Valentine's Gifts for the Man in Your Life

Via NJFamily.com

Now that we've covered great V-Day gifts for women, what about men? Men are a little harder to buy for because most of the gifts that work for women, just don't work for men (flowers, chocolates, lingerie, jewelry, etc.). So what should you get the man in your life? Here are some ideas.

Watches

Although jewelry doesn't work, a beautiful watch is a great addition to any man's wardrobe. Here are some great deals on watches available now:

Invicta Men's Pro Diver Watch though listed at $895, this watch is on sale for only $90, a fraction of the original cost. Choose from rose gold, blue ionic, and gun metal bezel. This is a beautiful watch that's been highly rated.


For a striking face, check out the Stuhrling Men's Professional Diver Watch. At only $70, down from over $120, and a 4.3 star review rating, this is a great option as well.

Of course these are just a couple of the stunning watches available. Many are on sale right now at great prices.

Gadgets

Most men are kids at heart, so nothing is better than a new toy. From video games and systems to tablets to e-readers, a new toy may be just the perfect way to say, "I love you." 

If you're sweetheart is an audiophile or a gamer, a sweet set of headphones would make a great gift. Great options include the V-MODA Crossfade Headphones, which are currently 50% off and have a 4.5 rating. Another option is the Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones at $98 or the Pioneer STEEZ Stereo Headphones at $50 (down from $130).

If headphones aren't the cards, consider getting a tablet. They're so versatile with the many apps available and your love will have fun playing games, watching Netflix, reading books and more. Consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-Inch, Wi-Fi). At only $200, it's a reasonably priced tablet that runs Android 4.0. Though it only comes with 8 GB of internal memory, it's expandable with micro SD cards.

Depending on his interests, other fun gifts include digital cameras, cuff links that double as a Wi-Fi hotspot, or a safe that looks like a can of Dr. Pepper.

Do Something for Him

Although it's always nice to get a gift, sometimes the best present is doing something for your sweetheart:

Via Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night

• Get the kids out of the house for the night and cook him dinner (maybe not on the day of Valentine's so you can actually find a sitter). After dinner watch your wedding video and talk about what you remember about your wedding day.
• Make him some love coupons with things that he usually doesn't get (i.e. not "clean the kitchen" or "take the dog for a walk" if he doesn't usually do these things anyway). For example, if he hates mowing the lawn every weekend, make him coupons for mowing the lawn so he can have a break every once in awhile.
• Schedule out some together time for you and him when no one else is around. Pick an activity he really enjoys and do it with him (with a good attitude even if it's not one of your favorite things to do).
• Give him a heart attack. No, don't send him to the hospital, but cut out a bunch of hearts and hide them around the house, car, his lunch, his briefcase, wherever (maybe get up early before he leaves for work and do it). On each heart, right something you love about him. 
• Write him a love letter. Sure emails and texts are great, but there is something about a hand-written letter. Write why you fell in love and how you feel today. Tell him all the things you're grateful for and why you're glad you two are together. Don't forget to seal with a lipstick kiss and light spray of perfume. 

Hope this helps in brainstorming. What are you planning on doing for your sweetie this Valentine's Day? Or what did you do? Share in the comments.

What to Buy Your Wife for Valentine's Day

Are you ready for Valentine's Day? Do you have a gift for your wife?

Ah, who am I kidding? Most of my readers are women, so it might not help to give gift ideas for a wife, but hey, maybe it will give you ideas of what to "suggest" to your hubby, right? And with Valentine's Day only 8 days away, there's no time to waste, especially if you're ordering online.

Maybe this year, you can hint and see if he takes it. Create a wishlist on Amazon with anything and everything that you'd like to get, send him the link and see if he actually follows through. Here are some ideas for great V-Day presents:

Jewelry

Jewelry is always a classic Valentine's gift and for good reason: what better way to remind her she's beautiful than by buying her something beautiful. Here are some classics for a great price.

Gold Hoop Earrings are a perfect addition to any ear and you don't have to worry about irritating metals. Currently (as of this writing), these were 70% off, only $90 instead of $300. Great way to say, "You're mine forever."

For something more unique, try jewelry shaped like animals. This Mother and Baby Turtle Diamond Pendant Necklace is a great gift for the mother of your children. Other options include a rose gold diamond elephant pendant and a penguin pendant with black and white diamonds.


Of course, the ultimate classic is a pair of diamond stud earrings. If that's out of your budget, consider getting a pair of stud earrings with Swarovski crystals. Many consider these just as beautiful and made from the highest quality crystals. Best of all, your sweetheart won't worry about losing them unlike real diamonds. For only $29, it's a great gift if you're on a budget.

