Outdoor Exercise Protection

(Sponsored Post)

Although I live in a relatively safe neighborhood--the biggest crime around here tends to be stolen bicycles--there's always the chance that some crazed, serial-killer-attacker-type will start stalking my streets.

And there are lots of loose dogs around here, too.

So I think it's smart--and practically a necessity--to carry protection during my outdoor runs and walks around town.

Fortunately, websites like LA Police Gear provide lots of equipment and accessories that can be used by the average citizen who wants to protect herself around the neighborhood, such as tactical knives. (Always check the laws in your area about carrying a blade! Many states limit the size of the knife you can legally carry concealed on your person.) For those already equipped with some basic self-defense gear, the website also sells holders for things like expandable batons.

If you're just looking for clothing, the site sells plenty of tactical apparel like 511 Shorts and Under Armour Covert Ops shirts.

A Second Mortgage

Hubby and I currently have a mortgage on our home. With Baby on the way, we've been seriously considering another home purchase. We need something bigger, with more rooms and more space.

However, rather than selling our current home and buying the next one, we're thinking about keeping our current home and renting it to tenants. This means we'd need a second mortgage.

Home Mortgage is one of the better loans from a financial perspective. The interest is tax-deductible, and it tends to be low (compared to, say, auto loans or personal loans). Getting a second mortgage won't necessarily be easy, however, and it will certainly put a strain on our budget.

So far we haven't yet found the "right" house. But if (when) we do, we're going to need to seriously consider applying for a second mortgage.

Inexpensive Glasses

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I started wearing glasses when I was about thirteen years old. I don't need them desperately. (Strangely enough, the first time I took my driver's license eye exam I failed without my glasses. When I went to get my license renewed, I passed.) However, I do wear them when I'm driving in unfamiliar cities or late at night, since they do improve my vision. I also sometimes wear them when watching TV.

I'd probably wear them more often if I could find a pair that really looked good on my face. I have a twofold problem: My face is very round (so round glasses only make it look rounder) and my nose is pretty much typical-Asian flat (so I have to have little nose-pieces to keep them up). On top of that, I tend to be rough on glasses, and wire frames are often too delicate for me. Believe me, finding plastic frames with nose-pieces can be difficult--and pricey.

I hate the expense of glasses. The last time I went for an exam plus two pairs, it cost me a whopping $500! That's ridiculous! However, I just discovered http://www.ZenniOptical.com, which sells prescription eyeglasses at a discount rate. In fact, they sell single lens glasses for just $8! The frames aren't designer, but they are solid and basic, which is the only thing I need.

So check out the $ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglasses if you're looking for a great bargain on glasses!

Reviews For Gamblers

In the past, Hubby and I have enjoyed relaxing with a few buddies over a friendly poker table. The evenings typically include a deck of cards, a box of poker chips, some snacks, and plenty of beer. And although we've never been anything other than casual players, we do enjoy a good card game.

Admittedly, most of our poker games are more about socializing and less about gambling. Our interest in cards hasn't yet caused us to spend time at an online casino. But if we were to explore this option for poker, we'd probably first want to read reviews about various casino websites.

Fortunately, sites like Online Casino List offer lots of information about online casinos, including a list of best online casinos and casinos with the best bonuses.

Hubby's always been a bit of a gambler. He spent a few hours in the casino when we went on our cruise. But, so far, he hasn't yet explored the world of online casinos. If he ever does, I certainly hope he takes the time to review some of the websites first.

Ease Your Money Stress

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These days, I try to be a good steward of my money. But in the not-so-distant past, I was drowning in a pool of debt. Unable to make even the minimum payments, I wasn't sure how I was ever going to be able to pay my creditors.

Fortunately, my boss offered me a raise and my (financially responsible) fiancé gave me a loan. Between those two fortuitous events, I was able to pay off my creditors and get my finances back on track.

