Cyber Monday: The BEST Deals Out There

Posted on November 28, 2016

We are well into Cyber Monday, the day after Black Friday when many online merchants offer deep discounts. Previously, just tech companies and companies that sold appliances and other tech products and devices participated in Best Cyber but nowadays many other commercial products and brands sell items as super steep prices.

A lot of sales launch at midnight and only a limited quantity is available. Still, many companies will stock enough to last the entire date. We checked out various online sites and curated lists and came up with THE best deep discounted deals around.

Check them out!

You can get a brand new FREE iPhone 7 today when you select a new upgrade or turn in another phone at Verizon Wireless.

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Also, TMobile is giving away a FREE iPhone but it is an iPhone 6. Available through today at TMobile.

How about this $249.99 2 carat blue topaz 18K Gold Brass plated love bracelet for $17.99? Get it at SZUL!

Gamers will adore this ultra widescreen monitor (21:9 ratio) which is like having two monitors in one. This $600 29-inch ultra widescreen LG monitor is designed for gamers and is able to handle high frame rates and intense graphics for $370 off at $230 (save $370). Available at NewEgg now!

You can scoop up this high quality, well -reviewed, top quality 7-inch Amazon Fire for just $33.33 at Amazon,

For a little bit more storage space, you cannot beat Amazon’s new-and-improved Fire HD 8 for $59.99 down from $89.99 after getting $30 at Amazon. com

This petite quilted Charter Club jacket is originally $99 but only $34.99 today with FREE shipping through midnight at Macy’s

For men, this Joseph Abboud Black Modern Fit Turtleneck Sweater is just $29.99 down from $99 at Men’s Warehouse.

Amazon and Walmart both the Fitbit Flex 2 for $70 (down from $100). The Flex 2 is a great low-key fitness tracker. It’s also the only swimproof Fitbit. Available now at Amazon

Go way back to the days of instant film cameras and get nostalgic with Fujifilm’s Instax Instant Film camera. You take a picture with the camera and within seconds have an actual photo you can keep, or give to a friend. It is available for $60 at Target!

The cheapest price you’ll get the fabulous streaming device Roku is at Target fore $30 when you take into account the additional 15% off Cyber Monday deals. Everywhere else it is about $35. Available now at Target.

Amazon’s Echo Dot is already a bargain at $50. Amazon has it on sale for $40 and it is also available now at Amazon!

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If you live near a Walmart, you can pick up this 32-inch TV with built-in Roku smarts today for $125, almost half its list price of $228. Available now at Walmart

The new Beats Ep, a wired model, is the company’s most affordable on-ear headphone. It’s reinforced with stainless steel and comes in black, white, red and blue, and sounds pretty close to the wired Solo2, which costs around $150. The Beats Ep is available for $30 off or $99.95 at Best Buy!

Several retailers, including Best Buy and GameStop, are offering $50 off any Xbox One console/bundle, but the best post-Black Friday deal we’ve seen is at Walmart where you can get an Xbox One S 500GB bundle for $250 with your choice of Battlefield 1 or Minecraft, your choice of a 4K Blu-ray (one of four) and a $20 gift card. Available now at Walmart!

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Cure Thanksgiving Leftovers Monotony with these Unique Turkey Recipes

Posted on November 27, 2016

If you hosted Thanksgiving this year, chances are you still have a lot of turkey left over in your fridge. If you are wondering what to do with some of it,check out these three yummy unique recipes we found around the web to try out. Enjoy!

TURKEY PHO

Ingredients:

1 whole cardamom pod

2 whole cloves

1 star anise pod

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

2 teaspoons coriander seed

1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and

smashed

1/2 onion, peeled

1 turkey carcass

8 cups water, or more as needed

1 (16 ounce) package dried flat ricenoodles

1/4 cup fish sauce

salt to taste

1 cup shredded leftover cooked turkey

1 tablespoon shredded fresh basil leaves

(optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

(optional)

1/4 onion, thinly sliced (optional)

1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)

1 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce (such as

Sriracha®), or to taste (optional)

Directions:

1.     Toast the cardamom pod, cloves, star anise, fennel, and coriander in a small skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes. Place the spices onto the center of a 8 inch square piece of cheesecloth. Gather together the edges of the cheesecloth, and tie with kitchen twine to secure. Sear both sides of the ginger and 1/2 onion in the same skillet until lightly charred, about 3 minutes on each side.

