Spread Joy This Holiday & Get a Brighter, Whiter Smile with Crest 3D White Whitestrips

With Christmas literally right around the corner, I'm doing everything I can to prepare for the holiday! From packing bags and boxes full of presents so we can send and deliver it all to our friends and family to whipping up batches of delicious holiday goodies in the kitchen, I've been having a good time getting in the spirit of the season.

While I'm joyous about all the holiday fun, I feel like I need to share something... We took pictures for our Christmas cards earlier this month and here's the good news: the photos turned out adorable and I'll be sharing them soon. But there's also some bad news: I noticed something about our smiles I didn't like... I'm not going to blame it on any one thing, but maybe our espresso habit and our love for red wine have something to do with it... I really hate to say it type it, but our teeth were looking pretty yellow and that's just not okay! Eeeek!

After realizing we had a "situation", I couldn't let me or the hubs head home to see family with our teeth looking funky... I mean, really, who wants to be that couple in their family photos? Not us!

So I had to take steps to whiten our teeth immediately, I decided to check out Crest Whitestrips and when I saw that I could eliminate YEARS of stains within an hour with Crest 3D White Whitestrips 1-Hour Express Teeth Whitening Kit, I knew we were in business and that out smiles would soon be brighter! These little Whitestrips whiten teeth faster than ever and with the advanced no-slip grip you can even talk and drink water while you are whitening your teeth... Plus, you don't have to worry about crazy chemicals because Crest Whitestrips only use the ingredients your trusted dentist uses!

I know all of this is great, but the best part about our teeth whitening experience is the fact that my husband taught me how to play chess while we whitened our teeth. It's always nice to learn something new from him and he never ceases to amaze me, I guess I'm pretty lucky to call this man & his smile mine.

You can see our official results with Crest Whitestrips below:

 

After we whitened our teeth, we both were feeling pretty fancy so we dressed up in our Christmas finest and decided to do some Christmas shopping... You better believe I was smiling at everyone we crossed paths with because when you have noticeably whiter teeth, it's easy to flash a friendly smile!

Are you wanting to whiten your teeth like we did? I've got some awesome news! Crest 3D White Whitestrips 1-Hour Express Teeth Whitening Kit is offering a limited time deal - if you buy one kit at walmart.com, you'll get the second kit completely free!

So tell me, do you have special plans this holiday? Would having a brighter, whiter smile make you a little merrier this time of year? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

The Most Unique Gift for Everyone on Your List!

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #eholidays #CollectiveBias

With only a few weeks left until Christmas, most of us are in a rush to finishing shopping for everyone on our lists... some may even be close to finishing your Christmas shopping! While I wish I was among the latter, I tend to always be the former... every single year. With so many loving people to buy for on both sides of our family, we are still getting presents organized and making sure that each and every person in our life gets a gift they really love.

While the little kids in our family will love the items we've bought them this year... we're still squaring away almost all of the presents for the adults! While we love our family members dearly, most of them already have everything they need or want! I suppose we're blessed like that... and I'm not complaining, but it really does make gift giving/buying a difficult experience. I bet you have people in your life that tend to be a little troublesome to gift items to as well...

While we love these members of our family, it's no fun playing the guessing game while at the store trying to find presents... That's why we're going to be giving a few of the tough-to-buy-for adults in our family gift cards this year - more specifically personalized photo book gift cards from TheGiftCardShop.com! Everyone loves a gift that includes photos of their family and these easy to make photobooks are adorable and so very thoughtful!

The first person I surprised with a photobook and a gift card for the holiday season is someone I love very much, my own mother. She loves my niece, as much if not a million times more than she loves my sister and I, so it comes as no surprise that I made her photobook about my precious little niece!

The best part of this FREE photobook is that I was able to personalize each photo by pulling them all from my facebook and instagram pictures and then I added my own captions, making the story line of the book about how much we love and appreciate her! The book plays music and scrolls through pages, as if it were actually sitting in front of the recipient - such a cool experience! Plus, to show a little extra appreciation, I was able to surprise her with a $25 gift card to Olive Garden through TheGiftCardShop.com! The perfect little gift to remind her that I'm thinking about her!

