5 Steps Towards Perfect Valentine’s Celebration

Life spins at warp speed, so it’s more important than ever to make time to show your loved one that you adore and cherish them. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion.Sleepletics7199-BEDDING-CHALK.jpg

You know how you want to celebrate – just the two of you, spending a cozy night in, ending the evening with cuddling in bed, enjoying the sheer luxury of Celliant® Performance Sheets. More than beautiful and sleek to the touch, these sheets also show you care. Made with mineral-infused fibers that convert body heat into infrared light and reflect it back into the body’s muscle and tissue in a natural, safe way to promote a temporary increase in blood flow and local circulation. Just imagine how good you’ll both feel.  For a limited time, you can buy one set and get a second set half off with the promo code: LOVE at sleepletics.com.

Featured Photo from French Institute Alliance 

As to the important details that come before? Flowers, cards, dinner, chocolate and such that set the stage for that perfect time together? Not to worry, Sleepletics™ has scoured the country for what may be the best of the best in each category. Pick your favorite and enjoy the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever:

FLOWERS

Flowers speak volumes — and never make a sound. Yet since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans they’ve represented love. Choose something classic or talk to the florist about a personalized arrangement. You can’t go wrong with flowers. Two top-of-the-line flower vendors are presented here:Session 2-009.JPG

The definitive symbol of romance, roses are the specialty at Ode à la Rose. Co-founded by two Frenchmen, the flowers are sourced from eco-friendly farms and arranged à la Parisienne. Colors range from the descriptive Snowball to Black Magic and many in between. Verifying your Valentine will like the flowers, you’ll be sent a photo of the bouquet before it leaves the workshop. Same-day delivery in NYC and Chicago, and next-day delivery to over 1,400 cities in the Northeast. odealarose.com, 646-660-4351.

For something more offbeat, a bit rustic in style, contact Farmgirl Flowers of San Francisco, that ethically sources its blooms, 80 percent of them in the U.S. Listed in Architectural Digest’s 2018 “7 Best Local Flower Shops Across the Country with Beautiful Design,” each of its bouquets are one-of-a-kind, and most are delivered in owner Christina Stembel’s signature burlap wrap. Delivery is available to the lower 48. farmgirlflowers.com.

CARDS

A surprise is one of the most important elements of a Valentine card, and what better way to achieve that than to make it yourself or find one so unique it’s truly a keepsake. Two faves:

With Duco® Cement glue a pretty vintage key to the front of folded, white card stock, and surround it with the phrase, handwritten in red, “You hold the key to my heart.” Then write your personal message on the inside. Make it totally unforgettable by using a key that fits a new car’s ignition or a jewelry box containing a gift-wrapped trinket or two._DSC5545.jpg

You can find instructions for making sliceform kirigami cards online, but the easier thing to do is to buy a Lovepop® card. The intricate 3D paper sculptures, of which there are myriad formats, from a bouquet of flowers to a fluttering butterfly, are designed by naval engineers on software and then handcrafted. Either way, they are truly works of art. lovepopcards.com, 888-687-9589.

DINNER

The essence of the perfect Valentine’s dinner is to serve something that while exceptional, will definitely please your loved one such veggies for a vegetarian, or salmon if they like fish. Two easy-to-prepare meals that look gorgeous and taste incredible are:

Eggplant Florentine with Fire-Roasted Tomato Sauce & Toasted Ciabatta. Colorful and architectural in presentation, it’s completely vegan, yet so scrumptious meat lovers enjoy it just as much. The recipe can be found on purplecarrot.com.

Steak au Poivre. Nothing is more refined than this dish, a renowned favorite of 5-star restaurants around the world. Fast prep gives you more time with your love, few ingredients mean less time in the kitchen. Find the recipe on epicurious.com.

CHOCOLATES

Chocolates have evolved enormously over the past few years. There are still plenty of extraordinary classics, but also a multitude of new ones using offbeat ingredients and looking more artistic than ever before. Two companies with choices galore that you should consider:

ROYCE’ has been making exquisite confections in Hokkaido, Japan, an ideal location with its cool climate and clean air, since 1983. Available in stores throughout the US, vdabannerbox-775x800.pngthe selection ranges from the unusual – Prafeuille Chocolate Maccha – to such straight shooters as Pure Chocolate Venezuela Bitter.  For store locations, visit https://order.royceconfectusa.com/pages/royce-store-locations. They’re also a member of the World Cocoa Foundation, which promotes social and economic development as well as environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.