2.     Place the turkey carcass, water, sachet, ginger, and onion in a large pot over medium-high eat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 2 hours.

3.     Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rice noodles, and return to a boil. Cook the noodles uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the noodles have cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.

4.     Remove the carcass, sachet, ginger, and onion from the soup. Strain the soup to remove any meat that may have fallen off the bones, if necessary. Season with fish sauce and salt. Divide the rice noodles and turkey meat evenly into 4 large bowls. Scatter the basil, cilantro, and sliced onion on top. Ladle the soup on top. Serve with a wedge of lime and hot sauce.

source: All Recipes

TURKEY QUICHE

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 small red bell pepper or poblano, seeds removed, diced

6 green onions, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

3 large eggs

1 cup milk

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

dash salt

1 cup diced roasted turkey

1 cup shredded Cheddar Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, divided

1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

salt and pepper

Preparation:

Spray a deep dish pie plate or quiche pan with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oven to 350°.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the bell pepper or poblano and the green onions for about 3 minutes, until tender. Stir in the cilantro, if using; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk; add flour, baking powder, and a dash of salt and continue whisking until smooth. Stir in the cooked vegetables, the turkey, and about 2/3 cup of the cheese. Pour into the prepared pie plate. Top with tomato slices, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, then top with the remaining shredded cheese.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until set.

source: SouthernFood About

TURKEY AND BLACK RICE SALAD

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of Fresh Cilantro, chopped

3 Tbsp of Fresh Mint, chopped

2 Tbsp of Canola Oil

3 Tbsp of Rice Wine Vinegar

1 Tbsp of Lime Juice

1 tsp of Sugar

1/2 tsp of Sesame Oil

1 Tbsp of Soy Sauce

1 Clove of Garlic, finely minced

1 tsp of Grated Ginger

1 Jalapeno Pepper, seeded and finely minced

1 red Bell Pepper, diced

3 cups of Cooked Black Rice

8oz of Cooked Shredded Turkey

1) Preheat a skillet over medium high heat, allow it to get nice and hot and add the shredded turkey right in. Cook it for a few minutes on each side or until it gets nice and crispy all around.

2) Meanwhile, make your dressing. In a small bowl, add the garlic, ginger, sesame oil, canola oil, soy sauce, lime juice, rice wine vinegar, sugar and chili, whisk together to combine and set aside.

3) In a large bowl, add the rice and bell pepper, along with the crispy turkey, cilantro and mint and dressing.

4) Toss everything together lightly (I like to do this with two forks) and serve!

Recipe By: Laura Vitale

Serves 6.

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QUIZ: What Type of Black Friday Shopper Are You?

Posted on November 25, 2016

Are you up an out this Black Friday or planning to hit the malls and big box shop stores later today? If so, good luck. Not every Black Friday shopper is the same. Take this quiz and discover what type of Black Friday Shopper you are!

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These are THE Biggest Tech Black Friday Deals You’ll Find

Posted on November 24, 2016

Are you ready for the Black Friday sales? To be honest, there are indications and reports every year that say a lot of people think the day after Thanksgiving, dubbed the biggest shopping day of the year is actually a scam!

In fact, one study revealed that about 63% think Black Friday is all hype and that there aren’t really that many great deals. But it’s not true, necessarily. Well, let’s keep it real, it is quite true as our friends at the personal-finance website WalletHub discovered.

They took an in-depth look at 2016’s Best Things to Buy on Black Friday and determined that more than two in 10 items offer no savings compared with their pre-Black Friday prices.