It was so easy getting my mom one of her favorite gifts this year, seeing pictures of our family's precious memories flash on her screen and then rewarding her with a gift card to one of our favorite places to go together - it is literally the perfect gift! And... now that I know about TheGiftCardShop.com, gift giving just got even easier for all the adults on our list.

Are you wanting to surprise someone with a gift card but you've been told before that it isn't a thoughtful gift? Well, that is NOT an accurate statement - at least not for my generation! According to a new national study on gift giving from Millennials gift cards take 1st place in gift giving, expert Jason Dorsey and The Center for Generational Kinetics found that nearly 50% of consumers chose gift cards over physical gifts of the same value.

So tell me, who on your list will you surprise with a unique photobook and gift card from TheGiftCardShop.com first? Once you've gifted your photobook, don't miss your chance to win big - share your photobook using the hashtag #TGCS & tag TheGiftCardShop on Facebook to be entered to win a $200 gift card!

DIY No-Sew Clutch Purse Tutorial + Be Healthy For Every Part of Life with These Date Night Essentials

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeHealthyForEveryPartofLife #CollectiveBias

Can you guys even believe it's November? Life just flies by and after the shocking realization that we're smack dab in the middle of autumn, I also realized that hubby and I haven't had a date night in... I don't even really know how long. That's not cool in my book and we immediately decided that fact was going to change, pronto!

We've been planning on doing this or that, but with such busy schedules it's hard to coordinate an "official date night out". I'm sure you can relate, life gets in the way of having fun sometimes for most adults... but not for us this week.

This week, we made time for a date night. We giggled, we had a good time, and I had the chance to rock some cute new accessories - one of my favorite parts of going out on a date with the hubby is dressing up! Ah, married life!

While I love my hubs, I also love fashion, so it comes as no surprise that I love handbags. After updating my main purse to a sturdy and adorable black and white number, I needed a place to keep all my date-night must haves; that's where this DIY No-Sew Clutch comes into the picture.

As you probably already know, I'm the crafty type... but I haven't mastered sewing yet. It's on my to-do list, but for now this quick project is easy enough for a little kid to make and that's what makes it fun and perfect for a quick project before a date!

So what will you need to make a cute clutch like mine?

You will need:
Scissors
1/2 yard of a sturdy fabric
2 pieces of felt
Washable Fabric Glue

Step one of making this adorable little clutch is deciding on what piece of the pattern you want to use; or in my mind this was the logical first step... I'm going to be transparent here and admit I totally designed this purse based on the beautiful pattern. The size and shape are based purely on getting the full mandala on the backside of the purse... and I didn't take exact measurements until after it was made. With that said, I think that just means this project is that easy - you literally don't even need measurements. Regardless, my purse measures 8 inches x 12 inches.

After cutting your fabric, you'll want to make the "felt lining". To add my lining I simply cut about an inch off of each piece to make my purse interior and it's lining the size I desired. Placing the felt and folding the purse as if you were assembling it to make sure it's cut to the correct size.

After cutting it down and "testing" it to make sure it was the correct size, I used the fabric glue liberally and stuck the fabric to the felt.

The next step in this project is finalizing the outer seams of the purse. You'll want to apply a liberal line of glue down each outer edge and the middle/ bottom of the purse, as if you were using the glue as a sewing machine of sorts, sealing each edge. I allowed my project to dry with clothespins on the top "seam" for about an hour, to make sure no rough edges would show when the purse is closed.

The final step is adding in all of your purse essentials, now your little top-fold clutch is ready for date night!

So what are your date night essentials? I guess since I've shared my tutorial to make my cute little clutch, I should share what my date night essentials include... these must-have items are the things every gal should have stashed away in her purse in case of emergency, especially when going out on the town with her man!