Other Great Gifts

If jewelry isn't the right gift, there are many other choices. Here are a few:

• Fragrances: Does your sweetie need some more of her favorite fragrance? You can find many of the most popular scents online for a fraction of the cost of department stores. Valentine's savings range from 25 to 50% off, so it's a great time to replenish your supply.
• Watches: If you just realized that your wife has never owned a nice, jewelry-quality watch in the 10 years that you've married (*winks in hubby's direction*), maybe it's time to look at watches available. From rose gold to two-tone to Swarovski crystal, there are some beautiful watches for a great price.
  
  Burgi has a diamond bracelet watch that is listed at $750, but is on sale now for only $156.
  
  But this isn't the only great deal. Right now, many watches are on sale for up to 75% off. 
• Flowers are always lovely. Just make sure you know whether your wife, girlfriend, or hopefully soon-to-be girlfriend enjoys flowers. Bonus points if you talk to her mother or best friend to find out her favorite flower. Don't just stick with red roses. There are so many flowers to choose from and the more creative, the better!
• Love coupons are a fun idea for those who don't have a lot of dough. Many sites are offering FREE printable love coupons that you can personalize and give to your significant other, like those by Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night. All you need is paper and a printer.

Have some ideas for gifts that you want to share? Add them in the comments. 

Amazon Deals for Moms, 2/5/13

So I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE Amazon.com. I'm always finding great deals on items and if I think you might be interested, I figure why not share the deals with you. So, I each day (unless I don't see any great deals), I'll post some items that you may be interested in.



Have you considered getting the new Kindle Fire? Well, right now is a great time. See what Amazon says:

Through February 8, 2013, save $30 on Kindle Fire HD 8.9" or $50 on Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE. Enter promotional code FIRELOVE at checkout.

What a great deal. And if you choose the one with 4G, no monthly fees like with iPads. You'll always be connected online. Plans start at only $50 a year. Awesome!

Baby Stuff

Needing stuff for your baby? Right now Amazon has a sale on baby items. Just use the code 13BABY15 to get an extra 15% off select items.


Items that stood out to me include this Countertop Drying Rack made for baby bottles. 57 out of 66 reviewers gave it five stars, so it must be a great item (I wish I had it when I was bottle feeding Alex!). This is only $19 after the discount.


Looking for a stroller? Check out the Maclaren Techno XLR stroller. It's already 50% off, but with the extra 15%, it's only $25! What a deal.


If you're like me and LOVE Carter's, there are also quite a few Carter's Baby items available as part of this sale, including the cutest items with elephants and owls (my favorite. Makes me wish I had a baby right now!).

This is a great deal so take advantage of it while you can :D.

Remember that these deals are for a limited time and prices change without notice, so get the deals while they're hot!

Are Food Allergies Linked to GM Foods?

Via ShiftFrequency.com

I can't remember if I've mentioned this on the blog, but my boys have food allergies--both of them. What's interesting is that they have the same allergies: eggs and peanuts. I think that's unusual (though I could be wrong). Luckily, neither of the allergies are life threatening. My oldest, Alex, will throw up if peanuts touch his mouth and will get hives but my youngest, MW, will only get some hives and he can eat peanuts other than that.

Have you heard about the rise in food allergies? There are all these theories on why so many more kids are getting sick and having food allergies than ever before, but it's been hard to pinpoint.

Well, lately I've been trying to learn more and more about eating healthy and what that means. My sister is going to school to become a nutritionist and she's gone gluten-free, dairy-free, and mostly sugar-free. So she sends me articles about GM (genetically modified) foods, especially corn and soy, and how it's causing all of these health problems.

Via PoliticsofthePlate.com

In fact, in almost every other country, GM foods are outlawed and/or it's required to list them on the foods if they include GM ingredients. It's hypothesized that the GM foods are causing food allergies because the body can't process the foods correctly. Some, especially those produced by Mansanto, are created with a toxin that can kill bugs and are resistant to Roundup herbicide. What happens is that bugs who try to eat are killed (specifically it causes their bellies to explode) and then the farmers use Roundup on it but since the food is resistant, it doesn't die.

Bottom line? We ingest the Roundup used on it and we ingest food that is causing cells to explode the way that these insects bellies explode. Which leads to food allergies, as well as other problems.

Scary!

