CARD.COM makes it easy to stay on budget with holiday spending #review

• “I wrote this review as a part of a Blog Friendly PR outreach campaign for CARD.com, I was compensated for me time but all opinions are my own.”

Every year I have to remind myself to stay on budget with my Christmas shopping especially since I shop year round for great deals.  Since I do that, it is easy for me to go over my budget.  Lucky for me, Card.com can help me with that since it is a loadable card so I can put as much or as little on it to keep me in check.

Of course another great factor is that you can use the card online at your fav retailers like Amazon.com so you do not have to miss out on any great cyber deals too.  Then there is another feature I love - picking your own card design from a ton of choices.  I love not having a boring looking card and I choose the cat in the sweater design ( check it out below!)










Now tell me that card is not stinking cute!  Of course there are tons of other adorable ones as well.  Tell me below which ones you liked.  Now I have shared a few of my favorite things about the card, but here are some more added details and features...

• This is a debit card, like the one from your bank, and you can use it EVERYWHERE Visa is accepted -- except it's way cooler and cuter than your boring bank card.
• Free to order, activate and load.
• Free app and check deposits from your smartphone.
• Free direct deposit.
• Free card-to-card transfers, any time, anywhere, in seconds.
• No overdraft fees -- never goes negative!
• Safer than cash - 24/7 support, Visa fraud protection and 100% FDIC insurance on funds.
• No debt, financially responsible, no interest/credit/APRs.
• No credit check and approval in seconds.
• 22,000 in-network ATMs.
• Thousands of cool, unique card designs to choose from, including brands like: Garfield, Popeye, Betty Paige, James Dean, Care Bears, Walking Dead, Star Trek, Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Research, Shark Week, Where's Waldo, Doodle Jump, Three Stooges, Nancy Drew, etc.
• Free for 30 days - then $5.95 monthly fee, which is waived when you direct deposit over $800 in the previous 30 days. This fee is the same as the Walmart prepaid card and much less than many of the competitors. It's also much less than overdrafting your bank account, paying for a checking account or using a credit card.

Now besides this card being great for holiday shopping.  It would be great for kids who are off to college so they can learn budgeting or simply so they have money for those needed and unexpected expenses!  

Now I did have the opportunity to try out the card and had no problem at all using it at a couple of my favorite stores and even at Redbox ( which I know with some loadable cards doesn't work).  Plus I even got a compliment on how adorable my card was!  Now I do have to say though that I was not a huge fan of the monthly fee, but it is not as high as some of the other ones I have seen with some checking accounts or even other loadable cards.  

So if you are like me and can get a little gift giving happy, maybe Card.com could help you stay the course plus you get the opportunity to choose your own design!!!!

So while you are checking Card.com out, be sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook as well. Also they are even on Pinterest.  So be sure to follow them now!

2013 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - KAWAII CRUSH HYPER HAPPY MALL PLAYSET review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes only.  The below mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

Everyone in Kawaii Crush World loves hanging out at the Hyper Happy Mall – there's just so much to do. Stop by the Fashion Boutique and choose from over 10 outfits and accessories. Thinking about adopting a Kawaii pet? Visit the Pet Shop for a kitten, bunny, or poodle (or all.) and get them groomed and styled. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor to grab a bite at the Burger Shop or to snap a picture in the photo booth. There are so many places to visit let Holly Molly Shop show you around the Hyper Happy Mall.

MY THOUGHTS


My two daughters love miniature playsets like the NEW Kawaii Crush Hyper Happy Mall one.  SO when I received it in the mail, I knew they would be super excited to play with it.  

The playset only comes with one figurine so if you are like me and have multiple girls; be sure to grab another figurine like I have done. (the little figurines make great stocking stuffers!)  The set comes with tons of little accessories so be careful if you have wee ones in the household who like putting things in their mouths.


As I said the playset has tons of accessories that add to the hours of playtime possible.  Also all the accessories and playset are brightly colored which I simply love and I know my little girls will too.

The playset is available now where toys are sold nationwide and available at online retailers like Amazon.  The price at Amazon is about $45 but I recently saw this same playset marked down so keep an eye out!  Be sure to grab this playset and some of the other adorable Kawaii Crush figurines for the little girl on your list!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2013 - BOOM BOOM BALLOON review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The below mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

You Never Know when this Balloon will Boom!

In Boom Boom Balloon, nobody knows when the balloon will go boom! It’s simple and easy 

game play keeps players guessing as to when it will blow. Each player takes a turn rolling 

the dice. For every number they roll, they must push in a stick the same number of clicks.

Before you know it there’s a ton of pressure on the balloon making it want to go boom!

Who Will Make it Pop?

Tension mounts as players take turns rolling the dice. The more you roll, the more pressure

 is put on the balloon. Watch as it stretches, squishes, strains! Will the next click make it pop? 

Nobody knows! If the balloon goes boom on your turn, you’re out!

Non Stop Fun!

Boom Boom Balloon is non-stop fun for 2 or more players ages 8+. There are 12 silly faced 

balloons inside the box. Players can always substitute regular balloons for additional play. 

Get started and wait for the tension to loom with the non-stop fun of Boom Boom Balloon!

Game at a Glance:

• Easy out of the box play
• For 2 or more players, aged 8+
• Comes with an easy to assemble balloon frame, 12 balloons, 10 sticks,a die, and instructions

MY THOUGHTS

In my household, we love board games and Family Game Night so I was excited when I received one of SpinMaster's hottest games for the Holiday season - Boom Boom Balloon!  Since there is over a 4 year gap between my son and 2 daughters, this makes it hard to find a game for all 3.  Boom Boom Balloon helps bridge the gap and makes it fun for all 3.

Now the game is simple - Do not be the one to pop the balloon!  I know my kiddos are simply going to love playing this game this Holiday season.  Now the game does only come with just 12 balloons, but Spin Master is coming out with a replacement pack of 20 balloons.  Of course I have heard of others using your basic balloons.  

Now if you are like me and have a wide age gap in kids, this game makes it fair for all ages and of course it makes it fun too.  It is a great game for parties or Family Game Nights .  The game is available now where board games are sold nationwide and on online retailers like Amazon , who has it for under $15 right now.

So if you love fun games for your kiddos or have a kiddo who is a board game fan then be sure to grab a copy today!