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Last Minute Holiday Gift Idea: Kaspersky Internet Security 2012

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

kaspersky internet security 2012I’ve been using Kaspersky Internet Security to protect my computers for a few  years now, and have been very pleased with the performance.  Considering that I am online far more than the average person, I need strong protection.  I have not had any major issues since making the switch to Kaspersky.

Kaspersky has a whole suite of products to handle your various protection needs.  Internet Security is the one I’ve used these past few years.  It is perfect for families, since it provides protection for up to 3 PCs.

Some key features:

  • Real-time antivirus protection.
  • Safe online banking & shopping, with identity theft protection.
  • Easy to use parental controls.
  • Two-way firewall, for addition protection from hackers.

Kaspersky current has some nice discounts running for the holiday season.  Whatever you do,  DO NOT START SURFING ON THAT NEW CHRISTMAS COMPUTER WITHOUT PROTECTION.  Either purchase protection beforehand or go directly to Kaspersky for immediate download.  http://usa.kaspersky.com/store/kaspersky-store

Product sample provided.

Filed Under: Electronics, Shopping

A Natural Resolution: Crystal Deodorant #CrystalRollOn #CBias

December 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

eco friendly natural productsLike many people, I am trying to switch over to more natural products (especially for the new year), I simply don’t want to have more chemicals in my life, than necessary, especially on my skin.   While natural products are better for both my family and the environment, I don’t want to spend significantly more on them. I also don’t have the time to shop specialty stores to buy basic toiletries.  The deodorant I have been using works just fine, but it can be a little drying to the skin at times, and it is not a natural crystal roll on deodorantproduct, so when Collective Bias was looking for bloggers to try out Crystal natural deodorant, I was pleased to participate.

The roll-on version of Crystal deodorant is conveniently located at Walmart.  At my store it was priced at just $3.48, which I thought was quite reasonable for a natural deodorant.  Being readily available at a low price, makes switching a viable option, for me.

Since I now had the deodorant, and was going to write about it anyway, I tried it before writing this post.  This natural deodorant has worked well for me, the past couple days, and I prefer the way it feels on my skin.  I like that it is unscented, and have had no residue on black clothing either.  I’ll buy it again.  That is one thing i can already check off my resolution list for the new year.

 

Check out my Google + shop story.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.#CBias

Filed Under: Reviews /Giveaways, Shopping

California Wine Club: Great Last Minute Holiday Gift!

December 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

california wine club holiday giftLooking for a last minute holiday gift, they will really love? Why not a membership to the California Wine Club .  It would be a fantastic present for any wine lover, as well as, the foodies in your life.  I have sampled a few shipments, and have been very pleased with the quality of the wines sent.

wine clubThe club is not stuffy at all.  California Wine Club makes tasting wine an easy and enjoyable experience, that you can have right in your own home.  Each moth the club sends two bottles of wine from a small (usually family run) California winery.  They arrive nicely packaged in a specially designed double wine insulator, to ensure no broken bottles.   An informative magazine is also included with each shipment.  The magazine shares interesting information about the producing winery, and the family that runs it. There is also a section in the back, offering bottles that have come in earlier shipments (great if you haven’t been able to find them locally).  If you have never experienced small estate wines before, you’re sure to be surprised at how distinctive they each are, and knowing about the people that made your wine, adds a little to the enjoyment, as well.

You can send as many months as you like to your recipient. Discounts are available on 3, 6, 9 & 12 month packages. The first shipment will also include a $25 voucher so they can re-order their favorite wines.  Each shipment contains two bottles, if you prefer to do two red or two white wines, rather than one of each no problem.  To take advantage of this deal and get an additional 10% off your order, use the promo code: blommi and follow this link to  The California Wine Club. 

Product sample provided.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Tagged With: ,

Get Your Kids Outside Again with GeoMate Jr.

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

geomate jrWant to get your kids outdoors more, and away from the video games, then why not have technology help rather than hinder you in this endeavor.  Geomate JR.  feeds kids desire for technology and gadgets, but also makes it a fun adventure to be outside and active.  This handheld GPS device is specifically created for geocaching, and come preloaded with 250,000 Geocaches.  With the help of an update kit, even more geocaches are available.  What an exciting way to get your kids interested in the outdoors.

The Internet and television may be dominating leisure activities and zapping outdoor time for kids, but that won’t slow down the fast growing trend millions enjoy: GPS treasure hunting called, geocaching. Thanks to Apisphere, Inc., the company behind Geomate.jr (www.mygeomate.com), children, their families and adventure seekers from all walks of life can get hip with the increasingly popular and fun geocaching phenomenon, a great group activity for scouting, summer camps and schools. Geomate.jr, the first and only device of its kind, combines technology and outdoor play while providing hours of geocaching entertainment; it is preloaded with 250,000 geocache locations.