First we'll start with the item in my clutch I love the most, my Chapstick Total Hydration. This 100% Natural, age defying, advanced nourishing formula with Argan oil, avocado butter, and rosehip oil is the best way to smooth and moisturize my lips! With a noticeable difference within minutes in the way my lips look, I would say that Chapstick Total Hydration is a new favorite for myself (and my hubby)... and just in case you were wondering, it is actually a clinically proven way to get healthier looking lips - not just my own little beauty secret!

Speaking of healthy, let's talk about the way we keep our immune systems nice and strong with Emergen-C. Offering more healthier days and more healthier nights, Emergen-C allows everyone to "let [their] healthy out". With a zingy orange flavor (as well as several other flavor options), I'm able to guzzle down over 20 varieties of vitamins in one drink, the perfect way to karate chop illness before it even gets to me and since I want hubby to remain healthy, I'm sure to always have an extra pack for him to sip on as well! No sneezing patrons at nearby tables, nor any adorable sniffling baby with a cold will threaten us with their germs, we'll just use an Emergen-C!

Next let's talk about Nexium 24HR, the #1 prescribed acid blocker brand (based on IMS health data: total Nexium® prescriptions 2006 - 2014). It's the answer to heartburn for us ol' married folk and it's been just what we needed more times than I can count. These tiny little pills offer all day, all night heartburn protection. But please note, they do sometimes take 1-4 days to offer the full effect and as always, use as directed.

Lastly, let's talk about the pain reliever that's been helping all of us deal with aches and pains for the past 25 years - Advil. I make sure I always have a little Advil Tablet Vial in my clutch at all times, because you never know when a headache or sore muscles will sneak up on you. I don't want hubby or myself to suffer from pain so I'm always stocked up on the strongest OTC pain reliever, because I know Advil is the only way to make sure the aches and pains go away quickly.

So as you can expect, our date was awesome. With all of the date night essentials on-hand we were able to ward off chapped lips, a head ache, and hand cramps from paddling too much...

Now don't get any ideas, we went out on the kayak for a few hours and just enjoyed spending time together out on the water with the sunshine on our faces. We also spent a little bit of time shopping and then chowed down on a delicious lunch at one of our favorite spots near by the mall. Simple, but the perfect little date with the perfect guy for me.

Whether you are planning a date, heading off to the first day on a new job, or just spending the evening in and watching a movie... It's good to be healthy for every part of life, so be sure to stock up on all the essentials for your family at Walmart!

So tell me, what do you bring with you on date night with your man? Is there any lipstick shade that you need to have in your bag? Also, if you decide to make one of these adorable little clutches, I'd love to see how it turns out, be to share it with me!

OMG. I Can Meditate! {and You Can Too!}

Today's discussion is sponsored by OMG. I Can Meditate! Inc.

Okay guys, this self-proclaimed Chatty-Cathy has a secret to share: I'm learning to embrace silence and I'm enjoying every single second of it. I always thought that I was the type that just couldn't enjoy silence, I even have been caught saying that I could never quiet my mind enough to meditate. But I was wrong, even with my racing thoughts and busy schedule, with this new meditation app I realized "OMG. I can Meditate!", conveniently enough OMG. I Can Meditate! is also the name of the app!

Meditation guided by OMG. I Can Meditate! is truly a life transforming practice. Whether I'm trying to settle my nerves about an upcoming event or just wanting to unwind after a stressful day, I love being able to relax my body and my mind so simply. Learning mindfulness and meditation techniques has never been easier and with Lynne Goldberg as my daily meditation coach, it's almost like I'm attending the most epic version of a self-help class available on the market.

No worries, though - This isn't exactly a class, there won't be homework. It's just 10 minutes (or more, it's your choice which guided meditation you practice) of meditation a day and that short amount of time will change your life. Instead of grabbing a latte at the coffee place down the street, take that extra 10 minutes out of your day today to meditate with Lynne from OMG. I can Meditate, you won't regret it.

The thing I love about Lynne and OMG I can Meditate is that she isn't one of those wishy-washy weirdos, but a real person that makes you feel comfortable while learning how to let go. Her voice is soothing with just the right amount of pep to draw you in and keep you focused throughout your meditation.