Well, dang!

To find out whether shoppers are really getting the best deals, WalletHub compared the “Pre-Black Friday Price” and the “Black Friday Price” of a broad selection of items to identify the offers that are truly worth the hassle of partaking in the year’s biggest shopping craze.

We pulled down the best tech savings for families from the survey:

NordicTrack Elite 3700 Treadmill (regularly $1799) — $999 (Sears)

Dell XPS 13.3” Touchscreen Laptop (regularly $1678) – $376 at Costco

Sony 75” HD Smart TV (regularly $2,998) – $498 at Walmart

Canon Digital SLR Camera (regularly $698) $250 at Walmart

Lifetime Adventure Tower Playset ($1748) $930 at Sam’s Club

LG Ultra Large Capacity Dryer ( regularly $$1,034) $539 at JC Penny’s

XCOM 2 Xbox One (regularly $59) $29 at GameStop

Samsung Refrigerator ($regularly $1,347) $448

For the full report, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-items-for-black–friday/16901/

For the latest Black Friday deals (updated daily), please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/black–friday-ads/16713/

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Get Your Formal Thanksgiving Place Setting Ideas Here

Posted on November 23, 2016

Are you having a pretty formal Thanksgiving tomorrow. You know, one where you have a specific number of invited guests and you plan to set up place settings for them. If you are and you haven’t quite figured out yet how to arrange the settings, you’re in luck.

Elle Decor has put together a slide show collection of 20 awesome Thanksgiving place settings for Martha Stewart in all of us. Granted, if you really are aiming to pull off a formal Thanksgiving table, you should arguably be all set but I know I, for one, am a major procrastinator so this post would come right on time for people like me!

Check it out here!

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Don’t Forget Mom and Dad: Parents Under $50 Gift Guide

Posted on November 22, 2016

We’re a few weeks away from Christmas, Hanukkah and are already deep into the gift buying holiday season. I know a few people that are done with their shopping but most of us are still checking off our list.

One demographic of family that sometimes we forget to shop for until last minute is our parents! Eeek!

Sadly, too many of us take our parents for granted. A lot of times, mom may not want you breaking your budget to get her a gift and may not want an expensive item. Get mom and dad or some other parental figure in your life a lovely gift they may not get for themselves like scented candles or nice note cards.

Here are ideas for gift items for your parents:

SYDNEY LOVE OVERNIGHT BAG Mom and dad will adore an overnight bag for quick trips out of town or when coming to visit their grandkids across town or across the country. This bag is half off right now, down from $98 to $50 and shipping is free for the holidays. It is spacious with two side pockets and a back pocket externally for easy access. I love that this bag can be wiped clean.

LAURA MERCIER LITTLE INDULGENCES HAND BODY CRÈME SET You can never go wrong with a rich emolient gift box and Laura Mercier is a great brand. For mom, she’ll love this hand & body cream set that includes 4 1 oz travel tubes with the following scents: Ambre Vanillé, Almond Coconut Milk, Crème Brûlée, Tarte au Citron. It ships free from Macy’s for $32.00.

PHILIP B – LAVENDER HAND CRÈME, 350ML For dad, Philip B’s vitamin-rich ‘Lavender Hand Crème’ hydrates and heals rough, dry skin. Formulated with African Shea Butter and Safflower Oleosomes, this moisturizing lotion has an stress-relieving aroma-therapeutic scent derived from Pure Provencal Lavender and Flower Oils. It absorbs quickly for a non-greasy, lightweight feel. It’s $35 at Net-A-Porter.com

ROCHESTER REVERSIBLE QUARTER-ZIP PULLOVER CASUAL MALE XL BIG & TALL You can never go wrong with a pull over. This Casual Male reversible sweater is warm, roomy and perfect for dad. It’s under $50 for about $34 by a reseller on EBay.

