Ambassadors Archives - Page 18 of 26

Staying Safe While Shopping Online

November 10, 2012 by Melissa

It’s hard to believe that it’s November already but the reality of the situation is Christmas is less than two months away. With that being said it’s time to begin shopping for the holidays but if you are like me you shop from the comfort of your own home in your pj’s with a nice hot cup of coffee or hot coco.

I love online shopping because of the convenience but the one thing that I always worry about is the security of my information. There would be nothing worse than my credit card information or even worse my identity being stolen.

I have family that lives far from us so I will typically send them food or something that is ordered online and delivered directly to their house. If you are like me and do most of your shopping online and I am sure most people are these days because finding coupons, free shipping and online deals is so easy there is almost no reason to leave the house. Now I say almost no reason because when it comes to clothing I actually need to go to a brick and mortar store because I have to try on my clothes 99% of the time.

So in the spirit of the holidays and online shopping here are a few tips that I think may be able to help keep your information safe while shopping online this holiday season.

NEVER buy from a site that redirects you from your original destination. You run the risk of it not being legitimate and you could possibly have your information stolen.
Never share your social security number when ordering online. There is no reason for anyone to ever ask for this when shopping online.
If you have a disposable credit card with a pre loaded amount associated with it that would be safer to use than a credit card. Reason being is if someone does get a hold of this information they can only steal up to the amount on the card.
Use your home computer rather than a public computer as you have no control over the anti virus protection or anything else on a public computer.
Keep your home antivirus on your computer up to date. This is the easiest way to help protect your information from being stolen.
Let LifeLock keep you protected while online because they will keep you protect and notify you if and when suspicious activity occurs.

I am not saying that my tips above will stop online theft during the holidays but it will help reduce the chances significantly.

Also, don’t forget to play the LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes on Facebook where all you need to do is “LIKE” LifeLock on Facebook then visit the LifeLock for Life tab and begin playing by answering different questions for great prizes. This month the questions will be focusing on online donating so make sure you play every week for a chance to win some really cool prizes. Also, the sweepstakes runs through 2013 so you will have multiple chances to win.

If you aren’t out shopping be sure to join #LifeLock on November 23rd (Black Friday) for an awesome Twitter party at 3 pm PST.

Have fun shopping this holiday season but be safe at the same time!

I have received compensation for my participation as a LifeLock Ambassador but ALL opinions are my own.

#LifeLock – Stay Safe While Donating Online

October 10, 2012 by Melissa

Have you ever been asking by a co-worker, family member or a friend to donate to a charity that they may be supporting? I know I have done this on numerous occasions because every year I do one to two MS bike rides where the money that I raise goes to help assist in finding a cure for MS so I hit a lot of different people up for donations.

With the internet not many people collect donations the old fashion way which is in the form of cash but instead people send a link where you can enter your personal information including your credit card number. Thankfully LifeLock is on the scene to help you protect your identify because who wants to be ripped off while trying to help out a charity.

LifeLock offers up many great tips for making donations online but for me the biggest tip is making sure that you search for the “S” when making purchases or donations online, be sure that the Web site is secure and that you see an https:// in the URL. Another great tip is to make sure you know who you are donating to. If you are like me you want to help everyone’s charity even the neighbor’s wife’s brother but it is extremely important to know who you are helping out so that you don’t get scammed and find yourself in huge trouble. I am not suggesting that you stop helping people and charity I am just saying do it safely and if you need a helping hand be sure to turn to LifeLock.

Also, this is a great month to talk about safely donating online because October is National CyberSecurity Awareness Month and National Crime Prevention Month so like I mentioned please be safe while online.

Feel free to share any tips or information you may have on this subject especially if you have ever been a victim of a charity scam?

You may remember that last month I mentioned the LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes on Facebook where all you need to do is “LIKE” LifeLock on Facebook then visit the LifeLock for Life tab and begin playing by answering different questions for great prizes. This month the questions will be focusing on online donating so make sure you play every week for a chance to win some really cool prizes. Also, the sweepstakes runs through 2013 so you will have multiple chances to win.

I have received compensation for my participation as a LifeLock Ambassador but ALL opinions are my own.

Pin to Win @CarnivalCruise for 2 #Giveaway

October 5, 2012 by Melissa

The ultimate in Pin to Win contests!

Carnival Cruise Lines if giving away a Caribbean Cruise for 2.

Pinterest boards are one of the greatest ways to get inspiration for recipes, home renovation projects, education tools, kids crafts and more so why not vacation destination spots. Simply create a board based on your Perfect Carnival vacation. Pin at least 5 images directly from Carnival’s Social Media sites or Carnival.com to get started. Pin other images to build your boards into a visual story your perfect Carnival vacation.

