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The 60 Dollar Revlon Hairdryer that will Change Your Life

I almost caved and bought the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, which I’m sure is amazing . . . but it’s over 400 bucks. 

I have long, coarse, wavy (a more accurate description is frizzy) hair. Every salon recommends Keratin to me.

I have the kind of hair that a salon blocks out more time to do. It’s the type of hair that another stylist calls over an associate to help her out when drying my hair. 

When I style my hair myself, I lose interest somewhere in the drying process. Pure boredom. As a result, my hair never looks anything close to the results I achieve in a salon.

I knew the Dyson would cut my drying time down significantly. Yet my hairstylist told me he heard mixed reviews. And, I realized I still would have to do the styling (not my forte). So, I hesitated. And, I’m glad I did.

The Revlon Pro Collection Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

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How to Get the Lowest Prices on Amazon Electronics: Echo, Kindles & More

What if I told you that you can shop on Amazon and find popular electronic devices at a huge discount?

Did you miss out on deals for Amazon Prime Day?

Buy Certified Refurbished Amazon Electronics

*This post originally appeared in January 2017 and has been updated to reflect new product information.

What is a refurbished product?

There are many reasons why a product may be refurbished. Yes, sometimes there was a defect that the manufacturer fixed, but many times it’s refurbished because of superficial issues. For example, a consumer returned an item due to a damaged shipping box, a minor scratch or dent on the product’s casing or exterior, or opened the box and simply changed his or her mind.

What happens to these returned items?

The items get shipped back to the manufacturer who will then test these products, repair any defects, verify that these products are “as new” and re-sell them as refurbished.

Amazon takes this one step further by selling their own products as “certified refurbished” items, meaning that they come with the same limited warranty and return policy as a brand new device. This includes their popular Kindle and Alexa devices. Think about this: you are getting the same product, with the same warranty, and the same return policy. Why not buy Certified Refurbished?

Amazon also sells Certified Refurbished products from other manufacturers. To see a full list of brands, click here. Amazon backs these items with their own limited 90-day warranty.

(Note, although you can also save money from Amazon’s Warehouse Deals, you may not receive the same warranties as “Certified Refurbished” products; also these Warehouse Deal items may not necessarily be “as new” but rather a bit more used. However, you can definitely find great deals there, just make sure to read the fine print.)

My Top Picks:

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Amazon Prime Day 2018 Deals for Fitness, Electronics & Kids Products

Amazon’s Prime Day starts this afternoon (July 16th) at 3pm EST and continues for 36 hours, until midnight on the 17th.

I’ve done the research so you don’t have to in order to curate this list. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

To make it even easier this year, check out all the deals in my Prime Day Section of my Amazon shop. Note, not all products can be listed here so be sure to read through the entirety of this post first.

Amazon Prime Day Deals Shop

First off, if you are not an Amazon Prime member or your membership has lapsed, you’ll want to rejoin to take advantage of Amazon Prime Day. Click below for a free 30-day trial.

Tips and Tricks to Getting the Best Deal on Amazon Prime Day

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20 Gorgeous Rose Gold Gift Ideas

Gold is making a comeback. And, I can’t get enough. This coming from the girl who despised yellow gold in the 8o’s and 90’s. Rose gold has earned a special place in my heart.

I’m not the only one. From office supplies to electronics to iPhones to engagement rings, you can find rose gold gifts at any price point. Just remember, a pop of rose gold goes a long way. A step too far and you’re channeling Liberace.

Mother’s Day is almost here. Here are some great gifts for you or a mom in your life.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, I may receive a small commission.

The Ultimate Rose Gold Gift List

1. Tessa Stone Stud Earrings by Kendra Scott

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5 Reasons You’ll Use the Apple Watch Every Day

Until about a year ago, I hadn’t worn a watch since 1998. For the first few weeks, wearing my Apple Watch felt uncomfortably strange. Now, not only does my wrist feel naked without it, I actually panic when I forget it. The Apple Watch is so much more than a watch. In fact, I rarely use it to tell time.

Whenever I see someone wearing an Apple Watch, I approach them. “Do you love it?” I’ll ask. Usually, I get the same answer: “Honestly, I don’t know what to do with it.”

That response is the inspiration behind this post.

Note: I have the Apple Watch Series 2. The newer version, the Series 3, has cellular capability. Apple no longer carries the Series 2 but if you are interested in that one, you can still purchase it on Amazon or get a great deal on eBay. Target carries them too. I have no complaints with the Series 2 and don’t want the additional expense of adding to my cell phone plan.

This post contains some affiliate links.

5 Reasons I Use My Apple Watch Every Day:

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Don’t Let the Instant Pot Scare You

OK, by now, you’ve heard all about the Instant Pot. Maybe, you even have one, sitting somewhere in your kitchen.

Google “Instant Pot” and adjectives like “scared” and “terrified” pop up. I understand your fear but I’m here to help you erase those negative thoughts.

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Reasons to Buy a Kindle Fire Kids Edition (Even If You Have an iPad)

I’m a diehard Apple user. But, if you have children, you may want to consider buying the Kindle Fire Kids Edition. I admit that the iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone are easier to use, have a bigger selection of apps, and a better camera than the Fire. But, as a parent, on any given day, I want my children reaching for the Kindle Fire over their Apple devices. And, here’s why:

1. The Kindle Fire Kids Edition is an e-Reader

The Kindle Fire Kids Edition has books. Tons of them. When you buy a Fire (Kids Edition), you receive one year of FreeTime Unlimited. [Read more…]

Keeping my Family Protected in the Summer Sun

If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you probably have at least one horrific sunburn story. For me, it was when my entire face peeled after a trip to Jamaica at the age of 14. However, this was not an isolated incident. At some point in the summer, I remember picking at my skin and peeling it. Peeling my skin! I can still feel the discomfort of sleeping under my sheets and feeling the fire under my skin, tossing and turning all night. I used sunblock even then when an SPF of 8 was considered excellent coverage. I had friends who regularly baked in the sun with tin foil and baby oil and I joined in occasionally. I worked as a lifeguard every summer and I don’t remember ever running out of sunblock. Even in college, my friends and I bought sun tanning packages to get a base tan for our upcoming spring break trips. This was the norm in which I grew up.

Flash forward twenty years and I am a sunblock nut and rightfully so. My kids know this about me. I’ve had more than one serious skin cancer scare and now get a full body check every three months. I have scars to prove it. If either of my kids told me any of the above stories, I seriously think I would break down in tears. Just this March, I missed a spot on them while we vacationed in scorching Palm Desert. The pinkness disappeared by the next morning but I kicked myself saying, I cannot let this happen again.

As a parent, you can only protect your kids from so much. I can’t reduce their risk of most types of cancers, but I can help to reduce their exposure to the sun and skin cancer risk. When people hear skin cancer, I think they often take it lightly. Maybe it’s because we all know someone who has had skin cancer; it’s the most common type although often not serious. However, patients are getting diagnosed with melanoma at alarming rates in recent years.

OK, my PSA is over.

As you can see, I take my sun protection extremely seriously. I am always searching for the best products.

These are my favorites:

Sunblock: I’ve tried them all. I gravitate towards the mineral-based products for my kids. Note: If you are unfamiliar with the Environmental Working Group, please check out their website for safe and environmentally friendly products.

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5 Kid-Approved Kitschy Items for the Kitchen

As a child, life centers around fun. As an adult, sometimes you need to make a conscious effort to find fun: girls night, date night, “me time.” Some days, you take what you can get. Today is one of those days, so here I am writing about the kitsch in my kitchen, the little things that make me chuckle on a daily basis. This is my top five list: [Read more…]