HOLLYWOOD HALF MARATHON

Anyone want to run the Hollywood Half Marathon with me? Think New Year Resolution!

How can you say no to these medals?!

The Course takes you on a running tour through the heart of Hollywood.

PERSONALIZED PHOTO GIFT

At the end of the stairs in my parent's house is a cluster of photo frames. My photo is a shot from when I was Dairy Princess in 2000. I figured it was time for an update…and a perfect Christmas present.

FrameEvent.com is a newly launched site offering the tools and inspiration to create and personalize your favorite digital photos.

To celebrate the launch of the new site FrameEvent is currently offering a free print with every order, the user just needs to pay the shipping charges (which are very low).

This is what we created (with a little personalized note from Day-Z on our photo).

FrameEvent allows users to easily capture and personalize memorable events by providing the tools and creative elements needed to personalize digital photos, making it a great holiday gift idea! You don't have to be a digital photo editing expert to write names & dates on wedding/anniversary or school photos, add some flare to vacation candids, or a border on holiday shots on the site and completing the order is very simple.

Here are some examples from the site of some cute photos you can create:

We'll be ordering more prints because I'm pretty sure the moms LOVED it.

Visit FrameEvent to personalize some of those holiday photos you just took.

COWBOY SANTA & THE CHRISTMAS ELF

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Lola and I spent the day together while her brothers and sister went skiing.

We played "Christmas."

 She was cowgirl Santa.

Yee-haw!

I was her helper elf who was supposed to hand out the gifts she brought.

We're awesome, right?!

Jealous of our outfits? We got them from Private Island Party. They have a big variety of novelty items and costume accessories perfect for your themed party or play date with your niece. I'm pretty sure these elf boots can be used for Mardi Gras jester costume and the Santa cowboy hat might be brought out for a Valentine's Day rodeo. Look for more photos of them  in the future.

Private Island Party also has party supplies, decorations, and favors AND you can buy certain items in bulk if you need to. They ship all packages with a delivery confirmation number from USPS or UPS and have great customer service to make sure you are satisfied with your purchase. Check them out.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

GAME ON!

I've shared some winning present ideas for my mom in the past. Now, what to give my dad for Christmas? If you know my dad, you know he loves his computer games. I've come up with the idea of a Big Fish Games credit. Big Fish Games is a leading online game provider for computers, tablets, and smartphones. They have thousands of options for families and just recently added some games that are perfect for the holiday season! This means when my nephews come over to visit and sneak some electronics time away from their parents, they can play games as well.

You can try every game for free for the first hour so I recommend trying some out to find the one that you like. That way you won't spend your money on a game that turns out to not be your favorite.

So which one did we choose to try?

Bejeweled 3

There are 8 game modes, 40 quest puzzles, and 65 badges to earn in this version of the #1 puzzle game.

I figured this game would be great for the kiddies to play because you match the jewels by color. There are no hard words to spell (like the games I enjoy playing - hello Bookworm game). But it does take skill to match the jewels before time or space run out. Don't worry, all levels come with simple instructions and hints to help you play.
The butterflies puzzle is my favorite.

You can purchase games no matter your device. They offer PC, Mac, Online, iPad, iPhone, and Android games so everyone is happy.

A gift that is fun, educational, and awesome…I did it again thanks to Big Fish Games.

CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO SHOOT

Day-Z and I had some photos taken for my Christmas cards this year.

 Don't mind the double chin

 Great action

 We went through A LOT of treats

She was so well behaved during the shoot. I'm surprised because she is normally very camera shy.

UNWANTED GIFT CARDS

Not everyone can give great Christmas gifts like I do (ahem). 

So what do you do when you get 8 Cinemark gift cards and there isn't a Cinemark theater within 40 miles of you (sorry Braxton)?

You can go to GiftCardRescue.com. GiftCardRescue’s mission is to make it easier for people to unlock the value in their unwanted gift cards. The company will buy gift cards from those who don’t want them and sell them to those who do.

So that means you can easily sell your unwanted Gift Cards for Cash or purchase some Discounted Gift Cards (up to 35%) for yourself from the site.

Worried this sounds shifty?

They Provide a 100% Money-Back Guarantee!

They will give you a full refund if:

• The gift card you received is not the card you purchased, or
• If the value on the gift card you received is different from what was advertised or indicated at checkout.