Source: carnival.com via Carnival on Pinterest

Don’t stop there. Create more boards from the other destination choices. At the end of the contest period, judges from Carnival will select the top 10 boards based on beauty, creativity and originality. The grand prize winner will be chosen by guest judge and “pinning rock star” Mike Dew who has more than three million followers on Pinterest (https://pinterest.com/tempspaz/). To inspire participants, Dew will also be creating his own board specifically for the contest.

I will be creating my own boards for each destination. Repin from my boards or Carnivals to create your Perfect Carnival Vacation.

I’d Rather Be Carnival Cruising-Alaska

I’d Rather Be Carnival Cruising- Caribbean

I’d Rather Be Carnival Cruising- Europe

I’d Rather Be Carnival Cruising-Hawaii

All rules and details can be found HERE

Family Game Night with Suspend plus #giveaway

September 18, 2012 by Melissa

Family Game Night used to be the norm in our house. Those days have become a bit scarce lately. We have busy schedules and even the kids just want some down time vegging in front of the tv or playing video games. But sometimes there comes a game that gets the kids to turn off the tv and pull up some carpet. Suspend from Melissa and Doug is that game right now. It’s a simple game of steady hands and balance.

Suspend comes with 24 notched, rubber-tipped wire pieces to hang from a tabletop stand. Sound easy? Try adding another piece! Each time a bar is added, the balance shifts, the difficulty changes and the incredible midair sculpture transforms. Can you add all your game pieces without making it fall? This tricky game for 1-4 players is a test of steady nerves and steady hands.

Suspend was delivered late one afternoon and it was played for anhour that very night. It’s become the go to game for those “I’m bored” moments because it’s something all 3 of the kids can play at the same time. The recommendations say for kids age 8 and up but after an explanation of the rules and directions Shae was playing just as well as the others.

This game takes up very little space to store and to play. It can easily be something you pack for vacations or sleepovers with the grandparents.
Enter to win your own Suspend Family Game here at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Let me know what other games you enjoy playing as a family.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules may be disregarded/ignored/deleted.

SUBSCRIBE to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
SIGNUP for GummyLump’s Newsletter
SHARE this link on Facebook (I entered to win a Suspend by Melissa and Doug over at LookWhatMomFound..and Dad too! )
REPIN your favorite game or toy from GummyLump’s store onto Pinterest, be sure to include @gummy lump toys in your comment. Share the pin URL here
FOLLOW Mom & Dad & GummyLump on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (1 time per day), please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: I entered to win the Suspend Game #Giveaway from @gummylump @lkwhtmomfound @anddadtoo http://bit.ly/NymeVH
ENTER another Giveaway – let us know which one in the comment (one extra entry per giveaway you enter, just leave separate comments)
COMMENT on any other Review/Our Life/Our Travels/Our Thoughts post, let us know where to find it

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday, October 9, 2012. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents only. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.

I Am A #LifeLock Ambassador

September 13, 2012 by Melissa

It’s official; I’m proud to announce I am now a LifeLock ambassador. I am excited to join all the other terrific LikeLock ambassadors and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to spread the word to my readers on what LifeLock is able to offer them.

Having a wife and 3 children of my own LifeLock is it exactly what I’ve been looking for in order to keep my families identity safe. Identity theft is serious and it’s very important to protect yourself and LifeLock is diligent and relentless in helping people do that.

To learn more about what LifeLock has to offer be sure to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Now it’s time to have a little fun with the LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes on Facebook. “LIKE” LifeLock on Facebook then visit the LifeLock for Life tab and begin playing where you will learn how different life events affect the safety and security of your identity. Every correct answer will equal one entry into the contest.

Each month, questions will focus on different events in life like keeping yourself protected while shopping online or buying a home. Prizes will include Visa gift cards, LifeLock memberships, and family vacations.

The sweepstakes runs through 2013 so you will have multiple chances to win. LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes began on September 11th so don’t delay any longer. Enter for your chance to win some awesome prizes.

Also, be sure to stay tuned for more information on LifeLock, you will not want to miss it.

I have received compensation for my participation as a LifeLock Ambassador but ALL opinions are my own.

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

September 12, 2012 by Melissa

I love cars especially new cars and I was super excited when I recently got the chance to recap the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid.

I see more and more hybrids on the road and I always wonder how much better they are on gas then a traditional car since they are both gas and electric. The Kia Optima Hybrid has about an 18 gallon gas tank and I was getting about 500 – 550 miles on a tank of gas. I was averaging around 32.2 miles per gallon which in my opinion is awesome for a mid to large size sedan. In comparison I drive a pretty small car that gets about 27 miles to the gallon and Melinda drives a minivan that get about 18 miles per gallon so as you can see the Kia Optima Hybrid is very good on gas especially for its size.