At that time, however, it might have been useful to know that credit was available to me. Apparently, bad credit cards are designed for folks who have poor credit. These types of cards help consumers rebuild their credit history and start repairing their financial reputation.

To find out more about these credit cards, check out BadCreditOffers.com.

Finding Insurance

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In the past, Hubby and I kept our insurance levels at the bare minimum. Essentially, we purchased just enough to cover our belongings, and we generally chose higher deductibles so we could lower our premiums. It seemed to be the wisest financial choice, since both of us are skilled professionals with income.

However, now that we have Baby on the way, we've had to rethink our position on insurance. Since this is our first child, we really have no idea what type of financial impact this "new addition" will have on our life. As a result, we both want to make sure that we have adequate insurance coverage in the event of an emergency, disaster or other damaging event.

And we're not the type of folks to blindly go with the first insurance company that offers us their business. Instead, we prefer to browse around and shop for price quotes to ensure that we get a good deal. Fortunately, there are plenty of insurance websites that can help us find the right coverage for the right price. Car Insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance and health insurance are just a few of the different types of insurance that can be researched online.

Hubby and I haven't yet made any final decisions about the new insurance coverage we will need. But by researching different types of insurance with online insurance websites, we're confident that we'll be able to choose an insurance plan that meets our new and growing needs.

Domain Registration

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I own a few different blogs, but most of them rely on the blogger platform domain name. However, I've been thinking about using a domain registration service for some of the more popular ones.

Registering a domain name would give my visitors an easy-to-remember website URL for my blogs. If I want to increase traffic and boost my blog's performance, a domain name is practically essential.

Paylessdomains.com.au is a great service for bloggers who want a new domain name. It's relatively inexpensive, and it offers lots of extra features (for a fee), such as web hosting packages, email hosting and SSL Security Certificates. Register for more than one domain name and you can get discounts, too. The service is perfect for anyone looking for an Australian domain name.

I've registered domain names in the past, and the process is always very simple and easy. If you're hoping to boost traffic and develop a popular blog, a domain name is an inexpensive way to create a memorable blog URL.

Kustom Fitness Website

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The web can be a great tool for anyone looking to get fit, lose weight or become healthy. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money! Kustom Fitness is a free website that allows you to plan your diet, track your goals, schedule workouts and more!

Kustom Fitness is also a great social networking website. You'll be able to meet friends and workout partners who share the same interest in fitness and weight loss. By joining a group of likeminded folks, you'll be more likely to stick to your healthy lifestyle since you'll have support and encouragement from others.

The website even offers Kustom Fitness Mobile, which allows you to stay connected through your cell phone!

And though there are a few additional services that require payment, most of these tools are absolutely free!

Human Touch Massage Chairs

This is a sponsored post

During this pregnancy, I have experienced most of the typical pregnancy side effects and symptoms… including back pain. I've been longing for a quality massage that can help ease some of the discomfort I'm feeling through my shoulders and back.

So I was amazed and delighted to discover Human Touch Massage Chairs, which have advanced computer controls. These chairs are designed to relieve pain and alleviate stress with massage technology that replicates the feel of a real massage! They're customizable so you can create an experience almost identical to the one you'd receive from a human massage professional.

One of the favorite features of this product is that it gives you a full body massage--shoulders, back and legs. I'm currently experiencing some pain in those areas, and I know a chair like this would help me find some relief.

Auto Warranties

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Although I consider myself a "green" environmentalist, Hubby and I own a gas-guzzling SUV. The reason? We fancy ourselves to be outdoor enthusiasts, and I love to exercise outside. So we wanted a vehicle that would hold our bikes and provide the 4-wheel drive we'd need to go up a mountain.

As a result, our SUV takes a beating. At one point, we considered purchasing an Auto Warranty. Auto warranties generally cover more than the factory warranty, and they're a great choice for car owners who tend to be a little rough on their vehicles. They may also be useful for folks who want a little extra protection and peace of mind.

