!

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Monetize Your Blog

If you are blogging you are probably aware of ways to earn a little extra money via google ads or amazon's affiliate program.  These are affiliate programs that I currently use.




Sponsored Tweets - I love sponsored tweets!  It's very easy and you get to pick what gets tweeted so you are in complete control!   If you have at least 100 twitter followers I highly suggest signing up!   The pay out is $50.00 and before you know it you'll be able to cash out.


Sign Up Here





Logical Media - This one has a $25 sign up bonus!  Pays in many different ways via either clicks, leads, or sales.  Threshold is $100.  Once you are approved you can start implementing it immediately.  Each campaign has statistics to help you choose which one may perform better than others.  Pays via check. 

Sign Up Here 

Escalate Network - Pays in many different ways via either clicks, leads or sales.  This program pays by PayPal or check it's up to you.  Minimum pay out is $25.  They pay every 30 days (NET30).

Sign Up Here 




LinkShare - With this one you basically advertise businesses and you get paid on purchases via commision.  Payment threshold starts at $1.00 and you can adjust it up to your preferences.   Once you sign up and are approved you can start generating revenue immediately.

Sign Up Here 




Shareasale - This one you decide what you want your payment threshold to be.  For me I chose $50.00.  There is a wonderful list of merchants that you can use to earn money on your blog. This is a fun one to join especially if you like variety. 

Sign Up Here


Feel free to share yours that aren't listed.  I hope this helps some of you!

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Hurry Up Summer Vacation

Guest post from: Natalie Walter


Winter break is always something that the kids love to have a break away from the homework and school. This year there was hardly any snow, so they did not get a chance to go sled riding, which bummed them out, but they got to spend the holidays with relatives and play games and still enjoyed the vacation. Now that they are back to school and the regular schedule of going back to work is on the agenda, it is time for a busy week once again. Setting the alarm system (Boulder Adt alarm cellguard ) before everyone leave is back on the priority list since everyone will be gone throughout the day. The kids now are looking for the end of the school year to arrive so the next big break will last a little bit longer. They enjoy it, but not as much as the summer breaks when they can go camping and enjoy the outdoors more than they can in the wintertime.

They go to bed early to get them back on schedule to get up in the morning and wear the new clothes they got for Christmas  when they go back. Even though they love the break, they still miss their school friends and cannot wait to catch up on what everyone is doing.

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EdenFantasys - Valentine Romance Hook Up

There's still plenty of time to order if you want to add a little spice to your Valentine's Day.  Check out EdenFantasys which is an adult store that you can shop at from the privacy of your home.  They have goodies that can make you and your Valentine's romance a day to remember.  If your not sure about what to pick they also offer gift cards as well!  Right now they are running a promotion called 14 days of love where each day leading up to Valentine's Day something new will be on sale.

They also have another special going on.  When you place an order you have an option of a FREE Gift as well, just be sure to enter the promo code at checkout!!  This is great for any of you wanting to try something new but not sure where to start.  Ordering is easy, shipping is fast and packaging is very discreet!   The mail man won't even know where it's from.

One thing I especially like about the site is that there are customer/reviewer ratings on products so you can get an idea if a product is loved or not so much by other consumers.  They actually have very in depth reviews so you have an idea of exactly what you are getting.  So go ahead and surprise your wife or husband with something HOT just for him/her that will rock their socks off this Valentine's Day! 



While you are there be sure to check out the promotions section for the best deals!

Also, if you are a blogger like myself and are interested in writing about EdenFantasys and would like the opportunity to receive gift cards, simply email jenn (at) edenfantasys.com and be sure to tell her that the blogger at  simplybugblog (at) gmail.com sent you!



Disclosure - This not a review post.  These are simply my honest opinions.  In exchange for this post I may receive a gift card.

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