Not only was I impressed with the terrific gas mileage but I was also very impressed with the inside of the Kia. It came loaded with heated and cooled front seats (how cool is it to heat and cool your butt, LOL), heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, full leather, GPS, satellite radio, backup camera, panoramic sunroof, push button start and the list goes on and on. I must admit this is the first car that I have seen that comes with rear heated seats which I didn’t notice until Shaun pointed it out to me.

For you car geeks like myself if comes with a 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid engine, 6 speed sportmatic transmission, 16” tires and alloy wheels, ABS brakes, traction control system and electronic stability control. The Kia Optima Hybrid also came with Dual front airbags, front seat mounted side airbags and full length side curtain airbags. This Kia was loaded with comfort, safety and was great on gas; what more could you ask for in a car.

The Kia Optima Hybrid was a blast to drive but it took me a while to get used to how quit it was since it is a hybrid. I would start the car and have to double check the RPM gauge to be sure it was running; that is how quiet this car is. It also took a little getting used to the acceleration again because it is a hybrid it’s a little different than a traditional gas vehicle but after getting used to it the Kia took off like a rocket.

I will say that Melinda and I were very impressed with everything that the Kia Optima Hybrid had to offer and Melinda even said she could see herself driving this car on a daily basis. I will admit that I really do love the gas mileage that this vehicle gets and could see replacing one of our cars with the Kia Hybrid for sure.

Choose Cruise for Family Friendly Vacation

September 3, 2012 by Melissa

Lately I’ve been hearing from families if cruises are truly family friendly. One of the biggest worries I hear “Is there going to be stuff for my toddler to do”. I say yes. We brought a toddler on a cruise and she still talks about it, remembers it vividly. My recommendation for a truly family friendly cruise is Carnival Cruise Lines. They are by far one of the most accommodating cruise lines for families out there. The staff goes out of their way to treat everyone like family and you definitely get the biggest bang for your buck when booking versus other cruise lines.

Something for everyone. Kids love mini golf but dad loves comedy while mom enjoys a relaxing massage. Get all of these options and more on board. The newer ships are adding more and more onboard entertainment and activities for every age. Don’t forget about the onboard pools and water parks and arcades.

Camp/Daycare/Youth programs. Send the kids to camp for the day or just a few hours while the adults indulge in some quiet poolside time. Let the teens dance dance dance with new friends at Club O2. Camp Carnival Night Owls(fees apply) is the ship’s newest adventure; giving kids the chance to stay later with organized events when the sun goes down. Camp Carnival is included in the cost of your cruise and runs on every ship in the fleet. Carnival caters to families and has activities and programs designed for kids age 4-months to 17 years old.

Food for every taste. Even the pickiest of eaters are going to find something to eat at one of the many restaurants. 24-hour pizza and room service is also an option for those less than structured meal times. Those with more refined palates can choose sushi, mongolian wok, gourmet Guy Fieri Burgers or signature dining options available everyday.

New sites everyday. How else are you going to be able to hope around to 3-4 different countries in just 1 week’s time. Ports of call are wonderful ways to get a peek at new scenery and experience a different culture even for just a few hours. Beaches, jungles, villages and markets are welcoming sites for tourist activity and shopping and excursions.

Trouble Free. Once you step on the boat there isn’t anything else you need to worry about. Your meals, transportation, entertainment and clean towels are all taken care of. Extras include beverages, casinos and spa treatments but those can be budgeted or left out without affecting your overall experience and satisfaction. Each day you receive an activity sheet for kids and you. The thinking is done for you.

My kids still talk about the cruise we experienced 2 years ago. They look at pictures, remember the beach excursions and talk about the plethora of food. We were able to spend a great deal of quality time together but each person was also able to enjoy their own time and space and adventures without hampering anyone else’s great time.

2012 Kia Sorento EX AWD

July 27, 2012 by Melissa

What is better than getting to drive an awesome new car for the week except maybe owning that awesome new car but I must say that I really enjoyed my week behind the wheel of the 2012 Kia Sorento EX AWD.

My commute to work one way is about 52 miles which takes about an hour with no traffic but could take as long as 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. Having the Sorento get me through the daily traffic for an entire week was terrific. It was super comfortable to drive and had a ton of awesome features like Sirius Satellite radio, blue tooth enabled phone and navigation.

iPhone/iPad Cable

The Kia Sorento that we got to recap was a dark cherry/black color with black leather interior. To me there is nothing better than the feel and smell of new leather interior and I instantly feel in love and this was just the beginning. Sitting behind the wheel looking at all of the controls threw me into a little bit of overload since neither of our two cars have anywhere near this many features. Our Sorento had an AM/FM radio with Sirius Satellite radio, navigation, blue tooth enabled phone, backup camera and iPhone connection. That was just the entertainment features then I saw the dual heated leather seats, climate control settings and dual power seats and darn near lost my mind.