Anyone can learn to meditate and with so many different guided meditations, there's certainly a program made for you! Parenting can be easier, opening your heart to new situations can be calming, and so many other possibilities.

I also love that with meditation I have learned to have more patience while also learning to be kinder and more aware of those around me. I'm learning to let go of things I can't control and I've noticed a huge difference in the amount of anxiety I experience.I guess you could say this app has helped me learn to overcome obstacles, in more than one way.

 If you're a regular reader of the blog, you may have read recently that we're trying to conceive. I'm doing everything I can to prepare my mind and body for a baby and I love using this app to de-stress. Allowing myself to really get "in touch" with my body has been an amazing journey and I'm so excited to see how daily meditation affects me during this process, whether it helps with my hormone levels or not, and I absolutely can't wait to experience meditation once we finally conceive! Finding inner peace and learning to love my body, no matter what, has been an amazing benefit of this app while going through this time in our lives.

It's pretty amazing how 10 minutes of time has changed how I function through out the day; this app has changed how I interact with others to how my body is coping with stress. I even use OMG. I Can Meditate to help me fall asleep and to help wake me up, every single day. Now I know what you're thinking? How much is this going to cost me? The coolest part about all of this positive change in my life is that it was free and that you can experience the change in your life for free as well. Plus, If you're feeling fancy, you can always upgrade to a premium membership plan to unlock additional meditations and some amazing tools, all of this starting monthly at $12.95 and yearly at $89.95.

So are you wanting to learn how to meditate to help calm your nerves? Seeking inner peace in this crazy world we live in? I highly recommend that you download the app and start your daily meditation program today, since it's free... you have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain! So go ahead, download the app, and make the time for a few minutes of pure, unadulterated meditation time today (and every day).

5 Items Every Couple Should Add to Their Best Buy Wedding Registry

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Weddings are always so much fun. Celebrating the joy of a couple combining their lives, there's really nothing else like seeing a couple so madly in love share something so special in front of all of their friends and family. Laughter, tears of joy, good times, even better music, even more amazing friends, and hopefully some mind-blowingly fantastic wedding cake - we all love weddings for one reason or another!

Whether your the type of bride that wants to plan every last little detail and go a little Bridezilla on her wedding party or the type of bride that hires a wedding planner and just sits back and enjoys the day, you're going to want to take control when it comes to the wedding registry. I'm not saying that your future husband shouldn't be able to help add things to the list, but I think you should probably get final say... After all - happy wife, happy life, right?
We had a wedding registry all set up and we received some amazing gifts for our wedding day way back in 2008, but I really wish I would've known that Best Buy offered a wedding registry service! We could've added things to our list that we really needed and/or wanted and I bet most of those items would still be with us today. We received a lot of things that we thought we needed, towels, plate sets, the norm... We were thankful for those items but most of them have been donated or just simply used until they couldn't be used anymore. Had we had the chance to register for appliances and electronics, amongst the other items Best Buy carries, we'd most likely still have everything we received. Think of registering at Best Buy as investment of sorts...

Another reason to register at Best Buy is their "group gift" option. Your guests can choose an amount they wish to contribute and you'll receive an e-gift card instead of a random gift you didn't really want... Hello to another reason to smile big on your wedding day! Whether you want to register for new appliances and ask all your guests to group gift the items to you or you want to add every DVD you've ever wanted, you can put whatever your heart desires on your wedding registry and your friends can be sure the gift they're giving you is perfect for you!

Today I'm going to share 5 items that every couple should have on their wedding registry... After being married for nearly 7 years (in December), I think I have a pretty good idea of what you will and won't need.

We All Have That One Friend... #TryImpressa

We all have that one friend. No, I'm not talking about the one that makes snide remarks or the one that always tries to "one-up" you, nor am I talking about the gal that tries to be a little too hard to be your friend... All of those friends I'll write about at a later date, today... Well, today, I'm talking about that friend that occasionally has an accident when she's laughing a little too hard.

