Your One Stop Sport Shop: Dicks Sporting Goods

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Vocalpoint and DICK’s Sporting Goods ®all opinions are my own.

As a busy working Mom life can get well, a bit hectic. Time is always of the essence and I never repeat never ever have enough time to do everything that I want to do. I am just one person, and however much I want to be considered a super hero , I’m not. I am just a sleep-deprived, coffee guzzling Mom who is always one step behind (or so it seems).

Now you would think with my busy life that I wouldn’t add more things to make it well, you know, busier. But I sign up my kids for everything they want to do (anything that keeps them from roaming the internet or playing video games all day) even if it puts a lot more work on me. So with me trying to make it to the gym 3x a week,  my oldest involved in the newspaper, yearbook and drama club, my middle child in band, chorus, cheer, girls on the run and soccer, adding baseball again this year to my youngest ones already busy schedule seemed like it would be a piece of cake (insert sarcasm here).

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If  your kids have ever played sports you know the lists of ‘must haves’ and ‘really really want’ gets pretty long. At the beginning of the season our sports equipment list is as long as my grocery list! To save time and money we have become loyal shoppers at Dicks Sporting Goods.

This year my son went from t-ball to baseball, which can be a big change for a little guy! I also needed to pick up some new work out clothes and running shoes, – So we went to our local DSG and decided to do some shopping.

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Now if there is one thing I passed along to my son is my love for shopping – once he gets going, he doesn’t want to stop. We had a list of things we wanted to pick up, and ended up with, well, quite a bit more than what was on the list.

The first step was a new glove – as well as a new bat bag, new bat, batting glove, cleats, and baseball pants!

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Fortunately we hit up DSG when they were having a great sale! They are really great at making sure that they have affordable items for everyone during each sports season. I saw a lot of great baseball and softball equipment deals!

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He had a ton of fun shopping!
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(and a bit of a hard time making up his mind!)

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I picked up a pair of New Balance running shoes, and a cute workout top (to be featured later – I had a hard time taking a picture of myself in my outfit!)

I love that I am able to get everything we need at one store – without running around from place to place, such a time saver!

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He was ALL decked out in style for his game – and couldn’t be prouder.

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Dicks Sporting Goods is literally a one stop shop for all your sports needs!
Want to go on a shopping adventure of your own? Enter to win a $50 Dicks Sporting Goods gift card below! Winner will be chosen on 5/6 and prize will be fulfilled by Vocalpoint.

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Smart Phones Can Save You Time & Money When You’re Sick

Picture this scenario: After you get home from work, you start feeling vaguely “under the weather.” Knowing that a cold has been going around, you drink a mug of echinacea tea and make sure to get to bed early. In the morning, however, the previous night’s fears become reality: you have an itchy throat, a stuffy nose and maybe even a slight fever.

 

Once you’ve called in sick (assuming you’re not the type of person who enjoys infecting your co-workers with whatever illness you have), it’s time to figure out how you’re going to get better. At this point, most people grab their go-to cold remedy, scour the pantry for soup, and start catching up on episodes of their favorite TV shows.

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In this situation, why would you bother seeing a doctor? That would require calling to set up an appointment, traveling from your house or apartment to the doctor’s office, sitting in a waiting room with other sick people for who knows how long, spending 10 minutes—if you’re lucky—talking to a doctor who’s probably more concerned with the dozens of other patients he’s seeing that day, and going home with a slightly lighter wallet.

 

If I had to choose between the series of headaches described in the previous paragraph and a Netflix binge session, I would almost always go with the latter. But since this article is supposed to tell readers something they don’t know, allow me to introduce you to a term that you might not be familiar with: telemedicine.

 

I’m only being slightly facetious when I say that telemedicine is the future. According to the American Telemedicine Association, “telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status.” In layman’s terms, telemedicine allows you to use your computer or mobile device to talk to a doctor via video chat, voice call or text at any time of day, seven days a week.

 

For smartphone owners, telemedicine is hands-down the most convenient way to get medical advice, especially for minor illnesses. Unlike in-person visits, wait times are minimal and users can select their preferred method of communication. Telemedicine is especially useful if you have kids. When your child has a cold or another minor illness, instead of rearranging your busy schedule to take them to the doctor, you can schedule an early morning video or phone call.

 

Another reason to give telemedicine a try is cost. An increasing number of insurance companies are offering telemedicine services because they’re cost-effective and encourage patients to make more frequent contact with medical providers, a benefit which reduces long-term health risks. Even if your insurance doesn’t cover telemedicine visits, they tend to be cheaper than your standard doctor’s visit.

 

Besides consultations for minor illnesses, telemedicine is also good for prescription refills and getting second opinions. Since the practice is still relatively new, state governments are still working on legislation regulating the kinds of medications that doctors can and cannot prescribe via telemedicine. Generally speaking, patients need to have seen a doctor in person before receiving a prescription virtually. But once that in-person relationship has been established, patients can get prescription refills through a telemedicine visit. As for second opinions, telemedicine saves patients from going to doctor’s office to doctor’s office when they’re looking for the right diagnosis.

 

American Well and Teladoc are a couple of the established players in telemedicine, but there are also up-and-comers like Oscar, which is an insurance company that offers its members free telemedicine services. Check out this list of the top telemedicine companies to explore some other options. You can also book an appointment on Treato.com.

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Seek some Adventure: Get out and Play in the Lap of Nature

Who doesn’t like adventure? The thought of visiting a place which is off the radar and away from the prying eyes of people is always something which gets people excited. But in this day and age, when life is so busy and people don’t even get the time to talk to loved ones every day; where is the time for adventure? But should this be holding you back? We doubt!

With tons of affordable packages and companies like HotelsByDay offering day use hotels for last minute plans for a staycation; there is plenty of scope for people to just let themselves loose and spend some quality time alone in the lap of nature. So if are someone who had been holding themselves back since some time now; we are here with some cool ideas for your next adventure trip.

Conquer a Mountain

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When it comes to taking a break, normally people think of visiting an adventure park or a popular tourist destination like a famous city such as Paris, London or New York. However, true adventure calls for doing something out of the ordinary, like conquering a mountain for example. And when we talk about a mountain it doesn’t really have to be something as huge as the Everest and neither do you need to be an expert mountaineer to do that. There are plenty of options on the table. Try Kilimanjaro or the Mount Fuji for example, as they are not only located at some of the most exquisite places on the planet, but the view is such; the memories of which will last a lifetime.

Visit a Country less Explored

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You wouldn’t believe how amazingly beautiful countries such as Bhutan, Myanmar or Mongolia are often go under the radar. These countries have some of the most breathtaking views you are can lay your eyes on. Moreover, the exclusivity of such places means that you wouldn’t find a ton of people visiting these countries which means you get to spend more time alone in lap of nature. Our advice, take a break and try visiting countries which are less visited and have ample to offer when it comes to natural beauty.

Camping in the Wild

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We see it in the movies all the time. People having a gala time by the campfire either by themselves or with their loved ones. But, the question is, have you ever tried doing that? If yes, you are rock and if your answer is no, then you are missing you on one of the finest things in life—camping out in the wilderness with not a stranger in sight. And it doesn’t take much to go camping, just a tent, some awesome food, a few other necessary things and you are done. Also, an idyllic location should definitely be on your checklist as that’s the most important thing isn’t it? Camping gives you the time to embrace the silence of nature and introspection which is something most of us never get the time for. Moreover, if you have kids; camping is a great way to introduce your little ones to nature and what it means to be one with it.

Don’t let life hold you back. Take some time out and head out to experience life from a different lens. We all need to work to survive and pay our bills. But just surviving isn’t living is it? So don’t hold yourself back and just live like nature intended us too.

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Fun Things to Do in Green Bay (That’s Not Related to Football)

When I think of Green Bay I automatically think of football (who doesn’t right?) But there is more to Green Bay than meets the eye – in fact, there are a lot of great places to visit that have absolutely nothing to do with football; and here are a few of my favorites.

New Zoo & Adventure Park
At the New Zoo & Adventure Park you can encounter nearly 90 different animals , enjoy some fun on the 1,000 foot racing zip lines, an aerial adventure course and a 40-foot climbing tower – all for your enjoyment 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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Heritage Hill State Historical Park
A living history museum, the Heritage Hill State Historical Park is preserving the history of Northeastern Wisconsin dating back to 1672. From old school houses to churning butter, this is a great historical place to visit.

Segway Fox River Tours
If you’ve never rode a segway – well you are missing out. Head on over to Fox Rivers Tours to get a quick tutorial on how to ride, and then take off on a adventure.  Visit the local historic sites, the Fox River Trail, CityDeck and Broadway District (and yes, if you want you can take a Packers tour too).

Captains Walk Winery
Located downtown, the Captain’s Walk crafts wines in their restored pre-Civil War building. Daily wine tastings, gourmet tapas, sandwiches and pizza it makes a perfect lunch.

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Bay Beach Amusement Park
Ride everything from bumper cars to ferris wheels, and a 2,500 foot roller coaster – all for under a dollar! Some rides even cost less than that, and parking and admission is free.

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Right across the road from the Bay Beach Amusement Park is the Wildlife Sanctuary. Bring your camera and sense of adventure – with 700 acres featuring live animal exhibits, educational information throughout the park, miles of hiking and skiing trails, there is a ton to do and see!

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This post was sponsored in part by Kolosso Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Appleton, WI.

 

 

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How To Enjoy A Luxury Vacation Without Paying Through The Roof

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Budget travel has made it far easier for the vast majority of us to see a lot more of the world. But, let’s face it, unless you are paying top dollar for a luxurious vacation, there is often the feeling that you are getting what you pay for. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
In today’s guide, we’re going to take you through several ways that you can enjoy a more luxurious vacation – without spending a fortune. Let’s get started right away.

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Cut out the travel

If you are planning on travelling to a far-flung destination, it’s going to cost a small fortune to get there. Unfortunately, there is no getting around the costs of flights and travel, as even flying half price can cost you a lot of money. Especially if you have children in tow. So, think about keeping things a lot more local. Domestic flights are far cheaper, and you can even get them free if you use a credit card that gives you air miles. Then, everything you save can be put towards treating yourself to a much more luxurious vacation than you can afford in another country.

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Buy early

In general terms, the earlier you buy your vacation, the cheaper it will be. It is a rule that applies to everything, from booking your flight and hotel to finding visitor tours. You can even use apps such as Hotwire to book your car rentals a long time in advance of your trip. It’s normal for travel companies – and any other business connected with tourism – to offer early bird deals. It applies to budget travel and luxury holiday destinations, too.  And, the longer you leave it, the more you will pay.

 

Buy late

Another option is to be as flexible as possible and book at the last minute. Most luxury vacations will fill up quick – but there are always exceptions. If someone cancels their trip at the last minute, it’s possible to get enormous discounts on resorts and hotels that were out of your reach before.

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Think about experiences rather than location

What makes a luxury vacation? For some, it is staying in the ultimate setting with everything they need a finger click away. But, there are other ways of looking at luxury, too. A beach hut on an empty Caribbean beach can be many people’s ideas of heaven, for example. Or, a log cabin in the Canadian Rockies might be someone else’s. The point is, sometimes the luxurious experience comes from within – not at one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Think about your interests and inspirations before booking, and with a little nous; you will find luxury for less.

As you can see, there are several ways of cutting back the costs of a luxury vacation. So, the next time you feel jealous of your neighbor’s trip away to a fabulous destination, think again. There might be a few smart ways you can enjoy that experience for half the price they paid.

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