Monday, April 27, 2015

Swagbucks and Bing Rewards

If you are searching anything online and not getting rewarded, you are seriously missing out. Swagbucks was the first rewards search site I signed up for years ago. Since signing up I have gotten lots of great rewards, Macys gift cards, Amazon gift cards and even cash via PayPal. You literally get something for nothing. When put like that, not signing up seems pretty silly, doesn't it? It's free to join, so there's nothing to lose.

Bing Rewards is the second rewards search site I belong to. I have to admit, I use this one more often now. I feel like the actual search results are better. If you ever use Bing's search engine and you're not a member, it's like losing money! There are lots of different rewards, I always redeem my points for Amazon gift cards though. Like Swagbucks, Bing Rewards is free to join.
Google better step their game up...

Pur Minerals


I really like Pur Minerals 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Foundation. So when I saw a great deal on a fairly large set containing the powder that I use every day, I jumped at the deal. It was straight from the Pur Minerals site, so I wasn't worried about any issues with a shady 3rd party seller. I placed my order on April 5th.
On April 16th I received an email stating that my order had finally shipped. I thought this was a pretty long time to wait to ship my order, but the deal was really good, so I figured that maybe more people than they expected took advantage of it, which would account for the delay. So I waited. And I waited.
When it still hadn't arrived by today, I decided to call the company.
First I was told that they showed my package being delivered on April 14th. I asked how that was possible given that my email showed it wasn't even shipped until the 16th. There was a very long pause, after which she explained that there was just a delay in the system and that my order had actually shipped on April 8th. There was another fairly long pause, followed by her telling me that her system showed my order was sent to Minnesota. That's a problem...since I live in Michigan. There was no explanation for why my order was sent to the wrong state, my shipping address was correct in her computer.
When all was finally said and done, I was told that my order would re-ship tomorrow. Hopefully this time it makes it to the correct state. Only time will tell.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

The Majority Project

I am a Mommy.
I am a "pit bull" dog owner.
I am the majority.

The Majority Project is all about showcasing responsible pit bull owners. These dogs get so much bad press and are subject to so much unearned fear and prejudice. I hope anyone who has any doubts as to whether these dogs make amazing family pets will check this site out. Yes, there are awful people who use these awesomely loyal dogs for fighting. There are many more regular, everyday people who love and cherish their bully breed dog like a member of their family.

Build A Bear

My youngest had her 5th birthday last week. As her special day wish, she wanted to go to Build-A-Bear.
OK. It's her birthday, and I don't mind going there every now and then. That place can get expensive though! There are so many little add-ons that can seriously raise the price of that little bear. (Or in this case dog.)
To start, there is a fairly large price range of animal options to start with. Then you can choose to add sounds, a realistic heart beat and now even scents. Yes, scents. I personally can't think of many things more disgusting than some air freshener scented stuffed toy, but they must appeal to some people since they're still available for sale.
Now once you get through putting the toy together, the real expense comes into play: the clothing and accessories. Did you know they sell boxer briefs for these bears? It cracks me up every time I see them. There are so many options and while the individual pieces are not insanely expensive, they really add up quickly.
One way I've found to save some money, you know, besides skipping the air freshener getting shoved in the bear, is to sign up for their emails and join their Stuff For Stuff club. For my daughter's birthday we were sent a coupon to save $5.00. I also just received another $5.00 coupon, I believe it was for Mother's Day. It doesn't buy you a whole lot, but it certainly helps. Also, you receive a point for each dollar you spend and when you get to 100 points they'll send you a certificate for $10.00 off your next purchase.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Pit bulls: Fact vs. Fiction