To learn more about auto warranties, check out the personal finance website FinanceGenius.com. It's full of information about all things related to money, including insurance, auto warranties, student loans, mortgages and more.

Printer Cartridges

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I'm a writer and editor, so I use a lot of paper. Although I write on my computer, I prefer to do my final edits on a hard copy. As a result, I also use a lot of printer ink. And it's not always easy to find the right ink cartridge for my printer.

Fortunately, CartridgeFinder.com has an easy-to-use Cartridge Finder that's designed to help you find the right ink cartridge for you based on your printer brand and model. Even better, the website has teamed up with PriceGrabber to help you find the lowest price on the cartridge, too!

Personally, I think it’s great that I can get a low price on my printer ink cartridges, since the cost can really add up quickly!

FitnessBliss Bells Software Review

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Many fitness enthusiasts--including myself--prefer to exercise in the comfort of our own homes rather than the noisy, crowded environment of a gym. And dumbbells are perfect exercise equipment for the work-at-home fitness buff. They're economical and they take up very little space in a home gym.

However, it's not always easy to think of new exercises that can be done with dumbbells. Fortunately, now you can use FitnessBliss Bells. This software is designed to help exercisers create dumbbell weight-lifting routines that will keep your workouts varied and interesting!

The software includes a diagram of your muscles (so you know which body parts you're targeting), pictures of the exercise being executed (to help you understand proper form), a schedule with sets/reps, and a place to track your progress. You can see a sample of it here.

FitnessBliss Bells features more than 100 different dumbbell exercises, so you'll never get bored! You'll be able to target all the muscles of your body with this innovative software. FitnessBliss Bells even includes pre-designed routines that are specific for certain athletes, such as baseball players or golfers. By choosing one of these routines, you can immediately begin working out with a program that's designed to help boost your performance in your preferred sport.

The software is intuitive and easy to use, so it's simple to design your own, custom dumbbell workout program. And since you can easily print out your plan and progress sheets, the workout can be handily referenced in any setting or environment.

Bling!

(This is a sponsored post)

Generally speaking, I am not the flashy type. The only jewelry I wear consistently is a plain, white gold cross necklace, my wedding band and my diamond engagement ring.

On special occasions, however, I will change my necklace and add earrings. For those types of events, I prefer elegant, expensive jewelry. And one of my favorite stores to browse for this type of jewelry is JrDunn.

The store's website offers a huge variety of jewelry, including diamond engagement rings and pearl earrings.

Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, JrDunn is likely to have that perfect piece of jewelry for every occasion.

Workout Clothing Coupons

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If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love to shop… especially for fitness and exercise clothing. Fortunately, websites like EdealFinder.com provides coupons and deals to all my favorite stores.

Since I'm a big bargain hunter, I especially love to shop at discount stores. Kohl's coupons help me pay even less than their already low prices. Their activewear section usually has some fitness and exercise clothing that I can wear while doing yoga, stretching or aerobics. Occasionally I find a great deal on sports bras and athletic shorts, too!

These types of clothing can easily cost $20-$50 each at a regular retail store. But when I combine Kohl's discount coupons and the store's low prices, I can often drop the cost to 50% less than the regular retail price. And in my opinion, that's a real bargain!

EdealFinder.com offers other deals, too, like 1800PetMeds coupons and Zappos.com bargains.

Walking Tours For Fitness and Fun

Although I've lived most of my life above the Mason-Dixon line, I consider myself to be a mix of Yankee and Southern Belle. The southerner in me loves the hospitality, friendliness and slower pace of the southern states. As a result, I've always wanted to take a trip to South Carolina.

My Mother-In-Law was raised in Charleston, and I've been considering a tour of the city. But since I've never been to Charleston, I prefer to let the experts guide my sightseeing. Fortunately, travel service Trusted Tours and Attractions offers a Charleston Tour that includes sightseeing.

A tour is a fun way to see a new city, and it's something I've always wanted to try. I love the idea of a themed tour, and those of you who regularly read my blog will understand why "The Pub Walk of Charleston" sounds so appealing to me!