MarieBelle, established in New York’s Nolita neighborhood by Maribel Lieberman in 2000, and singled out by Oprah as a “favorite thing,” suggests such items as champagne truffles and single-origin chocolate ganache for Valentine’s Day. Not only mouthwatering delicious, the chocolate’s packaging is tongue-in-cheek fun. mariebelle.com.

BED LINENS

As noted, there’s only one choice when it comes to bed linens when you want to end Valentine’s Day on a high, Celliant Sheets. Not only elegant, available in sophisticatedSleepleticsTan.jpg blue, chalk, tan and light grey, but they are also an FDA- determined medical device and general wellness product that helps people fall asleep easily, stay asleep and wake up refreshed and energized. Could there be a lovelier way to start a new day? And, don’t forget the promo code: LOVE.

Make this Valentine’s day, and night, to remember with gifts of joy for your love’s body, mind, and spirit.

Talk of Alabama Lifestyle Segment: Last-Minute Holiday Gifts from JCPenney, Burlington, Neutrogena, and More

During the holiday season, I hosted a Lifestyle segment on Talk of Alabama, ABC 33/40.  The theme for the show was Last-Minute Holiday Gifts.  Retailers that were featured included JCPenney, Burlington, Popsocket, Neutrogena, Zelle, and Hopper.  

Several of the products showcased were a hit amongst families in the local community.  As stated during the segment, JCPenney has a wide range of merchandise and affordable options for loved ones.  Burlington is another one-stop shop for families; carrying toys, pieces of furniture, and even cologne!

Products that captured a tech-savvy audience were Popsockets which is an innovative phone accessory that allows gripping while watching movies and taking selfies.  Additional tech features included were innovative apps such as Zelle and Hopper.

For those that are skincare obsessed, Neutrogena has a new cleanser that transforms from a cream to foam when massaged with water on the face or hands.

To learn more about the products see the listing below and enjoy the segment!

Family Retailers:

JCPenney

Burlington

Skincare:

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Activated Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Tech Toys:

Popsockets

Cellphone Apps:

Zelle

Hopper

CLICK HERE:  Talk of Alabama 12/20/18 – Kimberly West

Holiday Cleaning Prep with Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator

The holiday season is full of surprises from gift-giving to the sparkling decor.  One of the most unexpected surprises for any mom includes household stains.

Before putting ornaments on the tree or laying out the garland, we must incorporate time to beautify the home.  A lot of household cleaners can only be used on certain surfaces.  Even worse, a few products leave a greasy film!  This defeats the purpose of cleaning at all.

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator can be used in the bathroom, kitchen, patios, and decks.  The cleaner is perfect for shower stalls and countertops.  This is really important for my home because the kitchen counter is the central station for everything!

To create a solution, mix Biz with a bucket of warm water.  Then apply the mixture to whatever surface needs cleaning.  Afterward, do your normal wipe down.  It’s just that simple!

A really big tip if you own a garbage disposal is to pour 3/8 cups of Biz down the drain.  Let it sit for 15 minutes and flush with hot water.

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator is a one-stop shop for cleaning your home during the holidays.  Remember, before you set the table or lay out the ornaments use Biz to clean and deodorize your home.

 

Sponsored Post

 

Kim Kardashian West The Glam Bible Makeup Collection

Kim Kardashian West released her latest collection from KKW Beauty titled, Glam Bible.  It’s stated to be the one-stop for achieving the infamous sultry look.

The Glam Bible Collection features a six-pan eyeshadow palette, a Crème Eye Liner, false lashes, Crème Lip Liner, two Crème Lipsticks, lip gloss, blush, and highlighter — all for $150.

 

 

It’s Time! Here’s A Sneak Peek at Amazon’s Cyber Monday Deals

Amazon today released a selection of deals that customers can take advantage of throughout Cyber Monday Deals Week. Starting tomorrow, November 24 through December 1, customers can find deep discounts across a wide selection of the season’s hottest products across every department, from Amazon Devices to toys, electronics, fashion, beauty and more. All of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals can be found by visiting amazon.com/cybermonday as well as on the Amazon App. Customers can also shop Cyber Monday deals in Spanish by visiting the Cyber Monday Deals Store via amazon.com/espanol or on the Amazon App. Amazon offers the largest free shipping selection in the country with hundreds of millions of items shipping for free in time for the holidays.