They will mail your check or exchange card within 48 hours after they receive your card and you will receive email updates about the status of your order. You can also easily track your order every step of the way by logging into your account and clicking on “Order History”.

BONUS: Exchange your gift card for an Amazon.com gift card and get 5% more over a cash payment (Deanna loves shopping at Amazon) AND all orders are shipped free to the continental U.S.

You can visit their testimonials page and see what real customers have to say about their service. GiftCardRescue has also been recommended by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, Forbes, ABC, CBS, and many other highly reputable publications. Check them out for yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and their blog.

Turn that "Gee, thanks for the gift card I'll never use" gift into one you'll love.

GROOVY GRAVY #GIVEAWAY

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

This is the first holiday season Day-Z will spend with us. Our human Thanksgiving meal was so delicious, I wanted to make sure she received the same treatment. So we tried out Groovy Gravy.

She is a little picky about eating dry dog food, but not after I poured some of the Paw Lickin' Chicken on to enhance her dining experience. Groovy Gravy incorporates ultra-pure, highly absorbable, health-promoting Omega-3s into a (low calorie) delicious gravy you won't feel guilty about giving to your pet. 

What health claims can Omega-3s provide for your dog you ask? 

- Promotes a healthy, shiny coat

- Supports healthy cardiovascular function

- Supports a healthy immune system

So your cats don't get jealous, there are cleverly named flavors for them as well:

Dog – Paw Lickin’ Chicken, Give Beef a Chance & Power to the Sweet Potato

Cat – Paw Lickin’ Chicken, Turn on Tuna & Power to the Sweet Potato

Groovy gravy can be served once a day (or more) on dry food, poured into water or solo on a plate. Day-Z likes to add it to her dry food. It is available in foil stick packs with perforated easy edge open available in a 30-count carton for a one-month supply, a 9- count variety bag, and a 3-count pillow pack. We tried a variety bag to find out which gravy would be her favorite - the Paw Lickin' Chicken (maybe because she hears the neighbor chickens making noise every morning).

Day-Z asks: "Is there anything that could possibly make this product any better?!"

The answer is yes. It is made in USA certified.  Groovy Gravy Brands also supports the Onyx & Breezy Foundation, to benefit the welfare of animals, by donating 5% of the profits to the foundation.

This is so great we might be giving it to our dog friends as Christmas presents. (Don't tell Day-Z, but she has a packet waiting for her in her stocking this year.)

Want to win some? Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like Groovy Gravy on Facebook &

Follow them on twitter

for discount, contest and event news, and chances to win things!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

PRESTO PHOTO

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

If you know me, then you know I like to take photos. I carry a camera with me everywhere. So what is the best gift idea in my opinion….photo gifts.

My mom likes to get a new calendar each year for Christmas. It's an easy gift. But what makes it and AWESOME gift? Adding photos of loved ones that really mean something to her.

My solution: a calendar with 12 months of Day-Z.

At PrestoPhoto you can also make fully customizable photo books

and greeting cards.

I ordered all three items for under $50 and they are great! Good quality and competitive prices are two things I look for when making photo gift purchases and the peeps at PrestoPhoto offer both.

Whichever project you choose to make, you can choose from several sizes, layouts, colors, and styles.

Once you figure out how the website works (that you need to drag and drop photos and layouts and that their are final touches you choose from after completing the project) the site is pretty easy to use. They also offer several different shipping options, have flat shipping rates, and ship internationally.

Check them out on Facebook & Twitter

Order your custom photo book today.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

WW LIGHTS AT TEMPLE SQUARE

I braved the snow to look at the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

If you ever make it to Salt Lake City, this is a must.

Christmas lights, manger scene, and hot chocolate…can't get better than that.

WW - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

All Day-Z wants for Christmas is your vote so she can inspire a $500 #DreamDogPark makeover at a park nearby us. This is our last post asking for votes because voting ends 11:59am EST 12/5.

Please VOTE today and tomorrow HERE*

*and you can throw in a Facebook like below the vote button if you'd like

Ozeri KITCHEN CUPBOARD MAKEOVER

Do you have a kitchen cupboard like this? My mom does (don't tell her I posted this).

That's why I am giving her the Ozeri INSTAVAC Green Earth food storage container set for Christmas. 