I remember the first time I met someone who couldn't "hold it". We were all giggling with our group of girlies, I thought people were joking with her when they said things like "don't laugh to hard"... I had no idea people actually had a problem with this. But they totally do and I can testify that "the struggle is real" for some.

Let's flash back to when I learned the truth:

We were sitting there, sophomores in high school, in the middle of the common area waiting for the buses to come so we could all go home. We all were joking around, someone said something funny, one friend laughed, then another, then another friend laughed so hard that the soda she had just sipped came out her nose. That's when she started laughing, then she couldn't stop. She laughed so hard and she had one of those laughs that make you laugh with her, so we all just couldn't stop laughing. I think it's one of the first times I finally felt like I belonged to a group at my new school, then it happened. Right there, in front of thousands (literally, I went to a big school) of people, she peed her pants. I felt a mixture of jubilee from all the laughter and an immediate sense of "OMFG, what do I do? How can I help?"

I'm not telling this story to embarrass her, that's the last thing I'd want to do. I'm telling this story because it happens to thirty-five million women in the world. So many experience SUI, which can be triggered by everyday occurrences like coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or even exercise. I'm not judging anyone, just educating.

I really am writing this in hopes that the girl that I'm talking about happens to read my blog. I want her to know that she no longer has to worry about laughing too hard, she can Try Impressa.

Whether you have the same issue as her or you know someone that does, Impressa is a safe and effective way of dealing with it today and you can save $2 with this coupon!

Now that I've possibly humiliated a high school bestie, if she happens to read this. I'd love to know, have you ever laughed that hard? If not, tell me about a time you laughed so hard you cried or about a time you were so scared you thought you may wet yourself. This is a judgement free zone so feel free to share your stories!

Confidence Boosting Tips for Women: Feel like a Warrior Today! #IndependentU

Life is full of overcoming obstacles, for all of us... Whether I'm battling mosquitoes while working on a DIY project in my backyard or fighting for what I believe in by obtaining my college degree in public policy; I'm always choosing to fight the fight and persevering through the struggles. Some days my struggles are serious and other days I struggle to choose my wardrobe, it's all balance and learning how to deal with life, one day at a time while still looking at the big picture.

We all are fighting our own battles within ourselves and against the world, there should be no reason to fight being a woman during that time of the month while also dealing with the day-to-day "battles". That's why I grab U by Kotex products when I'm at Walmart. I rely on their products to help me feel more comfortable and protected when I'm out choosing which battles are worth fighting. Plus, I'm in love with the adorable additions in their bonus packs (stocked full of extra product as well), who doesn't love a "little happy" included with a brand they already love? Talk about an instant confidence booster!

Big Thanks to The Acorn Influence Team & U by Kotex for sponsoring today's discussion.

I have a few other confidence boosting tips that I think could really help the other woman-warriors out there, but beware: you'll be ready to take anything on with these tips!

The first thing I suggest: Prep for the battle, the conversation, the meeting, the photoshoot, or whatever event it is you aren't exactly the most comfortable with by jamming out to your favorite song. You know the song, the one that you can't help but sing along to, the one that makes you dance in your seat while you are driving. Put that song on repeat while driving to the destination, maybe even have it playing in a pair of headphones as you walk into your meeting; you'll love the feeling your favorite song can give you, especially when your nerves are shot... it's like an instant boost of confidence to dance and sing along with your jam.

If you have more time than a few minutes before the occasion, I suggest you meditate! You should start the week before, but even if it's just the day before or the day of it wouldn't hurt to meditate a bit. I know some of you may think meditation is kooky, but it's grounding and helps to center your mind and your body; allowing you to be you without your nerves and anxiety getting involved. Meditate on a phrase that brings you confidence like "I am capable and confident" or just allow your thoughts to be completely blank and focus on the calm; regardless of how you meditate, the quiet time alone will surely help you feel better about the upcoming situation.