Hubby is a lot more interested in history, though, so I could see him finding interest in "The Charleston Civil War Walking Tour." The great thing about this particular tour is that it combines history with exercise, so at least I'll be able to walk off some of that tasty southern food! The "Original Charleston Walk" is another great way to get some exercise while I learn about the local history and legends.

If you prefer a more northern destination, this travel service also offers Boston Tours and tours in other cities, like Chicago and Niagara Falls.

Workout Gear Storage

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I consider myself to be a very organized person. My office, kitchen, closets and basement are all neat and tidy. However, I do have problems finding the right way to organize my workout equipment. Exercise accessories like weightlifting gloves, jump ropes and resistance bands can easily get lost or tangled if not properly stored.

A garage storage tool chest, however, seems like the perfect storage solution for my workout gear! Sold by Carguygarage.com, these nifty tool boxes include plenty of drawers and cubbies for all my exercise accessories.

Since the holidays are right around the corner, I'm thinking that this type of tool chest would make a great gift--for me!

Healthy Debates

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Personally, I believe that a little bit of debating can be healthy. It teaches us how to appropriately express our opinions. It allows us to hear the thoughts of others. And it encourages social interaction and critical thinking.

If you like discussing politics and current events, check out the Argue With Everyone Discussion Forums. These political forums are an online message board for chats about everything from elections to foreign policy to religion. It's a great place to exercise your debate muscles. There aren't many rules on this forum--just enough to keep things under control--so you're free to engage in very lively conversations.

If a little debating is your idea of a good time, check out the forums. You may find the chat interesting and stimulating.

Evening Dresses Online

This is a sponsored post

In my opinion, one of the best things about losing weight is the newfound ability to slide into a slinky evening dress! With the holidays right around the corner, I've refocused my efforts on dropping a few pounds. I'm seriously hoping that Hubby's job will host a fun, elegant holiday event that will give me a chance to wear a sexy dress!

And, fortunately, there are websites like ElegantMart.com that sell beautiful Evening Dresses at reasonable prices. And products are shipped free with a 120% guarantee! For someone who loves to shop online--like me!--this super deal is a great way to purchase evening gowns and cocktail dresses. I'm really looking forward to dropping a few pounds and then slipping into one of their elegant dresses. Hubby's jaw will drop!

Skateboards For Exercise

(This is a sponsored post)

As much as I love running, sometimes I want to try something else. A fun and exciting workout can keep you motivated to stay fit. Sometimes its better to choose a sport for exercise so your workouts feel more like fun than exercise.

Surprisingly, a favorite youth activity can also be a great workout for anyone of ANY age! Skateboarding requires balance, agility, strength and speed. It's also lots of fun!

Check out WarehouseSkateboards.com if you're looking for top quality skateboards for you or your kids. They have everything you need--like element skateboards, skateboard trucks and skateboard decks. You can buy complete skateboards or various parts and pieces. The site even sells accessories like tape and decals, plus clothing and pads. And if you're just learning, they sell DVDs that will get you started.

If you're looking for a way to get your child more physical activity--instead of wasting time in front of the TV!--consider buying him or her a skateboard! Your gift will provide fun, entertainment and healthy exercise, too!

Kids and Money

This is a sponsored post.

When I was younger, I was a very poor money manager. By the time I finished grad school, I was deep in debt--student loans, car, and (worst of all) credit cards. I finally cleaned up my act and paid off my debts. And when it was all finished, I promised myself that I'd teach my kids the basics of money management so they'd never find themselves in the same debt situation.

Hubby and I have discussed it, and we both feel that education our (future) children about personal finances is a vital part of parenting. Fortunately, there are blogs like this one that help impart information about teen investing and money management for kids. It’s a great place to find guidance, advice and up-to-date news about personal finance and children.

Since the blog also discusses other things related to finance and parenting, it's an interesting read for almost anyone.