CYBER MONDAY DEALS: GREAT DEALS AND TOP PRODUCTS

With new deals launching daily, customers can set Watch a Deal alerts using the Amazon App (to download, visit amazon.com/mobileapps from mobile browser), and never miss out on a deal. Simply click Watch this Deal on any item and the customer will then get a notification when that deal is about to go live. Plus, Prime members can enjoy 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals. The deals included below will be available on various dates and times between November 24 and December 1, while supplies last, at amazon.com/cybermonday or on the Amazon App.

Amazon Devices

 Electronics

  • Save on select monitors and modern laptops
  • Save on NETGEAR networking essentials
  • Save on Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control
  • Save on Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker
  • Save on Sonos Beam and Sonos Sub
  • Save more than 40% on Prismacolor, Paper Mate, Sharpie and Mr. Sketch coloring supplies
  • Save on a Samsung unlocked phone
  • Save on Arlo Security Cameras
  • Polaroid 43-Inch 4K Smart TV, only $129.99
  • Polaroid 55-Inch 4K Smart TV, only $199.99
  • More than 15% off select Samsung QLED 2018 TVs
  • More than 15% off select Samsung NU8 Series 2018 TVs
  • Save up to 15% on LG Electronics 2018 Smart 4K TVs
  • Sony’s XBR55X900F Amazon’s Choice High Performance TV (2018 Model), only $1,098.00

Toys

  • Save up to 50% on select toys from NERF, Hasbro Gaming, Play-Doh and more
  • Save up to 30% on select LEGO
  • Save up to 30% on learning toys from Learning Resources
  • Save 10% on Melissa & Doug customized toys
  • Save on STEM and Learning toy favorites
  • Save on Monopoly, Transformers, and more toys from classic brands
  • Save on Trolls DreamWorks Poppy Large Hug ‘N Plush Doll and more stuffed animals
  • Save on Littlest Pet Shop Chic Charms and more
  • Save on Marvel Titan Hero Series Mega Collection Action Figures and more movie toys
  • Save up to 30% on select Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks

Fashion

  • Save up to 50% on kids and baby apparel from Amazon brands, including Amazon Essentials, Moon and Back, and more, now starting under $15
  • Save up to 50% on select Lands’ End Clothing
  • Live in the moment with up to 50% off select activewear from Champion, New Balance, Puma and more. Capture your experience with HD photos and videos from your perspective with Spectacles
  • Stay Warm this Winter with Columbia – Save up to 30% on select Columbia Outerwear & Accessories
  • Save up to 40% off select Jewelry
  • Save up to 40% off select Men’s Styles, including outerwear, sunglasses and footwear
  • Stay cozy all season with up to 40% off select sleepwear, slippers and robes
  • Save up to 50% off select Crocs Shoes
  • Save 30% on Vincero Men’s and Women’s Watches

Home Furnishings

  • Save up to 30% on furniture, lighting and décor from Amazon brands, including Rivet and Stone & Beam
  • Save up to 25% on AmazonBasics products, such as kitchenware and electronics
  • Save up to 20% on Nod by Tuft & Needle mattress
  • Save up to 40% on Keter’s Outdoor Living, Gardening & Outdoor Furniture selection
  • Save up to 40% on Bounty Hunter Metal Detector
  • Save up to 38% on BakerStone Pizza Box, Gas Stove Top Oven (Stainless Steel)
  • Save up to 35% on select mattresses, furniture and area rugs

Household Essentials

  • Save up to 30% on snacks, nuts and trail mix from Amazon brand Happy Belly
  • Save up to 30% on top selling Sports Nutrition
  • Save up to 25% on Grocery top sellers
  • Save up to 30% on select baby monitors
  • Save 30% or more on luxury beauty deals, including items by Clarisonic, FOREO, and Babyliss
  • Save 30% on Beauty & Personal Care Products
  • Save 50% on AncestryDNA Genetic Testing Kit. Only $49

Smart Home

  • Save up to 50% on the Hive Heating and Cooling Smart Thermostat Pack
  • Save up to 50% on Ecobee Sensors
  • Save up to 35% off select Sengled Smart Lighting

Gaming

  • Save $20 on a Oculus Go
  • Save $50 on a Oculus Rift
  • Save $200 on a HTC Vive Pro
  • Save $100 on a HTC Vive Headset
  • Save 50% on a Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  • Save 50% on Lego DC Supervillains
  • Save $30 on a Dragonball FighterZ

