Category Archives: New posts

See how easy it is to sell your old iPhone for cash on Gazelle!

October 12, 2015Gadgets, New posts, TechnologyGazelle, iphone, smartphone, Tablet, Trade-inAlicia

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I’ve owned iPhones since the first model was introduced. Not because I was a fan of Apple products – I had never touched one before – but because it was the first phone that I knew of, that would allow me to check email, text without hitting a number three times to product the correct letter, etc.. Being aware of and wanting new technology and gadgets is in my DNA. I naturally want the newest technology in my home, car, office, and hand. When Gazelle launched several years ago, I jumped on the opportunity to sell my old iPhone in order to upgrade to the new iPhone without having to pay $200+ out of pocket at the AT&T or Apple store. I quickly learned that the process of selling your iPhone, or other device, on Gazelle is fast and easy. Simply select your device model, carrier, capacity, and the condition the iPhone or other device is in (be honest) and you’ll have a quote within a matter of seconds!

Below is a Gazelle quote for my current iPhone.

Surprisingly, I am not itching to upgrade to the iPhone 6S Plus – even though I could get $325 for it from Gazelle. I am very happy with my iPhone 6 Plus. I love the size.. I haven’t once regretted getting the 5.5″ smartphone even though I’m a petite-ish girl and it barely fits in my hand. I appreciate that I can read the screen without squinting and I can type without hitting the wrong letters.

If you want to sell your used iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook, AppleTV or other device and get a fair, cash price for it, consider trading it in at Gazelle. All you need to do is select your gadget from a list of options on Gazelle’s “Trade-In” page, answer a few questions, and then Gazelle provides you with an offer for your device.

For items worth $1 or more, it’s free to ship your device to Gazelle. Once your trade-in is received, the device is inspected to make sure its condition matches your evaluation. If the device matches your description, Gazelle will pay you in the form of a check, an Amazon.com gift card, or via PayPal. Payment takes about a week once Gazelle receives your device.

Once you’ve received your payment, you should definitely peruse Gazelle’s extensive selection of certified pre-owned devices, including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, iPads, and accessories. You’ll be able to get an upgraded device without paying a head-spinning price.

You should also check out Gazelle’s sale section. Gazelle has dozens of items on sale for a great price! For example, the iPad Mini 3 16GB WiFi is currently selling for $279 on Gazelle. The best price I could find for the same model on retailer websites is $349 (with a $50 discount) at BestBuy.com and $399 from Target.com. You may find refurbished iPads on retailer websites but used devices is what Gazelle specializes in they even have a 30-day risk-free return policy.

It’s important to note that Gazelle performs a 30+-point inspection on all their devices, so you can be confident that every feature of the device is tested and of the highest quality before you buy it. They also back up the quality of their Gazelle Certified device with a 30-day return policy. You can also keep your carrier or switch to a knew one because Gazelle Certified also means no contracts or strings attached.

Now that the new iPhone is here, you should consider trading-in your old iPhone to offset the cost of a new one. Or, buy a certified pre-owned iPhone 6 at a lower cost than the new!

Support A Stuffed Animal That Helps Prevent Bullying and Build Self-Esteem

September 29, 2015New posts, Parenting ArticlesBuppaLaPaloo, KickstarterAlicia

October is National Bullying Prevention month and we know that bullying is a huge issue for our youth. Dee Wallace (who you will recognize as the mother from the movie ET) has created a product, BuppaLaPaloo, that aims to prevent bullying and build self-esteem! There is really nothing more important than self-esteem. Raising a boy and a girl, I’ve learned – in our case at least – that self-esteem doesn’t come as naturally to girls as it does boys, and a little extra help building self-esteem is absolutely a good thing. 16.9% of high school students report being bullied and 64% of students who are bullied never report it. What a shame! Bullying is an epidemic problem in our schools today.

