Best Buy makes planning your wedding registry fun with these top five picks

Some think that picking out the engagement ring is tough – and in some cases it is. The right “size, shape, color”, is it new or something that is a family heirloom. When it comes to picking out your registry, you can breathe a sign of relief because Best Buy wedding registry takes all the stress out of your wedding planning with home goods that you’ll both enjoy. These are my top five picks from Best Buy to help any engaged couples new life together the best.

1 – TV anyone? This is awesome for gathering around for date night, simple movies and let’s not forget all the sports that your spouse (and possibly you too) will love to watch with family and friends.2 – Technology is key in the 21^st century. How about new matching mobile devices, music players or laptops? This makes staying in touch and getting those thank you notes off to your guests easier.  They also have an awesome “Geek Squad”, that can help you with any of your computer related questions.

3 – New appliances may be needed in your new home and how about that washer, drier or stainless steel wine fridge you’ve had your eye on. While these may seem big-ticket items, they are great for “Group Gifting”. What’s that you ask? It allows gift-givers to give any amount they want, so couples can ask for the gifts you really want and not worry about price point. Great for your officemates or bridal party who want to pool funds for your gift.

4 – It’s party time and a new stereo and/or speakers will set your party off right! Music systems will help with amazing surround sound for parties both in and out of your home. Placing your speakers near or via blue tooth, will have your guests enjoying every moment.

5 – I don’t know about you but nothing makes for a great party but awesome food and cocktails. That’s why a microwave, toaster, blender or coffee maker must be on your registry. Fun food just completes your new home and cocktails  or coffee make everything meal perfect all year round.

Best Buy has a great choice of gifts that will fit any registry request. Remember that all items $199 and over can be considered for their “group gifting” option. This allows you to ask for what you really want, without asking your guests to spend more than they are comfortable with—so dream big. Remember Best Buy Wedding Registry has Free Shipping, No Minimum.  So whatever your “Top Five” products, big or small, expensive or affordable, all ship for free saving your guests money.

So check out Best Buy and take the stress out of your registry planning. Now back to finding the perfect dress….

While a huge Best Buy fan, this is a sponsored post and I’ve been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

On a hot Labor Day think cool Cocktails from Snow Leopard Vodka

Can you believe it’s ALREADY Labor Day?! During these last hot days of summer, there is no better cocktail to help celebrate than Snow Leopard Vodka. It’s cool, refreshing and these cocktails will go down oh-so-refreshingly smooth. Are you planning your engagement party this weekend? Why not make one of these your signature cocktail. If you’re not feeling like cooking or are looking for a fun evening out, then you really have to try either Trattoria Il Mulino (36 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003) or Pergola (36 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001) where you can experience the SnowHound and Bright Lotus respectfully there and then re-create it at home.

If you are a vodka lover (like I am) you will truly enjoy Snow Leopard Vodka. So be cool, think cool and have a “snow” kind of Labor Day.

Remember…drink responsibly.

SnowHound
Trattoria Il Mulino (36 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003)
Snow Leopard Vodka
Grapefruit Cordial
Fresh Lemon

Bright Lotus
by Scott Fitzgerald at Pergola (36 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001)
2 oz. Snow Leopard
.75 oz. Passionfruit Puree
.75 oz. Simple Syrup
.5 oz. Lime Juice
3 drops Creme de Cassis

Snow Leopard Garden

Created by John Christie
1.5 oz. Snow Leopard Vodka
2 oz. fresh watermelon juice
.5 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. agave nectar
.25 oz. elderflower cordial

Glassware: Coupe,  Garnish: Frozen Watermelon Ball

Sparrow Swizzle
Created by Garrett Mikell at Eveleigh in Los Angeles, CA
1.5 oz Snow Leopard
1.5 oz Lavender Lemonade
Build in a collins glass, add crushed ice, swizzle and a lemon twist

Jewel of Asia
1.25oz Snow Leopard Vodka
1oz Lychee Liqueur
1oz Lime Juice
0.5oz Pomegranate Syrup
Top with Champagne
Add ingredients into a rocks glass fill with cubed ice and swizzle garnish with pink grapefruit and serve

Himalayan Spritz
1oz Snow leopard Vodka
1oz Aperol
1oz Cherry Brandy OR Maraschino
Top with chilled Prosecco
Add ingredients into a rocks glass fill with cubed ice and stir. Garnish with lemon wheel and cherry then serve.