Audible, Music, & Books

  • Save $40 on an Echo (2nd Gen) when you sign up for a discounted Audible membership at $6.95 a month for the first 3 months (53% off)
  • Save 20% on the Audible Romance Package for the first 3 months
  • Save up to 80% during the biggest Kindle books deal of the year! Choose from over 400 Kindle best-selling books, including Girl, Wash Your Face, a #1 Amazon Charts and New York Times bestseller
  • Customers who purchase Amazon Echo, Fire TV devices, and CDs and Vinyl who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited, can get 90 days free of the Individual Plan. Renews automatically, plans starting at $7.99/month after. Listeners in US can get unlimited access to more than 50 million songs, ad free, with hands-free listening with Alexa on their favorite devices.

Pets

  • Save up to 30% on Coolaroo The Original Elevated Pet Bed Large and more
  • Save on ABO Gear Aussie Naturals Happy Habitat Portable Cat Tent and more
  • Save on Pet ‘n Shape All Natural Dog Chewz Beef Bone Treat for Medium Sized Dogs, 4 Count and more

Sports & Outdoors

  • Save up to 30% on JanSport
  • Save 30% on Marmot
  • Save up to 20% on High Sierra
  • Save up to 25% on all Assault Fitness cardio equipment
  • Save up to 20% on the FITBENCH Flex
  • More than 22% off Life Fitness IC1 exercise bike
  • Save up to 30% on water bottles and hydration packs from CamelBak
  • Save 20% on Thule
  • Save 30% on outerwear from Columbia

Automotive

  • Save 30% on NOCO Car Battery Jump Starters
  • Save 30% on Trico Force Beam Wiper Blades

Small and Medium-sized Businesses on Amazon HandmadeAmazon Exclusives and Amazon Launchpad

  • Save 20% on Karolina Laura jewelry and accessories
  • Save up to 40% on Lorenzen Candle Co products
  • Save 20% on The Paper Medley Holiday Gift Tags
  • Save up to 30% on select Nixplay Digital Photo Frames
  • Save up to 30% on select Cocoon Cam baby monitors
  • Save up to 30% on Cubii Pro Under Desk Ellipticals
  • Save up to 38% on Rocketbook Erasable, Reusable Wirebound Notebook
  • Save up to 38% on Ninety7 SKY TOTE Portable Battery Base for Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)
  • Save up to 38% on LectroFan Micro Wireless Sleep Sound Machine and Bluetooth Speaker
  • Save up to 38% on GrowlerWerks uKeg 128 Ounce Pressurized Growler for Craft Beer
  • Save Up to 20% off windshield sunshades by Kinderfluff

IMDbPro Annual Membership Special Offer: Exclusively for Amazon Prime Members, beginning Nov. 26 for a limited time, save $50 on a new annual membership to IMDbPro, the essential resource for the entertainment industry. IMDbPro offers members comprehensive information and tools designed to help entertainment professionals achieve success throughout all stages of their career, including the IMDbPro app for iPhone and Android. Go to www.imdbpro.com to learn more.

Business to Business: Customers shopping for work can save big on items for their business right now. This holiday season, as an Amazon Business customer, business deals provide great end-of-year savings opportunities. From items for the office, including electronic devices, to new luggage for business travelers, Amazon Business offers deals for businesses across industries, of all sizes.

  • Save 15% on Rubbermaid Commercial Oven Thermometer
  • Save 30% on top-rated 3D printers from Dremel
  • Save up to 50% off select children’s books  (for educators)
  • Save 20% on ViewSonic M1 Portable Projector with Dual Harman Kardon Speakers and Built-in Battery
  • Save over 30% on DYMO labelers and labeling supplies
  • Save up to 35% on Pentel and BIC writing tools
  • Save up to 70% on Samsonite 2-Piece Luggage Sets
  • Save on SanDisk 200GB micro SD card

BUY GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST, INCLUDING YOURSELF

According to a recent survey commissioned by Amazon and conducted online by The Harris Poll, nearly 9 in 10 Americans (86%) experience stress during the holiday season, with one of the primary stressors among those individuals being what gifts to buy for people on their lists (58%). Amazon’s Cyber Monday Deals Week offers deals across curated Holiday Gift Guides making it easier than ever for customers to find the perfect items to give their friends, family, colleagues or themselves this holiday season. The recent Amazon/Harris Poll survey also found that Cyber Monday is a shopping holiday when many customers treat themselves, with 59% of Cyber Monday shoppers purchasing Cyber Monday deals for themselves.