Ok, so that I don’t totally forget some of the features of the Kia Sorento that I really enjoyed I will list them for you now:

AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM Satellite Radio Audio System – What more could you ask for and I love Howard Stern so it col to have Sirius.
Infinity Surround Sound Audio System w/10 speakers – Shaun asked me on numerous occasions to turn the radio up so we could jam to Maroon 5.
Navigation System & Rear Camera Display – backup camera was a little hard to get use to because I was afraid I was still going to hit something or someone.
Push Button Start w/Smart Key – Really cool that you can start the car with the SmartKey in your pocket.
Eco Minder Indicator – Told me when I was achieving optimum fuel economy which is awesome since gas in Delaware is $3.47/gallon.
Auto-dimming Mirror w/Homelink – This is cool because cars behind you won’t blind you and I like that on the rear view mirror there are buttons that you can use to control your garage door.
Power folding outside mirrors – hit the lock button twice on the SmartKey and the vehicle locks and the mirrors fold in. TOO COOL!
8-Way Power Driver’s Seat and Lumbar Support – Seats were soooooo comfortable and with all of the different settings it seems impossible for anyone not to be comfortable while driving this vehicle.
Third Row 50/50 Split Folding Seats – Since we are a family of 5 the third row came in handy but didn’t figure out until the last day that the passenger seat in the second row folds up allowing easy access to the third row. LOL, we aren’t the smartest people in case you haven’t noticed.

These are just a few of the highlights for me but it had so many more cool little features that you probably would never even think about but make the Kia Sorento a really nice vehicle.

All in all an AWESOME vehicle and definitely a vehicle I would consider buying. The Sorento offered a really comfortable ride and I must admit I was a little sad when they picked it up.

Skype during Summer Travels

July 9, 2012 by Melissa

Our vacation plans this summer aren’t as extravagant as some other years but I’m making sure the kids and I squeeze in some fun before school starts. Rob has to stay behind due to some work obligations but I know for sure that he and the kids are going to be on Skype each night the week we are gone.

Five days is a long time for one of us to be away from the rest of the family so we make sure to stay connected through telephone of course but Skype chat offers such a better communication experience. Skype has gotten us through other situations too. Remember a couple years ago when Rob was working hours from home and sleeping at my parents. We would chat each night about what was going on and he was able to say goodnight to the kids.

We aren’t new to Skype but are finding new ways to incorporate it into our lives. Watching Rob’s initial reaction when I send him a picture of Shae and Shaun doing something fun is worth using Skype Messaging to send files. All the different features come with different pricing structures, one is sure to fit any budget. Keep it simple and free with Skype to Skype chat or add Skype Premium to conference the entire family to plan the next big reunion. Figure out what’s going to work for you.

How are you staying connected this summer?

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Cattiva Cosmetics 2-in1 Shadow Crease Brush

June 18, 2012 by Melissa

There’s something about opening the drawers to my vanity and seeing all of the Cattiva Cosmetics bling that makes me smile.

cattiva luxury cosmetics sparkle packaging

missing Mineral Quad Eyeshadow

My most recent article is the Shadow Crease Brush. If you know me you know I’m a eye shadow collector. I love the color and drama I can easily add with bright and deep and vibrant colors. With the collection of eye shadows comes drawer full of brushes. The Shadow Crease Brush is awesome because it’s dual tip makes it 2 brushes in one. The fluffy side is for all over shadow on the lid and the tighter angle is for applying in the crease. I add another extra fluffy brush to the mix for my brow color and that’s all I need.

While Cattiva Cosmetics give off a luxurious special occasion feel they certainly have become my basics. The eye liner, lip gloss and new Shadow Crease Brush have made their way into my purse so I have go to color wherever I am. I use the Bellaza Blush/Bronzer Mineral Duo over my foundation almost daily and the mascara has made it way onto my eyes more often than I originally anticipated since I’m not usually a mascara wearer. While I love my Mineral Quad Eyeshadow it gets left behind because of the lack of case.

Cattiva Cosmetics is chock full of antioxidants, minerals and anti-aging properties allowing your true beauty to shine through.

The ultimate in Pin to Win contests!

Carnival Cruise Lines if giving away a Caribbean Cruise for 2.

How are you staying connected this summer?

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