So what can we do to stop it? Don't eat GM foods. Find out which ones are not (namely organic and non-GMO certified). This is our best way to stop these food producers. Once they see we won't buy their products, they'll stop using them. Also, if your state has proposed a law that would require manufacturers to label when they use GM ingredients, please support it. If manufacturers are required to list it in the ingredients, they'll likely switch to food that is not GMO.

Via Island Wellness Market on Blogspot

Want to know more? Here's a great video on the subject:

What do you guys think? Is it worth it to find and buy non-GMO products?

Review of Aerobed - Queen

Via MySentimentExactLee.com

So we bought an Aerobed a few years back from Costco. It's been great because we don't have a large home, certainly not one big enough to have a guest bedroom, and so when we've had family come visit, it's been great to pull it out and use it.

Here's my take on the Aerobed: It's great but don't expect it to last forever.

Basically what I mean is this is a nice bed that is comfortable and convenient. When I was pregnant (both times), I ended up not being able to sleep with my husband. First of all, he's a light sleeper and with me getting up two times a night to pee, it was not ideal (it often takes him an hour or more to get back to sleep if he's woken up in the night). Two, I had the WORST lower back pain whenever I'd try to sleep in our bed, but on the air mattress, I could fill it up fuller so it gave more support and either no back pain or a lot less back pain (just another reason why I think a SleepNumber bed would be great, though I don't have any personal experience with that).

Basically, I don't know how I would have gotten through my pregnancies without the Aerobed. It was a lifesaver.

Still, since we got our first one, about five years ago, we've had to replace it twice because eventually it starts losing air. You can get kits or figure out how to patch it if you want, but considering the cost (each was between $100 and $130 at Costco) and the fact that each lasted a couple years (we've only had our most recent one for a year or so now) and the fact that I used it for months on end (I think I used it for 7 months of the 9 for my second pregnancy with MW), I would say that it's worth the cost.

Just the Facts

Store: Costco

Price: $130

Date Purchased: April 2012

Rating: 4/5

For what it is and how comfortable it is, it's totally worth the cost. It's easy to set up and take down and store. If you need a guest bed that will be comfortable but not in the way, an Aerobed is the way to go.

5 Tips for Moving Local

So we're getting ready to move into a new apartment. It's actually across the street! We were looking for something bigger, but we like the location. We really lucked out with this apartment. It's $200/month more than our current apartment, but it's over 50% bigger!

As I've been moving, I've thought of some ways that I've found that have made moving a lot easier, so I thought I'd share. Granted, with only a two-bedroom apartment, it's not quite the same task as it would be if we had a whole house, but I think these tips can scale up, so hopefully I'll include something that helps you.

Boxes

Image by Meathead Movers

Everyone needs boxes to move. This is especially essential if you're moving to a new state and everything has to be packed up before you can move. But boxes can be expensive to buy. One way to save is to get boxes from stores. In our area, I know you can have boxes saved for you from both Walmart and Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but I'm sure a lot of stores are willing to do it. I got my boxes from Walmart. To do so, I had to call the night before (before they started stocking the shelves) and ask them to reserve some. As they stocked, they put some of the good boxes in a cart. Otherwise, they crush all boxes by 6:30 a.m. This way they knew to reserve them. I also had to pick up the boxes by about 7 a.m. or they would have gotten rid of them. Totally worth it for free boxes.

Are You Getting Enough Sun?

Image via Flickr by Jim Larrison

I recently was thinking about how we get vitamin D from the sun and wondering whether sunscreen blocks vitamin D from being absorbed, so I did a search on Google and found that indeed, it does block vitamin D. I also read that many have gone overboard encouraging sunscreen whenever we are out in the sun. Vitamin D is very important to our health, and so it's important to get enough in our bodies. In the winter, it's impossible to get enough from the sun if you live too far north (from what I read, anywhere that's north of Atlanta), but you can get enough in the summer.

Many believe that you get enough from supplements and milk. According to government regulations, this may be true, but not according to many health researchers who believe you need around 1,000 to 2,000 IUs a day (at least in the summer when you can get it from the sun). You only get around 100 IUs from milk and 400 IUs from a multi-vitamin.

Image via Flickr by What I Wore

This isn't to say that sunscreen isn't important. Everyone should wear it regardless of their skin tone because it protects against skin cancer (even if you're tan, it's needed). But we should allow ourselves to be outside without sunscreen for a short amount of time, depending on your skin tone. Those who are fair skinned only need around a few minutes midday; if you're tan, you will need around 15 to 20 minutes; extremely dark-skinned individuals may need as much as an hour or more (though studies are needed to determine how much).

You can find more information on this topic for US News and World Report's article, "Time in the Sun: How Much Is Needed for Vitamin D?"