Another great way to be sure you are ready for the big day, is to buy something new! Buying a new blouse, dress, or a fancy pair of flats could help boost your confidence a bit, we all love knowing we look good and when you have something adorable and fancy that you just bought, you know you feel awesome! I love shopping a clearance rack for a new dress before I head out of town, there's just something about a new piece of clothing and receiving a compliment the first time you wear something... It's not that you should gain self-worth from products, but sometimes it feels nice to add something beautiful to our wardrobe!

Lastly, be true to you and embrace who you are. I know this one should be the only confidence boosting tip, but the other few I shared are good reminders and helpful ways to remember that you are awesome! Know that you are so unbelievably, awesomely, amazingly you and as long as you love who you are, then confidence will just naturally exude from you. Learning to love yourself is the true way to feel confident everyday, but learning to love yourself is a process so take these tips I've shared and get started!

Also, I'd love to hear if you have any self confidence boosting tips in the comments below!

Overcoming Fear and Self Doubt - 3 Tidbits of Wisdom

This year, I've dyed my hair purple, lost a whole bunch of weight, and decided that I want to finally spend more time painting again... Some may say I've gone off the deep end and to them I say, "come on in, the water's fine!"

Today's post isn't all about me, though. Today I want to talk about overcoming fears and self-doubt, so I suppose you could say today's post is about you... Now I'm not an expert in psychology, but I'm fairly certain that most people have deprived themselves of an amazing experience simply because they were afraid. Sometimes fear is justified, but those cases aren't the one's I'm referencing... I'm talking about the time that you missed out on something great because you didn't have a friend to go along with you or that time that you sat out on your turn to do something fun because you weren't sure what people would think of you.

I've missed out on chances to do some great things because I let fear stand in my way. While I know I'm right where I'm meant to be, I do wonder what life would be like had I done this or that instead of letting fear hold me back. I missed out on so much because I talked myself out of it, I don't want this to happen to anyone else... I want to share a few words of wisdom for those that are trying to overcome that gnawing feeling of fear and doubt that can sink into the pit of your belly when you start letting anxiety overcome you.

My first bit of wisdom regarding overcoming anxiety is "no one cares". Okay, so you fell down the stairs at a baseball game last week and it was televised. While you may be the talk of the town this week, no one will even care next week.

I'm not saying no one cares about you, I'm simply saying that if you make a mistake or do something embarrassing, don't hold it against yourself... Laugh when you fall, shake it off, and keep strutting your stuff. If you had spaghetti sauce on your shirt and in your hair during a presentation at work and didn't realize it until afterwards, it may feel like the end of the world but I assure you something else more exciting and gossip-worthy will be happening next week.

It may sound silly, but the next time you make a mistake or do something so embarrassing you wish you were invisible, remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and no one cares about yours. It'll help, I promise.

Another way to overcome that feeling of self-doubt is to remind yourself that you are the only you on this planet. Although some may not approve of your mega-awesomeness or your passion for whatever it is you are passionate about, do what makes you happy.

I've had several people tell me that "blogging isn't a job", I've even been told I needed to find a real job before. If I had let those people get to me, I wouldn't be sitting here sharing these secrets with you... I'd be feeling self-doubt in the middle of an office cubicle or serving up drinks to someone trying to manage their self doubt with alcohol. I'm not saying that an office job isn't awesome, but it wasn't for me... I'm glad I listened to myself and stuck with what I loved, so that may be my best piece of advice - stick with what you love and screw the rest. Anyone's opinion but your own doesn't matter, if you are truly happy - don't ever let anyone dull your sparkle. I know that whole paragraph was littered with cliche phrases, but sometimes cliche phrases make the best mantras to remind ourselves of who we are and why we are here...

Lastly, remember to keep things in perspective. This little tidbit kind of summarizes the other two but it's important. Keeping things in perspective is something that we all need to do through out our lives, in every aspect of our lives.

Take the time to realize that if someone is giving you advice, most likely they aren't trying to "bring you down" but also remember that your opinion is the only one that matters. On the other hand, if you feel like the world noticed that embarrassing thing that happened to you last week, remember that the whole world wasn't in the room with you and the people that were there probably already forgot or don't care. It's all about perspective and learning to live life care free; easier said than done, but practice makes perfect...

