Christmas in July: Plan Your Holiday Photo Cards Now

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Every year I say I’m going to plan ahead and NOT wait til the last minute to order my winter holiday cards, but things come up…I get busy and forget. I’m sure you can relate!

This year, our newest blog sponsor, Basic Invite, is here to help us all do better, with a Christmas in July reminder: Summer is a great time to plan out and capture your family and pet photos for your Christmas cards and holiday cards.

They are also offering a 30% OFF discount to our readers so read on to learn more!

You might be thinking. “How can I do holiday photos when all my Christmas decorations are packed away?!?”

It’s easier than you think. All you need is a few simple props, like some Santa hats and mini trees from Michaels or the Dollar Store. Walgreens still has Red Noses for sale at many locations (check by the registers).

Any string of fairy lights will help set the scene, or take the photos you love and add some sparkly touches with filters in your favorite photo app or software.

Look around for items you already have that might work. This is a GREAT excuse to get some matching pajamas for your family and pets!

Your Christmas cards don’t even have to have a holiday theme. Summertime is beach, pool and vacation time, so remember to take a few nice shots with the family (and pets, of course) so that you can share your memories with friends and family when you send out your cards this winter. Any great family photos YOU love will make the perfect images for your cards.

There are tons of themes and templates to choose from, so it’s almost a no-brainer once you have your favorite digital photos picked out!

Basic Invite is one of the few card websites with almost unlimited color options and instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. This is what really sets them apart from almost any other online stationery company.

And if you have a business, or are in charge of ordering business Christmas cards this year, now is the time to get it done. You can get really creative with cards that fit the personality and tone of your business!

Whether you are ordering cards and invites for business or family, you want to make sure your cards look their very best, right?

Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows you the ability to order a printed custom sample of your actual card or invitation so you can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before you ever have to place your final order.

You can also choose from over 40 different envelope colors. That will really help your cards stand out!

And to make life really easy, use their address capturing service letting you share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request friends and family’s addresses which can be stored and used for recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders.

Hopefully all this has motivated you to get started on Christmas and holiday cards, invites and more, now rather than waiting til the last minute.

To take a closer look at all the design options, templates and pricing, visit the Basic Invite website, and use promo code below for 30% OFF any order!

PAW Patrol Live! Coming to South Florida (Show News + Giveaway)

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We know you all love PAW Patrol and we’ve got very special news we can’t wait to share…

PAW Patrol is on a roll with its hit live tour and they’ll be stopping in Fort Lauderdale, Florida very soon!

Since that’s our neck of the woods, we are super excited and want to help spread the word so no one misses the chance to see the show.

If you live nearby or know someone who does be sure to let them know the following:

PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue

Come roll with the PAW Patrol as everybody’s favorite heroic pups race to the rescue on the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race. When Mayor Goodway goes missing, Chase, Marshall, Skye and the rest of the PAW Patrol will need to team up with Ryder to save Adventure Bay’s mayor and stop Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger from winning the race.

WHERE: Au Rene Theater @ Broward Center

WHEN: Saturday, July 20 (3 shows) and Sunday, July 21 (2 shows)

Tickets start at $19 and are available through the Broward Center and Ticketmaster.

PAW Patrol Live! Show Ticket Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive 4 PAW Patrol Live! Tickets to the show of their choice. Use the Rafflecopter contest widget below to enter. Giveaway is open to US residents age 18+ and ends on June 30, 2019 at 11:59pm ET. Good luck everybody!

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$350 OFF LG Matte Black Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances at Best Buy

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If you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen before the holiday cooking and entertaining season begins, you’re in luck! LG just released a super stylish new line of smart kitchen appliances in matte black stainless steel to complement your current home decor or inspire a whole new look.

Modern sophistication meets everyday functionality with a satin matte finish that not only hides smudges and fingerprints, but also easily wipes clean with a soft, dry cloth. No need for special cleaners or constant attention.

LG appliances offer advanced technology that can speed up cooking, improve clean-up and organize your food storage in innovative ways. They’re also wi-fi and voice-enabled, allowing you to control your kitchen appliances remotely. From changing settings, to checking the status, or turning on or off, these smart appliances really make life easier.

Good looks, smart AND low maintenance? YES, PLEASE!

LG Matte Black Stainless Steel appliances include a new refrigerator, ranges, dishwashers and microwave oven and are available now at Best Buy. Even better, save an extra $350 on select LG Matte Black kitchen appliance packages.