I was bullied in high school and didn’t tell anyone until years after I graduated. Like most kids who are being bullied, I was caught off guard and I thought I was being bullied because of something I did and that once the current bullying ‘session’ was over, it would be over for good. What I didn’t realize is that once I was bullied once and didn’t say anything about it to an adult, I was an easy target resulting in a couple more years of bullying. I had friends. I had a social life. I was still bullied. Our children need to learn to tell someone the FIRST time they are bullied, whether physically, verbally, or mentally, so the situation can be nipped in the bud.

Dee has created a Kickstarter campaign for BuppaLaPaloo and only has a few days left to reach her goal! BuppaLaPaloo is a fabulous interactive toy, and a child’s best friend, that will promote self-love and will help nurture children and help them grow.

BuppaLaPaloo is a cuddly, soft teddy bear, a Best Friend for your child. Buppa joyfully speaks powerful statements of self-love in First Person. Your child repeats the First Person statements back to Buppa, learning to claim their self-love and power for themselves.

This soft, little bear unconditionally loves your child. By speaking these strong, affirmative statements, Buppa makes it okay for your child to feel internally strong, powerful and loved. Buppa gives your child permission to love themselves. Knowing how to love themselves, your child will be more able to love others.

High self-esteem comes from loving yourself−not for what you do, or how much you accomplish−for JUST BEING YOU. How many of us, as adults, can say we truly love ourselves and can claim our power in this world?

Psychologists agree that a child’s personality and basic life pattern is firmly embedded by the ages of 4-7. Early childhood self-love is vitally important to how children will see, be and interact in their world, creating the world we all live in.

BuppaLaPaloo introduces your child to the joy of loving themselves, encouraging interaction between the bear, the child, and a parent or a caregiver. Buppa is perfect for children ages 3-7, or for anyone who wants to learn how to better value themselves!

Head over to the Kickstarter campaign for BuppaLaPaloo to learn more!

When Shut-Eye Strategies Fail To Kick Insomnia To The Curb

September 16, 2015Health, New postsHealth, Insomnia, sleep, SponsoredAlicia

Every year when Sebastian and Madelyn start school after summer break, they seem to adjust to the change in schedule quicker and easier than I do. They’ve been back in school for almost 6 weeks (WHAT?) and I’m still trying to figure out how to get through the days without feeling like I’m going to split into thirds from going three different directions at once. Our days, probably like yours, are made up of carpool, attending school events, after-school activities, work, and keeping up with the house – all the while trying to communicate and keep good relationships with friends and family. With so much going on, I feel like I’m running 90 miles-an-hour, 18 hours a day. I know you can relate. It’s the life we chose when deciding to become parents, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but you’d think that after 16 years I would have it down. Tell me please – when exactly did parenting become normal and consistent for you?

In order to calm my mind and body, and hopefully get to sleep before 1AM, I’ve been practicing the healthy shut-eye strategies I shared with you a couple weeks ago – including signing off from social media at least one hour before bedtime. I also stopped exercising after 3PM. My heart rate is naturally high and since having an Apple Watch I can actually see that it stays slightly elevated for up to a few hours after I exercise, which doesn’t make it easier for me to wind down in the evening. As surprising as it seems to me, turning off all lights, even small nightlights, in and near our bedroom is the shut-eye strategy that’s made the biggest difference in how quickly I fall asleep. Studies have shown that even our small lights emit enough light to miscue the brain and promote wakefulness. Maybe nightlights aren’t such a great idea afterall?

What if going to sleep isn’t the issue for you, but staying asleep is?
I can relate. Staying asleep is a battle I fight almost every night. I was diagnosed with insomnia in 2004 and I get a little riled up when I hear someone say they only got 5-6 hours of sleep the night before. I empathize, I really do.. but I can go 48-36 hours without sleeping. This can happen every few weeks and it’s very unhealthy. That is why I take a prescription sleep aid nights I really need to get a good night’s sleep, such as before having to drive an 8-hour road trip or leaving for a business trip.

Not getting enough sleep, or any sleep, results in me being completely unproductive and irritable the next day. The insomnia conquering strategies I’ve shared with you help me fall asleep but staying asleep longer than 45 minutes to an hour is another story. If you too have insomnia, practicing shut-eye strategies alone may not be enough to help you get a good night’s sleep.

You’ll be happy to know there are effective treatment options available for those of us who suffer with insomnia, including SILENOR^®,a prescription sleep aid used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Most sleep medications work on the sleep-promoting system, helping patients fall asleep, while SILENOR^®works with the wake-promoting mechanism of the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, helping patients stay asleep throughout the night and early morning. Perhaps most important, it can be used regularly and it’s not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence. If you have trouble sleeping through the night, have a conversation with your doctor about your routine, lifestyle and symptoms to determine the best option for you.

To learn more about how to achieve a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep visit Wanttosleepmore.com.

SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem. Be sure that you are able to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. SILENOR® should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. Do not take with alcohol or with other medicines that can make you sleepy. If you are on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken a MAOI within the past two weeks, you should not take SILENOR®. You should not take SILENOR® if you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma that is not being treated, if you have severe urinary retention, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SILENOR®. You should not drive or operate machinery at night after taking SILENOR®. Until you know how you will react to SILENOR®, you should be careful in performing such activities during the day following taking SILENOR®. Before you take SILENOR®, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, mental illness or suicidal thoughts. You should call your doctor right away if after taking SILENOR® you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. Drowsiness is the most common adverse event observed in clinical trials. For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, at https://www.silenor.com/Content/pdf/prescribing-information.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

11 Things Busy Moms Always Lose – What’s On Your Lose List?

December 4, 2014New postsinfographic, momsAlicia

No matter how hard I try to keep up with my keys by attaching them, via a carabiner, to my purse, or our handy key hook in our foyer, I seem to lose them.. often. It stinks really. It’s inconvenient to lose my keys all the time but what’s more inconvenient is the loss of my mind that has happened since becoming a parent. Losing your mind is a little more disturbing than losing my keys but I just can’t seem to find it some days. A little exercise and rest helps with getting my mind/sanity back but it usually doesn’t help find my keys unfortunately. Anyway, I was asked by Sortly, a productivity app, to tell them something I lose and my response was my mind. The fun infographic below shows my response as well as what other bloggers (also busy moms) say they lose often. What are the top 2-3 things that you lose often?

Sortly is a productivity app that helps you organize all your things by creating a visual inventory that you can easily search, manage, and categorize.

Source: 11 Things Busy Moms Always Lose

Bahama Breeze is the summer destination for good times! + A chance to win a $25 gift card!

July 7, 2014Food and Drink, Giveaways, New postsBahama Breeze, Food and Drink, giveaway, RestaurantsAlicia

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bahama Breeze. All opinions are 100% mine.

There is nothing better than after a long day of work to go out to dinner at Bahama Breeze with your husband or some friends, Just sit on the patio, listen to some live music with a cool drink in your hand. That is why Bahama Breeze is the summer destination for good times!

Bahama Breeze Summer Beach Bash

This summer Bahama Breeze is having a new event called Summer Beach Bash.It features live music that brings the sounds of the Islands to the patio plus a new signature cocktail, called Bahama Breeze Ultimate Pineapple! So grab some friends and check out Summer Beach Bash where you can enjoy your favorite cocktail or try the new Ultimate Pineapple drink: the must have frozen drink of the summer served in a fresh cut pineapple! Plus on Saturday nights they turn up the live music and bring out a mojito bar where you can choose your fruit, your rum, and watch the bartenders muddle the perfect summer cocktail just for you!

photo ScreenShot2014-06-18at15248PM_zpsc7418dcb.png

The Summer Beach Bash will run from June 23rd to August 3rd, so make sure you don’t wait too long to head on over!

Plus..

If you go to Bahama Breeze Summer Beach Bash, you can participate in the “Instagram Selfie Contest”! All you have to do is share a creative selfie of yourself and your friends enjoying your time at the Summer Beach Bash and use the hashtag #MyBBSelfie and you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 Bahama Breeze gift card!

To view Bahama Breeze’s fabulous menu of drinks, including my favorite the Dark and Stormy Bermuda, and food, or for a location near you click here. Don’t forget to visit them before the Bahama Breeze Summer Beach Bash ends on August 3rd!