Best Money Saving Apps for Your SmartPhone

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Krissyar

Whether it’s a store, a brand that you love, your insurance  company, or even your kids school, they have “an app for that.”  Pretty much everything you ever needed to get online for, or make a phone call,or fax, you can access via an app. But with so many apps to choose from, what’s the best apps for you and your family?
So I’ve talked to some friends, and I compiled a list of the best money saving apps for your smart phone (or tablet). Next month well cover all the other cool apps, like best photo editing, etc,but money is pretty important to most people,  so I wanted to cover them first!

best_money_saving_apps_for_your_Smartphone

Ibotta

 Get rebates for performing simple tasks like watching a video,liking a product, etc. You could unlock 50 cents off your favorite shampoo by watching a video, or answering a survey question. After you buy the item you scan the barcode, and then take a photo of the receipt. Once you earn $10 back, you can ‘cash out’ – you can even get the cashback through PayPal!

Ebates. Most of us are familiar with the Ebates website, but the app offers even more. They offer special discounts and cashback through the all new Mobile Monday program.

ShopKick

  Visit a participating retailer and scan bar codes or make (specific) purchases for points that you can trade in for gift cards! (500 kicks equal $2) – this is a great way for kids to save up some ‘cash’ too!

Checkout51. Rewards for buying regular day to day items. Also has weekly cash back deals, as well as store specific offers. Select what you purchased, and when done upload the receipt. Once you reach $20, you can cash out for a CHECK. New offers  load each Thursday.

Favado.  This app helps you find the best sales and coupon combos each week at your local stores. It has a list of on sale items from their weekly ads, and lets you know if there is a coupon available. What else is awesome is rebates fromIbotta and Checkout51 are both listed in Favado, so less work for you and more saving money!)

Snap by Groupon. Cashback on groceries! Like Ibotta and Checkout51, you upload your receipt to show you purchased the special offered items listed for rebate on the app. Once you reach $20 – cash money! Use all 3 and save BIG!

 

 

Posted in Money Matters, Techy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Tips to Get Ahead of Cancer

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Krissyar

My heart nearly broke when I heard the news – my Grandpa, my favorite man in the world, had cancer. I was twenty-one and pregnant with my first child. My heart ached at the thought of my daughter growing up and not knowing this giving, kind-hearted man. The man who made me call him “Dad” when I was a kid because he was just obviously too young to be my Grandpa (which he was, I’ll give him credit. He became one at 34 after all). The one who would give anyone the shirt off his own back if he needed it – I never knew how he kept his auto glass business running considering he always helped people out who didn’t have the money to replace their windshield, or repair a side mirror.

grandpa

I prayed and prayed that he would make it until my daughter was born – she was due in March, and I teased him relentlessly about being a great-grandpa at just fifty-five. The cancer had taken over so much of his body – even his brain, and there were times he didn’t know who we were. I will never forget one of the last times we went over to his condo to have pizza and watch a movie with him. He seemed to be doing a bit better, and we were all pretty optimistic. For the first time in months he was himself – teasing me, telling stories on my Dad, and giving my Mom a hard time. If I knew that would have been one of the last times I talked to that Grandpa I had loved so much – I would have stayed there all night.

My Grandpa was in the hospital over Thanksgiving – his favorite holiday. We went up to see him, and he was incoherent, and very agitated about getting another CAT scan. He always hated hospitals, and I can imagine how confusing and upsetting it was for him to be stuck there for weeks. He pointed to me before we left, and shook his finger at me, telling me to be good. I laughed and kissed him bye, not knowing that was the last time I would ever see him.

My Grandpa smoked and drank like there was no tomorrow – the only physical activity he got in a week was his Sunday golf game, and he ate cheese, chips and lunch meat like it was going out of style. He loved and enjoyed life but I have no doubt if he could see the future – including all seven of his great-grand babies – he would have changed some of his habits and done everything he could to try and prevent the illness that took his life.