ISOTONER UNLINED DRIVING GLOVES Isotoner driving gloves are well known for their superior fit, flexibility and a non-slip leather palm to improve grip for secure handling of devices. These imported nylon and Lycra spandex gloves are hand washable. They’re on sale for $22.80, down from $32 at JCPenny.com

NATURAL LIFE ‘HOME IS WHERE YOUR MOM IS’ WOODEN WALL ART Nordstrom sells this gorgeous piece of wall art for just $18. It is wooden and 6″ x 6″ x 1 1/2″. I love motivational messages.

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Holiday Gifting Idea for Clients, Vendors & Associates: FOOD!

Posted on November 20, 2016

Black Friday: Here are the BEST Stores with the BEST Deals

Posted on November 17, 2016

We’re getting closer and closer to Black Friday. There are dozens of retailers out there offering scales, deals and steals.

This year, holiday spending is expected to reach $656 billion which is up from nearly $631 billion in 2015. So we want to know that the Best Stores are out there for Black Friday Shopping.

One of my fave surveyors, personal finance website WalletHub conductedan in-depth analysis of 2016’s Best Stores for Black Friday by poring over 8,000 deals from 35 of the biggest U.S. retailers’ 2016 Black Friday ad scans.

It identified the stores offering the biggest discounts in various product categories, such as “Appliances,” “Jewelry” and “Toys.” Here are the top 10!

Best Black Friday Retailers (Avg. % Discount)
1	Macy’s (63.35%)	6	Kohl’s (58.15%)
2	Stage (62.81%)	7	Shopko (55.55%)
3	JCPenney (62.79%)	8	Fred Meyer (49.70%)
4	Harbor Freight (62.58%)	9	Craft Warehouse (45.03%)
5	Gordmans (61.59%)	10	Sears (43.89%)

Key Stats

Macy’s has the highest overall discount rate at 63.35 percent, whereas Big Lots has the lowest at 23.52 percent.
The overall average discount for Black Friday is 39 percent. Consumers should aim for this discount amount or higher to avoid Black–Friday traps.
The “Toys” category has the biggest share of discounted items, 28.26 percent of all offers, whereas the “Books, Movies and Music” category has the smallest at 0.93 percent.

To view the full report and each retailer’s ranking in each product category, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-retailers-for-black–friday/8385/

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How Successful Couples Do Date Night

Posted on November 17, 2016

With children in the house, romance is often one of the last things on a parent’s mind. From running errands, picking up the kids at school or daycare and balancing everything else on your agenda, there’s not much time left at the end of the day for your significant other. Date night’s aren’t always an option, so instead, consider these three ideas to rekindle the romance.

Sleepover at Grandma’s House

Is there ever a time where you get to relax at home without the kids anymore? Not likely. The home used to be a place where you could have solace, peace and quiet — but that idea went out the window when you had kids. Next time you’re thinking about date night, instead of dining out or catching a movie, stay in. Give the babysitter the night off and send the kids over to grandma’s for a sleepover. Just think about how nice it will be to have the home to yourself with your spouse. No tucking the kids in for bedtime, no nighttime routines and certainly no early morning wakeup calls from the kiddos. Just wine, Netflix and if you’re lucky, breakfast in bed. Quality time is key to some people’s Love Language. It’s all about giving the other person your undivided attention.

Consider doing this every few months as a way to maintain romance with your spouse, talk about something other than the kids and relax. Scheduling time away from the kids is especially important for new parents. Once you’re comfortable leaving your kids with a trusted caretaker, consider giving yourself more time away from your children, like a weekend getaway or staycation.

Meet for Lunch

Parents with full-time jobs know that time away from work is sparse and time away from the kids is more so. For parents who work outside of the home and either drop off the kids at daycare or school each day, meeting for lunch is a great way to reconnect and catch up without the little ones tugging at your clothes or getting fussy because dinner isn’t ready yet. An hour is just the right amount of time to have a little dose of quality time.