MORE WAYS TO SHOP DEALS THIS HOLIDAY

Let Prime Wardrobe Get You Primed for the Holidays! A convenient, time-saving and fun way to shop stress-free for all of your holiday wearing occasions, Prime Wardrobe lets shoppers fill their Prime Wardrobe cart with eligible styles – from clothes to shoes to accessories – try them on at home and take up to seven days to decide what to keep. Customers will only be charged for the items they keep, and can easily return items that don’t work for free.

Twitch Stream: Amazon and hosts, Kinda Funny Games, will share all of the best holiday deals, tech toys, and offers for Gamers via the Games channel on Twitch live throughout Cyber Monday (Nov. 26) from 1pm – 4pm PT. In addition, customers can watch out for exclusive surprise announcements, trailers, and more. To tune in visit: twitch.tv/amazongames

Treasure Truck: Discover great gifts you never thought of on Treasure Truck. Opt-in at amazon.com/TreasureTruck to receive notifications for same-day offers – order the item and pick up at the truck the same day. Each time the truck rolls, you will find a can’t-miss gift or delicious seasonal food item. Today, gift givers who act fast will find the Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit, as featured on Amazon’s Top 100 Toys list, on the truck in select cities, while supplies last.

Shop in Store: With more than 100 Amazon store locations—including Amazon 4-star, Amazon Books, and Amazon Pop-Up—in 22 states nationwide, customers can shop Cyber Monday deals as well as highly-rated gifts, devices, and smart home accessories in-store this holiday season. Find the Amazon store nearest you.

AmazonSmile: Customers can support their favorite charity while they shop this holiday season. Customers who start their shopping at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know and love, with the bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible items to the charity they choose.

 Shipping and Delivery: All Amazon customers in the U.S. can shop hundreds of millions of items with free shipping, including products across the wide assortment of Cyber Monday deals, and for a limited time with no minimum purchase amount on orders delivered through the holiday season. Items ordered with free shipping typically ship within 5-8 business days. The majority of Prime members in the U.S. have access to one-day or faster shipping across millions of items, in addition to Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items, reserved exclusively to all Prime members. Prime members can also shop groceries from Whole Foods Market, through Prime Now in as little as an hour, in more than 60 cities, and grocery pickup in as little as thirty minutes in select cities. Additionally, Prime members can use Prime Now to get ultrafast delivery on tens of thousands of items across dozens of categories, including some of the best deals from Amazon.com, in 30 major cities.

 

Amazon’s Holiday Kick-Off: New Ways Amazon is #DeliveringSmiles

Today, Amazon officially kicked off the holiday season with the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store (amazon.com/blackfriday), as well as announcing new, convenient ways for customers to shop as well as new, exclusive entertainment for the season.

Amazon’s curated shopping guides take the guesswork out of gifting and help customers delight their loved ones, plus treat themselves this holiday season. With low prices and best-ever deals, innovative ways to shop a vast selection, and convenient doorstep delivery with free shipping for ALL shoppers on more than 100 million items, Amazon has you covered this holiday season.

New this year for Amazon customers:

  • Take the guesswork out of gifting: Customers can shop four gift guides, including our most comprehensive Amazon Fashion Gift Guide ever, as well as the new “A Holiday of Play” lookbook available on Kindle or online, providing top Holiday Toy List picks for kids of all ages.
  • Enjoy a movie break with a holiday classic: Exclusive access to It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video – the first time in the film’s 72-year history that it is included in a subscription streaming service!
  • Delivery as fast as today: Tens of millions of Prime members in the U.S. can choose from more than three million items available to ship with Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery – the largest same-day selection in the U.S. Additionally, two-hour delivery from local Whole Foods Market stores is now available in more than 60 cities making holiday feast planning even easier.
  • Ask Alexa: Customers now have access to Butterball Turkey Talk-Linevia Alexa. Simply ask “Alexa, open Butterball” to tap into decades of experience on how to cook the perfect turkey from Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts.
  • Deck the halls: Real Christmas tree delivery on trees ranging from the 10 to 14-inch Charlie Brown Christmas Tree (available now) to the six to seven-foot Fraser Firs, Balsam Firs, Black Hills Spruces. All trees over $25 come with Free Shipping.
  • Shop in store: Now open in the SoHo neighborhood of NYC and at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, Colo, Amazon 4-star features products rated 4 stars and above, are top sellers, or are new and trending on Amazon.com. Customers can also visit one of the more than 100 Amazon store locations in 22 states where you can shop for highly-rated gifts, devices, and smart home accessories. Find the Amazon store nearest you.