A few years ago it hit my Dad pretty hard when he turned 50 – he knew he was just a few years away from the age my Grandpa was when he passed, and my Dad did not want to miss out on watching his grand kids grow up. He started working out, and eating healthier. Which made us all start thinking – what are some steps we can take to be proactive – and get ahead of cancer?

Dad

Since February is National Cancer Prevention Month, All in a Days Work has teamed up with Counsyl to share some tips on how you really can get ahead of cancer – and do all you can to prevent it, and be ready to take any precautionary steps you need to fight it.

There are quite a few things that you can do at home to get ahead of cancer – like the info in the graph below, simple things such as staying active, eating a healthy & well balanced diet as well as lowering your alcohol consumption can lower your chances of developing certain cancers.

Get AHEAD OF CANCER (1)

In addition to these steps, Counsyl also offers DNA testing and genetic counseling services as a way to learn your risks for certain types of inherited cancer such as breast, ovarian, colon and others – so you can do what you can to stay ahead of it.

The Counsyl Inherited Cancer Screen assesses your risks based on your DNA, and if you test positive, you have the power to act early on. By working with your doctor, you can build a proactive health and risk reduction plan including early detection. Detecting cancer early increases survival rates – the 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 98.6% when caught in early stages.

I want to be around to watch my kids grow up and have family of their own – and I will do whatever I can to make sure that happens.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Counsyl. The opinions and text are all mine.

Posted in Fitness/Health, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Krissyar

Sweet and sour chicken is a family favorite – one of the very few meals that everyone in my family enjoys. What makes this recipe even greater is that you can cook it in your slow cooker /crockpot and leave it be – and enjoy a delicious dinner without slaving over the stove!

Ingredients:

  • 1-pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon of fresh ginger, minced
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup of tamari or low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce – if you do not have this simply use ½ teaspoon of brown sugar instead.
  • 3 tablespoons of honey (can also use brown sugar)
  • 1-tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • ¼ teaspoon of sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
  • sea salt to taste (optional)
  • 1-cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces

Sauce slurry

  • 3 tablespoons of cool water
  • 2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch

Crockpot Sweet & Sour Chicken Final 6

Directions:

  • Spray inside of slow cooker with non-stick coating spray.
  • Place chicken inside the slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, honey, vinegar, tomato paste, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and black pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and push chicken down making sure chicken is covered with sauce.
  • Cover slow cooker with lid and cook chicken on low heat for 5-7 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours.
  • Tear or shred chicken with two forks into chunks if you are using whole chicken breasts.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour in to slow cooker and whisk gently with chicken mixture. Gently fold in pineapple chunks and bell pepper.
  • Cook mixture on high for an additional 20 minutes until sauce thickens and the pineapples and bell peppers are slightly tender.
  • Season to taste with salt
  • Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onions if desired
  • Serve over brown rice or quinoa.
Posted in Recipes | Leave a comment

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Cupcakes

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Krissyar

Tomorrow is officially “Dr. Seuss Day” otherwise known as READ ACROSS AMERICA. Did you know that the first RAA day was held in 1998?
The goal of Read Across America Day is to pick up a good book and read it – and even better, read with a child!
What goes better with a good book than a yummy cupcake and a glass of milk? I adore these Cat in a Hat cupcakes that would be a great treat for Dr. Seuss Day that we all can enjoy!

cat_in_the_hat_cupcakes

INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey’s dark unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/4  salt
2 t vanilla
1 cup buttermilk

DIRECTIONS FOR HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
1.   Preheat oven to 350°.
2.   Grease cupcake pan or place cupcake liners in pan.
3.   In a medium mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar. With an electric mixer, cream the mixture until light and fluffy.
4.   Add the eggs, one at a time and mix until well incorporated.
5.   Stir in the vanilla. Set aside.
6.   In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
7.   Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and mix until just wet and combined.
8.   Add 1/2 of the buttermilk and mix until combined.
9.   Repeat steps 7 and 8.
10. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full.
11. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
18. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes.
19. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to complete the cooling process.
20. Frost with icing when completely cooled.