Get Physically and Financially Healthy the John Hancock | Vitality Way

Its finally SPRING!! YIPPIE!!

Now is the time to get moving and even small steps will help you not only get fit, but lead a healthier and longer life. John Hancock teamed up with Chris O’Donnell, star of NCIS: Los Angeles to help us all recognize that getting healthy means physically, emotionally and financially. Even small steps are better than no steps right? Working in partnership with Vitality, John Hancock is offering an entirely new kind of life insurance that rewards you for living a healthier lifestyle.  What would you do with #5MoreNow?

The John Hancock | Vitality exclusive partnership is offering a new kind of life insurance that integrates wellness benefits with life insurance products. This means you will really save on your premiums. The more you save, the more you are rewarded. So how does it work? After you complete your life insurance process you take an online Vitality Health Review to help determine your “Vitality Age” (it just means your overall health). Then you receive a personalized goals assessment to help you on your way to a healthier lifestyle. To help you along, John Hancock will give you a free Fitbit to track your progress. SCORE!! As you gain in your “Vitality Status” you can earn even more savings and rewards. For example, Policyholders can earn travel, shopping, and entertainment-related rewards and discounts, including half-price Hyatt hotel nights, 20-50% off major brand cruise packages, and gift cards from leading retailers like Whole Foods, REI, iTunes, Starbucks, Fandango, and more.

This is a wonderful opportunity and truly important for you as a new couple. Life insurance isn’t something that one thinks about immediately or at all…until it’s too late. Honestly, it should be one of the first things you do together as a couple. Protect each other. Get healthy together and in the end you will save a lot of money on medical expenses.

You can find out much more by going to the John Hancock website http://www.jhrewardslife.com/ This is the best investment you can make for yourself and each other.

 

 

Best Buy has a wedding registry with your name on it.

With so many things to do before your big day, how about making life a little easier when it comes to your wedding registry? Did you know that Best Buy now has a wedding registry?!? I KNOW!!

I’m a real fan of Best Buy. It’s been a long time since a store has the latest products that fit my lifestyle and me. I have a feeling it’s the same for you. So when you and your partner start to build your registry, think about what you really need and your lifestyle. Best Buy really has the best selection of things you may need for you home and if you need help setting up your new device, the geek squad is always available. Now that’s service!

So why Best Buy? Look, do you really need another set of sheets or dishes? I didn’t think so. Giving your guests your registry from Best Buy will assure you that you get what you want and need to continue to build your home. You will also get the items you are truly excited to receive. That great new camera (to use on your honeymoon), perhaps that fitness tracker (to help keep you fitness goals on track) and my personal favorite Bluetooth speakers so you can play your favorite tunes on beach days or outdoors.

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One of the key benefits to this registry vs others is “group gifting”. This means your guests will spend what they want, and you’ll get what you want. There is free shipping, which is an added bonus so no gift, no matter how big or small will get to you AND there is NO minimum PURCHASE required. That’s a win-win for everyone.

So when you’re looking for the best in products, best in sales staff, the best for you, look no further than…Best Buy!

 

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Ken Paves says You Are Beautiful with his hair care collection

The Ken Paves You Are Beautiful Collection combines the latest hair care technologies, typically found only in salons, with natural, good-for-your-hair ingredients that allow women everywhere to celebrate and enhance their natural beauty. His unique vision and signature hairstyles incorporate innovative, confident and sexy designs that are translated into products that not only touch the hair, but the lives of the women who use the collection.Utilizing high quality ingredients, sophisticated scents and luxurious packaging, the You Are Beautiful collection provides consumers with high-performance, salon quality results. All You Are Beautiful products are formulated with a proprietary blend of 100% essential oils, ylang ylang, geranium, citrus and more. Because Ken cares deeply about the health of the hair itself, the line is made without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, neurotoxins, aluminum, glycols or synthetic fragrances and dyes. The luxurious range includes shampoos, conditioners and styling products for all hair types.