Head on over to BestBuy.com and embrace the dark side!

Did You Know? Facts About TRICARE Dental #MetLifeTDP #IC #ad

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did you know about tricare dental

TRICARE Info 2016

This is my third year as an ambassador for the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program, and it’s been such a pleasure getting to help educate military families about their benefits. Military moms and dads know it takes a LOT to keep the home front running smoothly. That’s why I love being able to share what I’ve learned, to help you save time and money. Last month I gave you some Children’s Dental Health Tips & Reminders. And back in January, I put together a 2016 Program Update.

In a nutshell, MetLife TRICARE Dental provides dental benefits to spouses and children of Active Duty personnel and National Guard and Reserve members and their families. It’s a convenient and cost effective way for families to have continuous dental coverage from the large network of dental providers worldwide.

In doing research for my TRICARE posts, I’ve learned a lot more facts and details about the program that I didn’t know. So this month, I’ve rounded up a list of some things you might not know…but should!

Did You Know?
  • Families enrolled in MetLife TRICARE Dental Program have access to over 250,000 dental locations, making it one of the largest civilian dental networks around. It’s great to know that wherever you go, you’ll be able to find dentists that participate in the program.
  • There are no annual deductibles or co-payments, and premiums are competitively priced. There are low or no cost-shares on many dental services including diagnostic and preventative. It’s reassuring to know that there won’t be a lot of unexpected expenses when it comes to keeping up with your family’s dental health needs.
  • The program has an Accidental Annual Maximum of $1,200 per beneficiary per plan year. This is in addition to and separate from the $1,300 plan annual maximum per beneficiary per plan year. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it’s always good to know you have the additional injury coverage.
  • TRICARE Dental Program will coordinate with another supplemental dental insurance carrier.
  • Your family is not automatically enrolled. Even though you and your family may already have TRICARE medical, dental coverage requires a separate enrollment. There are four easy ways to enroll:
    1. Online at www.tricare.mil/bwe
    2. Call 1-855-638-8371 CONUS, 1-855-638-8372 OCONUS, or 1-855-638-8373 TDD/TTY
    3. Fax a completed Enrollment Authorization document (found on www.tricare.mil/tdp) to 1-855-763-1337
    4. Mail a completed Enrollment Authorization document to: MetLife TRICARE Dental Program, P.O. Box 14185 Lexington, KY 40512.

Want to know even more about the program coverage and benefits? The MetLife TDP Facebook Page is a great resource. They post a different fact or trivia question just about every day, so it’s fun to stop by a learn something new each time you visit!

You can also find the program on Twitter and at their website: www.metlife.com/tricare.

Children’s Dental Health Month Tips and Reminders #MetLifeTDP #IC #ad

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TriCare Dental KidsTRICARE Info 2016

We’ve already told you that February is Pet Dental Health Month, but did you know that it’s also Children’s Dental Health Month, too? We’ve teamed up with the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program to remind all the military moms and dads about the important dental benefits available to dependent children and spouses of Active Duty service members and Reservists. Not a military member but know someone who is? Be sure to share this info so they don’t miss out!

Your Family’s MetLife TRICARE Dental Program Benefits Include:

  • Two cleanings and two exams per year at no cost, w/ network dentist
  • Orthodontic coverage for children up to 21 (23 if a full time student)
  • Two topical fluoride applications per consecutive 12-month period
  • + more at www.metlife.com/tricare

One of the included benefit to ask your network dentist about is dental sealants for kids. Sealants on permanent molars for children though the age of 18 are covered under the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program with a 20% cost share. A dental sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars) to prevent cavities.

Both parents and the kiddos will be happy to know that applying sealants does not require drilling or removing tooth structure, making the process short and easy! Research shows that dental sealants help prevent cavities on teeth with pits and grooves, so it’s recommended that dental sealants be placed on the permanent molar teeth of children shortly after the molars erupt. First around age 6, with the second set of permanent molars appearing around age 12.

Another concern parents may want to discuss with the dentist is tooth grinding. No one knows exactly why children grind their teeth but stress, improperly aligned teeth, and even dehydration can be factors. Ask your dentist to monitor your child’s teeth if he or she grinds their teeth. No intervention is usually required with preschool-age children, but older children may need temporary crowns or other methods, such as a night guard, to prevent the grinding.

For Additional Info and Resources visit: