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Win a Weekend Stay at any Hampton!

Written on August 31, 2010 by Becky in Sponsored, Sweepstakes, Travel

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Have you had a weekend getaway this summer? You know, one of those spur of the moment trips when you have no plans and have lots of fun just being with friends? This summer, Hampton Hotels is offering a great way for you to reconnect with friends in their Chain of Friends Sweepstakes! The grand prize is an entire hotel for a weekend. That’s right. A 100-room hotel for 2 nights for you and your closest friends. What would you do in a hotel all to yourself and your friends? Think about the possibilities. That’s a lot of fun to be had!

And if that wasn’t enough, they have given away a free weekend getaway EVERY DAY for the past 95 days! Hurry! You only have 5 days left to enter to win a weekend getaway for you and 3 friends! It is super easy to enter. Just go to the official site: Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes and click enter to win. They just need your name, address, phone number and e-mail. There is no purchase necessary. HURRY! The sweepstakes ends on 9/4/10. I entered and intend on entering 5 more times! Where is your favorite Hampton hotel? Tell me more in the comments, but not before you go enter the sweepstakes! What are you waiting for? Go!

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It's Almost Date Night!

Written on April 8, 2010 by Becky in Movies, Sponsored

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

Steve Carell and Tina Fey have been making the press rounds lately for Date Night Movie which comes out tomorrow, Friday, April 9th, 2010. If you haven’t heard of it, check out the trailer below:

I want to see “Date Night” for a variety of reasons. I have outlined the top 5 below:

It Reminds Me of “Adventures in Babysitting”- Except it’s about adults. But, you know what I mean. Suburbanites thrown into crazy city situations.
Steve Carell & Tina Fey – He is really one of my favorite actors. Maybe he’ll even say “That’s what she said” at least once in the movie. I love Tina Fey. Pretty much anything she touches is funny. I think the combination of her and Steve Carell alone will be worth the price of the ticket.
Something for Everyone - There is a car chase, a shootout and lots of other adventures.
Rated PG-13 – So I can take Emily.
Shirtless Mark Wahlberg - ‘Nuff said.

If you haven’t already, make plans to see this movie over the weekend. Make sure to come back and leave a review in the comments after you see it!

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Here Comes the Rain Again…

Written on March 4, 2010 by Becky in Sponsored

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of AccuWeather. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you think about it, the weather can change our everyday plans very easily. This winter, the Northeast has been slammed with snowstorm after snowstorm. Emily’s birthday party was postponed twice last December. I have found that lately, I have made my plans for the week based on the weather report. Even in the summer, it seems as though it always rains when there is a Dave Matthews Band concert to go to. Basically, weather dictates what we do and when or even if we do it. How do you usually hear about the weather? I normally catch my weather on a local news website or on the local news. Now there is another option!

AccuWeather, established in 1962, is the World’s Weather Authority. They recently reclaunched their website to make it easier than ever for users to find the weather info they need even faster, like local forecasts, radar and local video. The new site includes four new lifestyle areas: Weather and Health, Weather and Travel, Weather and Home and Garden, Weather and Outdoor Activity. These new sections include a variety of five-day forecasts for key weather-for-your-life parameters that allow users to plan business, recreation, travel, exercise, medication, and more.

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The Evolution of the Web

Written on November 20, 2009 by Becky in Internet Tools, Sponsored, Twitter, social media

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of LeapFish Inc. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was turning 13, my parents gave me a choice: A birthday party or a computer. As you may have guessed, I chose the computer. A birthday party lasted 3 hours. A computer would bring me endless moments of fun. My first memory of using the internet was when I turned my new computer on (a PC because my dad convinced me that color was the way to go, even though I really wanted a mac) and heard that little modem dialing noise. I of course, had to check with my mom that she wasn’t going to be getting any calls or making any in the next half hour. Then I loaded up Prodigy and started chatting. Little did I know how using a computer would literally change my life. Over the years, the internet has certainly changed as has our ways of searching it. From Prodigy to AOL to Yahoo to Google to Facebook to Twitter to FriendFeed to Bing. It seems every time you get used to a new site, the next new thing is here. And that next new thing is leapfish. It combines search, news, video, top sites and social media all in real-time. Why is real-time important? Because real-time is NOW. And by the time the other sites have crawled the news, WE have already covered it through social media. What do you think is next in the evolution of the web?

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Panasonic 360 Degree Quick Iron Review

Written on November 4, 2009 by Becky in Products, Reviews, Sponsored

When I was first asked to review the Panasonic 360° Quick Steam/Dry Iron, I hesitated. Although I do own an iron and ironing board, I have not actually used them in at least 2 years. Conveniently, the weather just got chilly and I started using my duvet again. After 4 months in the closet after being washed, the duvet cover was pretty wrinkled. So, I waited for my iron to arrive. And alas, a few days later, there it was. My landlord (knowing I don’t iron) gave me a funny look when she handed me the package.

As soon as I saw the box, I was intrigued. It said it irons 25% faster. This was one of my gripes about ironing, so perhaps I would like this. This morning, I took out the board and the duvet and opened the box. This was unlike any iron I had ever seen. Normally, irons are triangular. This kind of looked like a football, with a much larger surface area. I figured it would take me at least a half hour to iron a Queen size duvet cover. It only took 10 minutes. I can’t imagine how quick shirts will be. Since I was short on time, all I ironed was the duvet cover today, but I will certainly be using this iron more often than my last one. *Side note: I did burn my thumb when I first started ironing, but I do not blame the iron for this, it was more user error due to my lack of ironing experience.

From the Panasonic website, this iron sells for $49.99. Here are some other features on the iron:

The Panasonic 360° Quick enables up to 25% faster ironing.
The edge of the oversized soleplate can always be seen from above, making it easier to iron collars, cuffs, and around buttons.
Unlike conventional irons, the 360° Quick has steam holes around the entire soleplate, allowing more steam over a wider area, to get out wrinkles faster. Use the jet of steam button for extra power when ironing, or use it vertically as a steamer.
Precise temperature control for all fabrics
Anti-drip to protect delicate fabrics
Anti-calcium to prevent buildup that can clog steam holes
Three-way auto-shutoff for safety (Panasonic invented this feature and now it is standard) if no motion is detected for one minute if iron is on its side or on the hot soleplate and for ten minutes if on its legs.

I actually look forward to my next ironing adventure! Highly recommended.

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It's Not Vaudeville, It's Banana Shpeel!

Written on October 13, 2009 by Becky in Reviews, Sponsored

LargeContentImage I’ve seen the new Cirque du Soleil Banana Shpeel show advertised around the web and must admit, I am intrigued. Just the name made me laugh. Although I’ve never seen a Cirque du Soleil show live, I have seen them on television. Even on TV they are absolutely amazing, so I can only imagine what it would be like to see it in person. According to the website, this show is unlike anything you’ve ever seen:

“Banana Shpeel is a roller-coaster mix of styles that blends comedy with tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick, all linked by a hilarious narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures. This is not circus, or a musical or a variety show, or even vaudeville. It is Banana Shpeel!

Propelled by crazy humor and intense choreography, Banana Shpeel plunges us into the world of Shmelky, a cruel and irritable producer who dangles fame and fortune in front of Emmett, an innocent and romantic actor who has come to audition for him. Emmett soon finds himself trapped in a flamboyant, anarchic world where Shmelky sows terror and reigns supreme. Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie and meets a bunch of absurd characters, including the strange Banana Man. But who is this mysterious Banana Man and how can Emmett escape the clutches of Shmelky and his henchmen?”

With a name like Shmelky, that character MUST be interesting! And I wonder what’s up with Banana Man? No matter what happens, I bet it will be quite entertaining. Even the video below about the making of the show’s poster is exhilariating!

Banana Shpeel is opening in Chicago on November 19,2009 (in time for a great Holiday gift for those in Chicago) and in New York February 4, 2010. It’s not often that I see a “show” (other than a DMB concert), but this is one I would love to see (hint hint to whoever wants to take me!) Make sure to visit Banana Shpeel to learn more about the Cirque du Soleil Banana Shpeel show!

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Who wants to win a 2010 Camaro?

Written on September 28, 2009 by Becky in Sponsored, Sweepstakes

So I’m guessing no one who read my blog post won a laptop when Charter was giving away one a day this summer. That’s OK, because their new sweepstakes is EVEN BETTER! Now through November 26th, Charter Communications will be giving away a brand new 2010 Camaro 2SS! You know, the most talked about, hard to get new car? FREE. Seriously, sales tax is included in the prize, so you won’t have to pay a thing! There is no purchase necessary to enter, you just need to live within the residential areas that Charter serves.

Also, during the sweepstakes, you can get $100 gift card if you buy 3 Charter Services, a $50 gift card for 2 services, and $25 gift card when you buy 1 Charter service. Gift Cards are from major retailers in clothing, home and accessories, restaurants and more! The new 426 hp Camaro is one of the fastest and hardest cars to get in North America…why not enter to win one? You never know, it might be your lucky day! Visit Camaro Sweepstakes to register today and to view the complete rules, specifications on the Camaro and more!

Charter continues to outpace the industry in creative and newsworthy contests from giving away an HDTV every day to XBox 360s to a Hybrid Car last year. Make sure to follow Charter on Twitter and become a fan of Charter on Facebook to be one of the first to find out what they are giving away next!

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