Pops of Purple with jane iredale’s New Color Cosmetic Launch

From your eyes to your cheeks to your lips, hints of purple and mauve are perfect for fall. Show off your royal side with the jane iredale Purple Rain Eye Shadow Kit ($59, janeiredale.com).

Use the lighter shades like Sprinkle and Shower for a daytime look and the more regal purple shades like Cloudburst and Deluge for a smokey, date night look.

If purple isn’t quite your style, then go more demure with mauve shades on the eyes and lips. Top picks for a deep mauve look are the Berries & Cream PurePressed Eye Shadow Duo and Paris Just Kissed Lip Plumper.

Purple Rain Eye Shadow Kit ($59, janeiredale.com)

From elegant to edgy, our silky smooth shadows deliver the style you want while staying put for long-lasting, crease-free color. Use alone, layer or blend together for different looks.

Berries & Cream PurePressed Eye Shadow Duo ($30, janeiredale.com)

Silky smooth and simple to blend, this crease-free, long-lasting and richly colored eyeshadow can be used wet or dry. Gentle and safe for sensitive eyes.

Paris Just Kissed Lip Plumper ($25, janeiredale.com)

For full, kissable lips, our top-selling tinted lip plumper delivers moisture and essential oils that soften the skin and contribute to the appearance of a fuller lip.

6 Gift Ideas for Home Cooks: The Ultimate Foodie

What makes a good gift is something that is both practical and personal to the person you are giving it to. And if you are looking for gift ideas for a friend or family member who loves to cook in the kitchen, then you have come to the right place for suggestions that will inspire them to invite you over for dinner the next time they are preparing a delicious meal. Here are six great gift ideas for your favorite home cook.

1. Mixing Bowls

A mixing bowl is an essential piece of cookware for any cook, especially if they love to bake. The primary use if a mixing bowl is to mix ingredients together. If you want to make this gift even better, consider getting mixing bowls of different sizes, at least three of them, because sometimes it is necessary to mix ingredients separately.

2. Mixer

If the home cook already has mixing bowls, consider getting them a mixer instead so that they can find it easier to combine ingredients together. With a mixer, one can easily make cookie dough, mixing all the various ingredients, such as flour and milk, without getting their hands dirty. It doesn’t even matter how thick the dough is, a mixer will make the dough smooth and delicious should you want to lick it off the bowl.

3. Professional Knife Set

Professional knife sets are made with versatility in mind, allowing the user to use them in a number of cooking applications. Most professional knife sets come with a number of knives for a variety of uses, whether it is chopping vegetables or cutting meat. Since they are made for professionals, they are usually more efficient, durable and stylish than your conventional knives.

4. Bamboo Chopping Board

Bamboo chopping boards have replaced wooden ones due to their low maintenance, beauty, and durability. A common problem with wooden boards is that they can be a breeding ground for bacteria because they can easily be chipped by professional chef knives, creating moisture pockets that breed these dangerous microorganisms. This is not sanitary and it is bad for health. Bamboo cutting boards, however, are stronger and resistant to moisture buildup since they are also resistant to water penetration.

5. Apron

When getting gifts for cooks, people usually overlook the apron because it seems like a decorative garment more than anything else, which is not the case. Aprons are quite protective since they prevent the wearer’s clothes from getting stained, considering that the kitchen can be a messy place. Most importantly, professional quality chef aprons are made from high-quality fabric that is flame and heat resistant, which protects the wearer from open flames and the spills and splatter of hot liquids. Don’t know where to get these kinds of aprons?

6. Cookbook

People who love to cook also love to experiment. They do this to try new delicious recipes and improve their cooking skills, and nothing helps them with these goals than a cookbook. This makes it a great gift idea for home cooks (or any cook for that matter) because it challenges them to step out of their comfort zones and spend more time in the kitchen.

With these great ideas in mind, you can finally get your favorite home cook a great present to show them how much you recognize and respect their love for cooking. Getting any one of these items is guaranteed to enhance their cooking experience, and you might even get a tasty meal out of it when they show you their gratitude.

Amazon Announces Prime Day 2018 – Starting July 16

Amazon’s highly anticipated annual shopping event, Prime Day will start on July 16 at 12pm PT/3pm ET and will run through July 17. Bigger than ever, Prime Day (and a half) will extend from 30 hours in 2017 to 36 hours, with more than one million deals exclusively for Prime members around the world, plus select deals at all U.S. Whole Foods Market stores. Members in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Mexico, Japan, India, Italy, Germany, France, China, Canada, Belgium, Austria and – new this year – Australia, Singapore, Netherlands and Luxembourg, can shop deals across TVs, smart home, kitchen, grocery, toys, fashion, furniture, appliances and back-to-school supplies and even stock up on everyday essentials. This year, Prime Day will feature double the deals on Amazon devices—and the biggest deals yet on Alexa-enabled products like Echo, Fire TV and Fire tablets, in addition to new categories from home security to Echo devices with screens. Not a member yet? Anyone can join Prime or start a 30-day free trial at amazon.com/primeday to participate in Prime Day.

“Prime members will enjoy a day (and a half) of our best deals, with 36 hours to shop more than one million deals worldwide,” said Jeff Wilke, Amazon CEO Worldwide Consumer. “New this year, members can shop exclusive Prime Day Launches from hundreds of brands worldwide, enjoy exclusive savings at Whole Foods Market and experience surprise entertainment events unboxed from giant Smile boxes in major cities. More than 100 million paid Prime members around the world will find our best Prime Day celebration yet.”

New This Year – Unboxing More Than Deals

In advance of Prime Day, giant Smile boxes will make their way across land and sea to major cities around the world. Customers in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and Milan will be delighted when each box opens to reveal an unforgettable event, in a nod to the unparalleled benefits that come with a Prime membership including music, video, gaming and more. Everyone can join the celebration by tuning in to amazon.com/unboxingprimeday.

Also new this year, hundreds of well-known and emerging brands around the world will unbox exclusive new items, content and special-edition products available just for Prime members for a limited time. Prime members will be the first to shop, taste, listen and laugh with early access Prime Day Launches that will top everyone’s wish list. Select Prime Day Launches in the U.S. include: Delta Trinsic Touch2O voice-activated faucet, the first Alexa-enabled kitchen faucet; Coleman RoadTrip LXE portable propane grill with new features perfect for camping, tailgating and picnicking; Fingerlings Light Up Unicorn Mackenzie, the first Fingerling with a special light-up horn; Audible Original production, Hi Bob!, where American icon Bob Newhart sits down with special guests Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Kimmel, Judd Apatow and Conan O’Brien; Bai Braspberry flavor paying homage to Justin Timberlake’s fruitful creation; and the Moto G6 64 GB, an exclusive version of the best-selling unlocked Android smartphone featuring a brilliant 5.7” Full HD+ Max Vision display with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage.

For the first time, U.S. Prime members will also be able to celebrate Prime Day at their local Whole Foods Market. Prime members can taste the savings on the high-quality natural and organic products they love on Prime Day (and a half), with an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items throughout Whole Foods Market stores, and deep discounts on select popular products. Download the Whole Foods Market app and scan the Prime Code to start saving. In addition, from July 14 through 17, Amazon Prime Rewards Visa cardmembers with an eligible Prime membership will enjoy double the rewards – 10% Back – when shopping at Whole Foods Market on up to a total of $400 in purchases.

Deals Start Now

Every day leading up to Prime Day, members will discover all kinds of exclusive offers and deals. The following start today:

  • Echo Show: Save $100 on Echo Show, which brings you everything you love about Alexa, and can show you things. Make video calls or watch video flash briefings, movies and TV shows, see music lyrics, smart home cameras, photos, weather forecasts, and more. All hands-free—just ask.
  • Amazon Brands – Find our lowest prices on products from collections available exclusively on Amazon, including up to 25% off furniture and décor from Rivet and Stone & Beam, up to 20% off AmazonBasics items, and 30% off everyday essentials from Presto!, Mama Bear and Solimo, among others.
  • Prime Video, DVDs and Blu-Ray  Save up to 50% on popular movies and TV shows on digital, DVD and Blu-Ray.
  • Amazon Music – Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get four months of the premium, on-demand service with access to tens of millions of songs and hands-free listening, for just $0.99.
  • Twitch Prime  Members can enjoy hundreds of hours of free gameplay as Twitch Prime gives away a free PC game every day through July 18, including titles like Pillars of Eternity and Brutal Legend. Members will also receive exclusive in-game loot forWarframe and PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS.
  • Kindle Unlimited and eBooks – Prime members who haven’t yet tried Kindle Unlimited will have access to three months of unlimited reading for just $0.99. Buy your first Kindle book and get a $10 Prime Day credit valid towards eBooks, print books and Audible.
  • Audible  Eligible Prime members can get their first three months at more than 65% off for $4.95 a month.