Sadly, according to the Outdoor Foundation, outdoor activity among children ages 6 to 17 declined 11 percent in 2008. “Geomate.jr offers a way to reconnect our children with family time and nature while encouraging them to be active, get outdoors and explore the environment,” says Warren Hewerdine, co-inventor of Geomate.jr and Apisphere’s vice president of marketing. He says, “Savvy kids will get their technology fix from the easy-to-use device, and it eliminates the traditional fuss of Internet connections, downloads, coordinates and preplanning to provide a spontaneous geocaching experience families can enjoy anytime, anywhere.” Geomate.jr acts as an electronic compass, guiding you to within yards of a geocache.

People all over the world have enjoyed geocaching but up until now, the GPS receivers required were expensive and difficult to use. “Geomate.jr is about the size of a granola bar and built tough so it can take a beating. The contoured grip fits comfortably in the hands of kids and adults,” says Hewerdine. “Then all you have to do is head out to a local park, the back country or just down the street to get started on creating lifelong memories and a new found appreciation for the outdoors.” The Geomate.jr makes a great gift idea any time of year, and thanks to its size, it is a perfect stocking stuffer around the holiday season.

Products available include:
Geomate.jr – Geocaching GPS
Retail: $69.95
Pre-loaded with 250,000 geocaches covering all 50 U.S. states, just switch it on and be directed to your closest geocache.  European, Canadian, Australian & New Zealand versions are also available.

Geomate.jr – Update Kit
Retail: $24.95
The key to update any Geomate.Jr with the latest and greatest geocaches for the U.S. or for around the world.  Other features such as being able to create a private geocache list and Pocket Query support are also accessible with an Update Kit.

Geomate.jr – Combo Pack
Retail: $94.95
Everything you will ever need in one box including a Geomate.jr, an Update Kit, a Geomate.jr Travel Tag, batteries, lanyard, and documentation.

Geomate.jr is available for purchase at major outdoor retailers including REI, L.L. Bean, Gander Mountain and Eastern Mountain Sports.  It is also available through Target, Amazon.com and Geocaching.com. For more information about the Geomate.jr, including demo videos, please visit www.mygeomate.com. Follow on Twitter: @geomatejr and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/geomatejr.

Product sample provided.

Filed Under: Children, Electronics, Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Tagged With: , ,

Get Rewarded for Using Your Current MasterCard to Holiday Shop #heres2mom #cbias

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

heres to momDo you end out doing all the holiday gift shopping? Don’t you deserve a little bonus for all that time and effort?  MasterCard is ready and willing to give you one!  Just register your MasterCard credit or debit on the Here’s to Mom page on the MasterCard website, and when you spend $200 online between the time you sign-up and December 31st 2011, they will reward you with a $20 prepaid MasterCard.  Registration is a quick and easy process, which takes less than a minute, and requires very little information.

register

If you are like myself, and try to do as much holiday shopping as possible online, to avoid the shopping crowds, then this is the perfect opportunity for you.  You can shop anywhere you wish online, and break up the purchases however you like.  The only requirements are that, you must be a U.S. resident, the purchases be made on a registered MasterCard, and meet the $200 threshold.bhg holiday storeI kicked off my shopping for this promotion at holiday.bhg.com.  The shop has a wonderful array of unique kitchen items.  The bake ware selection is particularly enticing.  I’m a Bad Santa, I bought myself a little present on their website.  My splurge was the Mini Tart Pan with Tamper, a BHG exclusive.  Check out my Google+ story, to see some of the other great options there.mini tart pan and tamper

Don’t wait to register your MasterCard, at Here’s to Mom, since purchases don’t count retroactively.

Offer is only open to U.S. residents, ends 12/31/2011

Join the #cbias gang during a Twitter party on December 15th at 1 p.m. EST  (#heres2mom).  We will be discussing the promotion and the party hosts will be giving out prizes, as well. (register at: http://bit.ly/tomj42)

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Deals, Shopping Tagged With:

NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker Review

December 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

ice cream makerI was recently sent a NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker for review.  This ice cream maker is much different than the one my parent’s used when I was a child.  Memories of packing salt and ice into the sides of the old style ice cream makers , and waiting for hours to have any ice cream to eat, didn’t draw me back to the process, as an adult.  This ice cream machine is far different from the set-up my parents used though.

homemade frozen yogurtThe NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker has a built in compressor, so making ice cream becomes as simple as mixing your ingredients, pouring them in, setting the timer, and pressing the button.  I made some frozen yogurt in the machine, and it was ready in just 40 minutes, with minimal cleanup.  My daughter loved the yogurt, and it is a great way to try out something unusual.   Our frozen yogurt concoction was made with vanilla frozen yogurt, milk, chocolate Slimfast powder & a banana.  I figured my daughter and I both liked this combination as a smoothie, so why not a frozen treat.