Make time each week around your lunch hours to meet at your favorite lunch spot for a picnic or plan to get together at a new restaurant. Choose locations that are close to your job sites and be sure to switch up the locations each week so that the commute to lunch doesn’t fall on the same person each week. This doesn’t have to have a “date” feel. Whether you’re grabbing lunch for $5 or $50, it’s the time spent together that matters. Check out Groupon for new lunch places.

Give Something Special

There are a variety of different Love Languages, including the aforementioned “quality time.” All are valid. For some, receiving gifts is what makes them feel most loved. If you know that this is true of your spouse or significant other, be sure to treat them to something special once in a awhile.

When giving, your gifts don’t have to be expensive. Small, thoughtful items are just as meaningful when given from the heart. A simple bouquet of beautiful roses can communicate your love. Show your spouse that you are thinking about them with a sexy note or thoughtful card to go along with your gift.

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A Child-Free Couple’s Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving for Families with Kids

Posted on November 16, 2016

The dinner party is a decidedly grown-up institution, and one that doesn’t typically include much room for guests of the pint-sized persuasion.

As more working parents are finding they have less time to spend with their kids, they also are becoming more reluctant to spend what precious little free time they do have away from them. However, parents still need to interact with their friends too, so it becomes very important to learn the ropes of including kids at your next sit-down shindig. If you don’t have children of your own, it can be even more difficult to understand exactly how you should entertain the smaller set, but it isn’t impossible and you shouldn’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed.

Contemplate the Cuisine

If the menu prominently features foie gras, ripe cheeses or escargot, preparing an additional menu for the smaller people with less adventurous taste buds is non-negotiable. While you don’t have to plop reheated frozen chicken nuggets or corn dogs onto a plate to satisfy kids’ appetites, you will need to take into account the fact that most children are picky and simply will not touch anything they can’t identify. Making sure that there are a few kid-friendly favorites on hand will ensure that all of your guests are well-fed and satisfied.

Kids’ Tables are Your Friend

While some parents prefer for their children to socialize with the adult guests over dinner, most understand the necessity of a kids’ table. There’s no reason why you can’t share a conversation that’s intellectually stimulating for the adults without fielding cries of boredom and bouts of pouting. Just create a dining environment that makes kids feel special, rather than shuffled off. In most cases, they’ll be thrilled with the opportunity to mimic the adults by exhibiting independence at their own table, away from Mom’s laser stare.

Create a Kid-Friendly Soirée Space

Choose a room or area of your house that isn’t filled to the brim with breakable bric-a-brac, and fill it with small toys and distractions for your youngest guests. Coloring books and crayons, board games or other playthings will give kids something to do while the grown-ups talk that doesn’t require them to stare glassily at a television screen while something animated flickers in their little faces. That being said, it isn’t an altogether bad idea to have a kid-friendly video or two on hand for emergency use; just make sure that none of your parenting guests have rules restricting screen time before whipping out your party-preserving feature film.

Consider a Sitter

If you’re planning a night to remember and want to ensure that the kids are entertained while the adults enjoy themselves, the best course of action may very well be to hire a sitter for the evening. Depending on the number of children you expect to have in attendance, you may even want to spring for two. Make sure that you choose a caregiver who will be actively engaged with the kids, rather than a disinterested supervisor. Remember, you want the kids to have a great time too.

Be Patient and Maintain Your Composure

Hosts and hostesses without children of their own can host kid-welcoming events too; it just takes a bit more preparation. If you don’t spend much time with children, you’ll want to make sure that you keep in mind the importance of being calm and patient. There will almost certainly be more noise and excitement than you’re accustomed to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself over to it and enjoy the unique evening for what it is.

Continue reading sPhoto: Courtesy The Horrible Housewife

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ROCHESTER REVERSIBLE QUARTER-ZIP PULLOVER CASUAL MALE XL BIG & TALL You can never go wrong with a pull over. This Casual Male reversible sweater is warm, roomy and perfect for dad. It’s under $50 for about $34 by a reseller on EBay.

Sleepover at Grandma’s House

Meet for Lunch

Give Something Special