The collection ranges from $13-$19 and will be exclusively at Walmart and online at www.walmart.com.

 

Winter Skin Protection the way a dermatologist does it

From cleansing to scrubbing and changing things up (plus how she avoids turkey neck), read on for tips from Rebecca Kazin, MD, FAAD (http://www.rkmd.com), dermatologist at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology:

1. Avoid the over-scrub: Even if you suffer from acne, skin shouldn’t be squeaky clean. Too much scrubbing only exacerbates the problem because it can cause irritation and lead to more breakouts. Use a scrub three times a week, max.
2. Be gentle: You don’t need to wash with an antibacterial soap, as it can severely dry skin and lead to itching and redness. Instead, use a gentle cleanser. If you suffer from acne, use a clarifying cleanser with salicylic acid.
3. Don’t overhaul it all: If you’re skin care regimen isn’t giving you results you want, simply change one product at a time. Otherwise, you may have a reaction, and if you’re using five new products at once, you’ll have no idea what caused it. Use a new product for at least four weeks before adding another new one into your routine.
4. Protect your neck: And chest, and hands. They all give away your age faster than your face. Apply the same anti-aging products that you use on your complexion on your neck, chest, and hands to rejuvenate skin and protect against wrinkles, slack skin, and discoloration.

Winter is the time, especially with the temperatures dipping way down l-o-w…means extra care.  Remember what you do in the winter, will show in the spring. This is not just for the ladies – fellas – your skin needs special treatment too. So take care and be kind.

Take the guess work out of planning with Trello

Let’s face it, engagement season is under full swing and planning, organizing has gone the way from paper & pen to all digital. So what is the newest app out there that will make your wedding and dare I say, life-planning simple as a click on Trello.Trello is an online and mobile collaborative organizational tool you can use to create lists, make plans, and jot down ideas and inspiration! Simply head to the app or website and see who is working on what, where something is in process, and what’s being worked on. Make one board with a checklist of duties for your bridesmaids, create another between you and your fiance to ensure you know important dates (such as an upcoming tasting), and even create a board to plan your reception seating arrangements. Planning your wedding down to the last detail is just that easy.  Here’s how you use it:

Jump Into Weddings!

Now that the proposal has happened, start your wedding planning process off right by creating a timeline. Create lists on your board in order of urgency and put in important dates, locations and vendor details. You’ll have everything you need to take care of in one central place and even have reminders sent to your phone and email to make sure any pending duties are complete!  – Check!!

Get Inspiration!

Add any fun ideas or pictures to your boards! Whether you come across a new designer, pinterest, while browsing a bridal boutique or online, just snap a picture or copy and paste the dress you’re pining for onto one of your lists. Here you will have a quick and easy reference list for every inspiration from your dress to decor.

Make Seating Arrangements!

Seating plans have always been a royal pain. With your Trello board which represent tables and placements, you can move around your guests with ease.You can even add in details about your guests such as noting whether or not they have any food allergies or shouldn’t sit next to so-and-so.

Manage Your Bridesmaids

Stay up-to-date with your bridesmaids to ensure they have the latest news on where to get their dresses, duties they need to complete, and important details about the bachelorette party and bridal showers! Excuses for not reading your messages or not getting any of your alerts won’t fly. Everything they need will be all in one place and updated as things progress.

Post Wedding Breakdown

Wow…it’s over already??  Yes, all that planning and it’s over in a flash.  but once the wedding is over, you can easily lose track of things and items you still need to take care of. Trello reminds me you of important dates and tasks such as sending out thank you notes or finalizing any outstanding bills. Nothing will get past you, even whilst you are enjoying your honeymoon!

Once you get started with Trello, you won’t want to stop. You can use it for everything in your future as a couple…storing new recipes, looking for a new job, planning for your next vacation or even managing your exercise plan. This is truly one of the best and all encompassing sites out there, so what are you waiting for?

Available for iPhone, iPad, Android Phones, Tablets, and Watches, Kindle Fire, and Windows 8.