I will certainly be having some fun with this next summer, making ice cream and frozen yogurt featuring fresh fruits and berries.  I might try a couple wacky recipes I have seen online, like bacon ice cream, as well… why not.  The Newair AIC-210 would make a wonderful gift for the foodie or ice cream lover in your life.   It is quicker and easier to use than most ice cream makers , so I think they will be pleasantly surprised.

Product sample provided.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Household Tagged With: , ,

Apothic Red: A Versatile Wine for Your Holiday Table

December 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

apothic red reviewApothic Red is a delightful vinter’s blend.  It is rich and smooth, with the flavor of cherries and a bit of spiciness.  The blend is a mixture of Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot, and has acquired excellent characteristics from each.  The wine retails for a reasonable retail price of $14, but I recently purchased it 2 for $19.99, from a local wine seller.

I would suggest Apothic Red as an excellent red choice to serve with dinner, or as a hostess gift.  In my opinion this is a smart buy.

Disclosure: Sample provided.  I have indeed bought it since then.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage Tagged With: ,

Playing Secret Santa with JCPenny’s Santa Tag

December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

jcpenney logoI am participating in a fun blogger’s version of Secret Santa this year, hosted by Mom Central.  The participating bloggers have each been assigned another blogger to play Secret Santa to.  We select the gift, and then use JCPenney’s Santa Tags to add a message wishing the recipient happy holidays, and reveal our identity.  Pretty cool, isn’t it.

Santa Tags are a great way to add a little extra excitement to  Secret Santa exchange.  Each tag has a QR code, which is scanned with your smartphone’s camera.  The sender scans the code, and is then directed to add their phone number.  JCPenney then promptly calls back, and records your holiday message to the recipient.  Attach the self adhesive tag to the gift, and when the recipient scans the QR code, they will get your message.

how to do a Santa TagI had a lot of fun selecting the gift, and am curious who my Secret Santa is.  I was a bit concerned about using the QR code and reader, because I only just recently switched over to a smartphone.  This is the first time I ever used a QR reader app.   I was very easy though.  Downloading the app was simple and fast, and the process of creating the Santa Tag was very easy, much more so than I thought it would be.  It was a terrific way to add a special personalization, to a gift.

Check out how fun and easy this new gift giving tool is for yourself : Santa Tags

secret santaI wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney and received a jcpenney Secret Santa gift and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: ,

Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker Review and Giveaway

December 12, 2011 By

Bialetti Moka ExpressLove espresso, and don’t want to spend a small fortune on one of those expensive boiler models?  This simple stove top espresso maker may be just the solution for you.  The Moka Espress is made in Italy, and is the same design commonly found in European households.

The Bialetti Moka Express espresso maker is available in a wide array of sizes.  There are 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 cup models.  The 6 cup model featured here sells for just $29.95, quite reasonable compared with the counter top brew models, many of which produce lackluster espresso.  If you entertain a lot, the 9 or 12 cup model would be a good investment even if you have a high end counter top model.  They generally don’t brew more than 2 cups at a time, not good if you have several dinner guests who would like a cup.

I found this maker easy to use, and it is foreseeable that the aluminum body could  last a lifetime.  A Bialetti Moka Express espresso pot would make an excellent gift for the foodie or coffee fiend in your life.  Pair it with a bag of fine quality espresso and some demitasse cups for a truly outstanding gift.

Disclosure: Product sample provided.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Bialetti Moka Express Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a Moka Express espresso pot of their own.

Entry Options (do as many or as few as you like, but make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry)

            • Tell how you like to drink your espresso.
            • For 2 entries! Follow this blog via email or RSS . (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
            • For 2 entries! Like Blommi on Facebook (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
            • For 2 entries! Like Bialetti on Facebook (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
            • Share or “like” this giveaway on Facebook
            • Follow @TwiMommi  on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway, can be done 3x per day at least 1 hour apart (account must be public and have at least 50 followers).
            • Follow me on Stumble Upon , Pinterest or Google + (one entry each, leave your user name in comment).
            • For 2 entries! Grab my ad button (available here), or add Blommi.com to your blogroll -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 2 separate comments)

One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends December 27, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Household, Misc. Tagged With: , , ,
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