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently adopted a rescue dog. We've named him Remington, Remy for short. He is a giant love bug. He is convinced that he's a lap dog, though he's over 80lbs. If I sit on the floor, he comes every time and sits on my lap, like he really fits there. He is sweet and friendly with every animal he comes in contact with. In fact, a small dog actually growled and lunged at him on a leash trying to attack his face. My Remy wagged his tail and walked away. Zero aggression. He will play rough with my 15 year old, and then go through the same motions but in a completely gentle manor with my 5 year old. He never knocks her down and he is always ready with kisses when she puckers up right in his face.
Remy is a complete love and he's also a Pit bull.
This breed is met with so much apprehension. They are the most likely to be euthanized in shelters, and in most places cannot be adopted out to the general public without a rescue group to pull them. Countless cities have breed specific legislation, holding pities to a different standard than any other breed. People who truly mean no harm, spread the incorrect "facts" they've been taught, perpetuating the cycle of fear.
In reality, chances are, everything you've heard over the years about Pit bulls is untrue. The first myth I think should be addressed because it's the one I hear most often, is that Pitt bulls have locking jaws. That is just not true. Pitt bulls' jaws are not built any different from any other dogs' jaws. Think about it, physiologically what kind of mechanism would have to be in their mouths to allow their jaws to lock and unlock at will? How exactly would that work? Exactly. It wouldn't. Pitt bulls are strong dogs. If they are not letting go of something, it's because they don't want to. Certainly not because their jaws have locked on to it. If ANY dog has lock jaw, they need to see a vet immediately. This includes pitties.
The next myth that I think needs to be addressed is that Pitt bulls can snap at any time and turn on their owners. Statistically, this just isn't the case. Pitt bulls are dogs. That's it. They are no more likely than any other breed to turn on a person. You should always consider a dog's body language before approaching. It is incredibly rare for any dog to just attack out of no where. Generally when any dog attacks it's out of fear or pain, or in the case of female dogs, protecting their puppies. As moms, I'm sure we can all understand that maternal instinct to go all mama bear on anyone you see as a threat to your kiddos.
Next up is the idea that Pitt bulls are bred to be mean and they naturally have poor temperaments. A lot of people seem to think that Pitt bulls are basically bad dogs, and the few that are well behaved just had exceptional training. In reality, Pitt bulls consistently pass temperament testing with flying colors. They are not just naturally mean, they love people more often than not, and it's only bad owners who use their dogs' loyalty to their detriment, and those are in the minority.
Basically what it comes down to is that Pitt bulls are just dogs. They are no more dangerous than any other large breed dog. If anything, because they are so over bred and so often abandoned, they deserve our love and protection more than most breeds. These dogs are victims of the actions of human beings much more often than we are victims or theirs. These are wonderful, loyal, loving and resilient animals, worthy of our love and understanding. If you're still on the fence, do some research for yourself. Look up Pitt bull myths or Pitt bulls as therapy dogs. But whatever you do, please don't be afraid. Next time you see someone walking a Pitt bull ask their owner if you can pet them. Most owners that I've met are breed advocates and more than willing to share stories of their beloved pet.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Best Over The Counter Headache Medicine!

I get some seriously bad headaches. I have tried just about ever over the counter pain medicine out there. I've tried all the name brands, the off brands, and until recently I hadn't found anything that really worked. Then, while at a friend's house I was given a few of the most amazing pills ever.
There are a few things that make them so awesome. The first, and the most obvious, is that they work. Fast. I take 3 (yes, I know it's 1 more than any medicine recommends, but I don't care. I just want to kill the pain.) The second thing that makes these so awesome is the insanely low price.
So what are these miracle pills? Hold on to your hats! They're the Walmart brand, Equate! They cost $4 for 2 bottles of 100 caplets each. I don't know how Equate managed it, but everyone I know who has tried them has been amazed. For the fast relief they provide, I'd pay just about anything. The fact that they cost less than any other headache medicine I've ever seen, is just a bonus.

BaByliss Nano Titanium Hair Dryer

You know, I always wondered why anyone would spend more than $25-$30 on a hair dryer. I mean they all blow hot air, right? Why pay more for a fancy name brand, how much could more could a hair dryer really do?

Well, the BaByliss Nano Titanium Dryer answered those questions for me, loud and clear. Ok, actually it was pretty quietly, but message received. In just one use, without changing any other part of my beauty routine, the difference in my hair was obvious. Not only did it dry my hair in less than 1/2 the time my cheap hair dryer did, but it also left my hair soft and shiny. My hair was much less frizzy, so it also took much less time to straighten with my flat iron. It's a 2000 watt dryer, as opposed to the normal 1875 most commercial hair dryers are working with. I assume that is the reason behind the quicker drying time. I can't honestly say I know the science behind the other effects, but honestly I don't really care. All I know is that my hair looks great and it's shaving lots of time off of my morning routine. I couldn't be happier with it.
Now, I ordered the BaByliss dryer from Ulta, but I waited until I received a 20% off coupon since it's relatively expensive. It's regular price at the moment is $84.95.