Why this set? She can:

1. SAVE MONEY -- pays for itself and more by keeping food fresher longer; 

2. SAVE FOOD -- Press on lid that removes air that spoils food;

3. SAVE SPACE -- each container nests for convenient, efficient storage; 

4. SAVE TIME -- each container is microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe for long-lasting use.

5. SAVE WORRIES -- Your satisfaction is guaranteed and backed by Ozeri's industry-praised, no-hassle warranty and customer service.

*The BPA-free, stain-resistant, shatter-proof, Ozeri INSTAVAC Green Earth Food Storage Containers (that should make EVERYONE happy) are as transparent as glass, and safe to use in microwaves, freezers and dishwashers. This means you won't have those warped plastic containers where the lids don't fit on anymore. 

*Each container features a handy date dial that allows you to record when food was stored and monitor days kept in your refrigerator. You won't have to wait until you see green mold growing on it to know it's been stored for too long. 

*Each container is also made with a wave patterned bottom that keeps cut fruit and vegetables elevated from the deteriorating effects of water and juices which can collect at the bottom over time. Nothing is worse than pulling out mushy mushrooms for your morning omelet.

Aren't convinced yet? You can check these food containers out and order them easily on Amazon. They also come with a full warranty. Merry Christmas, Mom! Best present of the year award.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#TASSIMO GIVEAWAY

The blog was not compensated in any way for this post.

This Giveaway is sponsored by #Tassimo and Hosted by It's Peachy Keen. Also CO-Hosted by My Couponing Life and Oh Just Stop Already.

ATTENTION HOT DRINK LOVERS!

What is a Tassimo Brewer?

#TASSIMO is a one-cup, on-demand beverage system that uses INTELLIBREW^TM to make sure every cup is brewed using the right amount of water, the right temperature and the right brew time.

#TASSIMO creates an assortment of authentic coffeehouse-style beverages including coffee, tea, cappuccino, espresso, latte, hot chocolate and more conveniently at home. Most of our beverages are ready in about a minute and the cappuccinos and lattes are made with real liquid milk. It is more than just a coffee maker!

" I can say as a #Tassimo lover that is is amazing. I have no need to go out for a special coffee or drink. They are made perfect in the kitchen now. Also I click the button on and the machine is ready to go. No waiting for the water to get hot or it to be ready to brew. It is instant. With my mornings being as hectic as they are with three little kids wanting my attention. I need something fast and convenient. #Tassimo is both. While their coffee selection isn't HUGE yet they are growing a lot and all the coffee products they do offer really hit the spot on quality and tastiness. "

What is a T Disc? You know the kind of coffee pod the machine uses!....

The ingenious #TASSIMO Disc pod (T DISC) was developed exclusively for use with #TASSIMO single cup brewers. Each T DISC contains an expertly measured portion of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or liquid milk creamer. When the T DISC is inserted, the #TASSIMO single cup brewer uses INTELLIBREW^TM to read the barcode printed on the label. The code specifies beverage size, brewing time and optimal temperature required to prepare the beverage. All the brewing occurs inside the T DISC, ensuring perfect quality in every cup.

" The #Tassimo is not just any kind of coffee brewer it is amazing. It creates the perfect cup of coffee for you no matter what type of drink you are looking for. It is a brewer and makes all kinds of drinks. I enjoy Lattes, Cappuccinos, Chair Tea, Teas, Hot Chocolate, and much more. It's a brewer my whole family can use. It's not just for coffee lovers. The #Tassimo brewer Also comes with a disc you can use to clean the machine out. That is awesome to me because I like to know I drinking from a clean machine. "

If you would like to know more about what the #Tassimo brewer really does or more specific details Check out the TASSIMO WEBSITE

NOW after some quick info! Here is the GIVEAWAY!

Open to US Residents Only. 18+ years or older. Ends December 20 at Midnight EST. This website is not responsible for prize fulfillment or  shipping. If there are any problems or issues. Please contact (Itspeachykeen (at) Live.com for more info. Winner will be posted on Itspeachykeen.com 2-7 days after the Giveaway is over.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#DreamDogPark Voting Rally

Day-Z and I hosted a fun event at a nearby dog park to encourage people to vote for us in the #DreamDogPark contest.

 We had some dog treats from Beneful,

 Some human treats from Jamba Juice, 

a bit of socializing, 

 and a whole lot of fun!

 Now we just need a bunch of votes!

Please vote for us (Deanna & Day-Z) HERE daily until 12/5.
*Remember only 1 vote per person per day.
Thank you, Daily Herald staff for the photos and article from the event here.