INGREDIENTS FOR BLUE BUTTERCREAM ICING
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 t salt
1 T vanilla extract
2 T cold milk
Blue food gel

DIRECTIONS FOR BLUE BUTTERCREAM ICING
1.   In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer.
2.   With the mixer on low speed, add half of the sugar until well blended.
3.   Add the rest of the sugar and beat on medium speed until smooth.
4.   Add blue gel/coloring until you reach your desired color of dark blue.
5.   NOTE: to thin icing, add 1 Tablespoon of milk. If you desire a more thick icing, add 1 Tablespoon of powdered sugar.
6.   Add the icing to a decorator bag with a professional tip or you could just use a Ziploc bag snipped off at the side.
7.   Pipe the icing onto each cooled cupcake.

Hat 3-2

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE MARSHMALLOW HAT
1.   Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.
2.   In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the shortening for 40 seconds or until melted.
3.   Add the red chocolate melts and stir until completely melted.
4.   Dip one end of each marshmallow into the melted red chocolate and gently press that end onto a white chocolate Oreo cookie.
5.   Pick each cookie up with the attached marshmallow and dip the top of the marshmallow into the melted red chocolate. Lay on the baking sheet to “set” for at least 20 minutes.
6.   Place the completed Dr. Suess hats onto the prepared cupcakes.
7.   ENJOY!!

Hat 3-4

Posted in Entertainment, Recipes | 1 Comment

Safe & Effective Energy Boost with NeuEnergy

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NeuEnergy for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

A few weeks ago I told you about NeuEnergy™ – a powered-by-nature energy supplement with real blueberry and super-fruit antioxidants that give you an extra boost without the sugar crash. I’ve been on mission to cut out soda pop and minimize my coffee intake since the new year, and let me tell you – up until a few weeks ago, it hadn’t been so easy.

Most of you are like me , busy Mom’s with not enough hours in your day to get everything done – which leaves you popping the top of those energy drinks (which have double the amount of caffeine as the NeuEnergy tabs), or guzzling soda and coffee like there’s no tomorrow. But none of those options are simple, healthy or as safe as NeuEnergy.

neuenergy_post_2.jpg

When I start to feel sluggish – which is usually right after lunch (or right after I get to work, depending on when I got to bed) I pop 2 of the NeuEnergy tabs and keep going about my day – it definitely gives me that extra kick I need to keep being productive even though my body (and mind) is telling me no.

I love that there’s no sudden ‘sugar rush’ or a complete crash once it’s worn off. I steadily feel a bit of an energy boost – plenty enough to keep me on my toes! They come in a convenient easy to carry, resealable package (and trust me, it’s so easy. I have one in my desk at work, one in my purse, one in my computer bag and a whole lot stashed in my car!!)

neuenergy_post_2_2.jpg

You can pick yours up at Meijer Supermarkets (in Sports Nutrition section of the Pharmacy), on Amazon or of course on the GetNeuEnergy.com website.

Also don’t forget to enter the NeuEnergy Sweepstakes!

How to Enter: Post a selfie on Instagram (like mine below) with the NeuEnergy Stick Container, mention @GetNeuEnergy and include the #GetNeuEnergy and #Contest hashtags contest details and rules

(winners will be voted by the public)

 

Get Natural energy with @GetNeuEnergy #GetNeuEnergy #contest

A photo posted by Krissy Higgins (@krissyar) on

Bi-Weekly winners will have their choice between Prize Packs, which may include NeuEngery products, Bose Headphones and Fit Bits, Grand prize winners will receive a trip Disney World or Cabo San Lucas!! Contest runs from January 19 – March 16th (U.S. & Canada residents only, excluding Quebec)

Visit Sponsors Site

 

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