The Best Ways to Shop on Prime Day

Find out what tens of millions of Prime members who shopped during Prime Day 2017 discovered – this is an epic time to shopAmazon’s best deals, on top of already low prices. This year, Amazon is adding six more hours to shop and 50 percent more Spotlight Deals globally – featuring our deepest discounts on top brands and the most popular products. Pro tips on getting the most out of Prime Day include:

  • Watch A Deal – The Amazon App ensures you never miss a deal. This is the easiest way to preview, track and shop those limited time Lightning Deals while at home or on-the-go with deal alerts on the Amazon App. Learn more at amazon.com/watched.
  • Prime Day Sneak Peek on the Amazon App – Tap the Prime Day banner within the Amazon App from July 9 – 15 for a sneak peek of select products that will have Prime Day deals.
  • Explore Deals By Popular Interests  Find deals organized by more than 40 of the most-shopped-for interests. From style and fashion to electronics, cooking, travel and more – discover deals that you’ll love faster.
  • Alexa Shopping  Alexa makes it easy to find the best Prime Day deals. Just ask, “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals?” Track your Prime Day orders with Alexa. Just ask “Alexa, where’s my stuff?” or set up Alexa delivery notifications in the Alexa app.
  • Amazon Prime Credit Cards – Cardmembers can enjoy 5% back on all their Prime Day purchases when shopping with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card or the Amazon Prime Store Card.

Shop Big with Small and Medium-Sized Businesses This Prime Day

Prime members from around the world can shop hundreds of thousands of deals this Prime Day from small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon Launchpad, Amazon Handmade, Amazon Exclusives and more. On Prime Day 2017, members ordered more than 40 million items from small and medium-sized businesses worldwide, and once again this year, these businesses are adding to the unsurpassed selection available every day on Amazon.

Alexa’s Home-Smart-Home Sweepstakes

Starting today, customers can enter for a chance to win the Alexa Home-Smart-Home Sweepstakes by asking Alexa questions about Prime Day, watching Alexa-related videos, downloading and using the Amazon App, and more. One grand prize winner will receive an Alexa-enabled 2019 Lexus ES, a complete Alexa smart home package, and more. Get details at www.amazon.com/homesmarthome.

Every Day Made Better with Prime

Prime was designed to make your life better every single day. Over 100 million paid members around the world enjoy the many benefits of Prime, including shopping and entertainment. In the U.S. that includes unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video; unlimited access to Prime Music, Audible Channels for Prime, Prime Reading, Prime Photos, Twitch Prime; early access to select Lightning Deals, one free pre-released book a month with Amazon First Reads, and more. Prime members can also get deep discounts on select best-selling foods at Whole Foods Market plus an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items. Prime was built on the foundation of unlimited fast, free shipping and members receive Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery in more than 8,000 cities and towns, two-hour delivery with Prime Now in more than 30 major cities and unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items. Start a free trial of Amazon Prime at amazon.com/prime.

Summer Debris and Laundry with Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator

Has anyone ever noticed how the summer months can wreak havoc on your family’s clothing?  I will answer this question and gently raise my hand.

Between playdates, swim lessons, and hanging out at the park all of this outdoor activity can be harsh on fabrics.  Of course, we don’t want to let a little debris get in the way of enjoying life but laundry day can be a dreaded event.

Featured Photo from The Container Store.com

From my experience, it’s vital to have the right products when treating your clothing.  I have committed to reading labels and searching for detergents that enhance the color and remove harsh stains.

Have you heard of Biz detergent booster?  It’s the ultimate stain and odor eliminator.  I use a simple laundry process when incorporating Biz detergent booster into my routine:

  1. For tough stains such as makeup, coffee, or ketchup; pre-treat the surface with Biz Liquid.  Place a small amount on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
  2. On normal laundry days, add your load to the washer with the use of regular detergent and a cap of Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator.

The end result of either process was brighter, stain-free clothing with no lingering odors.  If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself!

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator can be purchased at Publix, Piggly Wiggly, or Kroger.

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