Well, this may not be a fool-proof list of ways to prevent self-doubt and fear, but it should be a good start to help you combat those negative feelings. Want to share how you overcome your fears and self doubt? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Find The Perfect Gift with Best Buy Gift Ideas + Wish Lists!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

There's just something so special about celebrating birthdays with my loved ones! Ranging from making a cross country trip to attend my adorable niece's 2nd birthday party to planning a kayaking adventure for my husband's upcoming birthday, I'm all about doing things in a big way to help celebrate the people I love so dearly and their date of birth! I don't just like to just go on epic adventures for birthdays though, I'm also all about giving epic gifts; but as you may know, sometimes that gets hard, especially with a quirky family & group of friends!

So when I heard about Best Buy's Online Gift Experience making online shopping for everyone a little bit easier, I knew I had to check it out. They've made gift giving a breeze, with lists of great birthday items categorized and easy to shop for ‘Him’, ‘Her’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Teens’. Plus, if you are shopping by price point, they even offer lists of gifts in a range of prices from under $25 all the way up to $250+! With gifts like heart rate monitors and coffee machines to fondue sets and the best romantic comedies to date, you are bound to find something for everyone!

Maybe your shopping for the super sophisticated techie in your life that has everything already...? Best Buy even has a category for that person! You can shop their top tech gifts and find the perfect present or send a gift card via mail or e-mail and let the techie in your life find the best birthday gift ever for themselves; the choice is yours and I'm sure the gift will be much appreciated either way!

That's the thing about Best Buy, everyone can find something they just have to get their hands on!  Now that I've shared why Best Buy is the best place to shop for any birthday celebration, I'd love to know what you will be adding to your Best Buy wish list?

Go ahead and make a list of all the epic techie stuff you need and let me know what you want the most in the comments below! I may be making my wish list currently; after all, my birthday is only 5 months and 3 weeks away! *snicker*

The Secret to Keeping Your Spouse Smiling While Shopping + a SNICKERS® Pudding Parfait

A video posted by Lauren Paints (@sunkissed_sweetheart) on Apr 14, 2015 at 11:38am PDT

My husband makes a pretty awesome shopping partner. He especially excels at helping me find deals, so I obviously love to have him tag along when I go shopping for pretty much anything.

While he's the master of deals, he tends to turn into a monster about halfway through our shopping trip, no matter how long we've been shopping or where we are... He doesn't get angry because I'm spending too much money or time in one store (most of the time anyways), he gets frustrated because he gets hungry. Not just your average version of hungry, either. My normal, deal-loving hubby gets hungry and he kind of starts to throw a little "hangry" fit unless he gets food fast.

He honestly can eat like no one else I know. He's a constant snack-er, been referred to as a human garbage disposal, and will literally finish his own meal and move onto mine almost every time we go out to dinner. He could eat all day, every day, so having SNICKERS® with us on a shopping trip is the only way I can keep him focused while we are out hunting for deals!

He's been this way forever; one of my favorite stories my mother-in-law has shared with me from his childhood actually involves his excessive hunger and really captures who he is as a whole when he gets hungry. My husband, as a toddler, in the wee hours of the morning snuck out of his bed and into my mother-in-law's room and woke her up by peeling her eyes open with his little fingers and exclaiming "Are you ever going to feed me again?!"

So even if I feed my man before we head out to go shopping, there's no doubt in my mind that he'll be whining about being hungry and possibly get "hangry" if I don't feed him quick enough...That's why we always make a pit stop at the Circle K right by our house and grab a couple of SNICKERS®!

I can shop without a worry in the world once I've handed him his favorite candy bar. SNICKERS® makes everything better! Luckily, Circle K has every single one of his favorites: SNICKERS® Almond, SNICKERS® Peanut Butter, and SNICKERS® Extreme.

Need another reason to grab a SNICKERS® while out on the go?

While I'm not hungry as often as my hubby, I love that the packages we buy for hubby typically have two candy bars! Although he can (and sometimes does) eat both candy bars, I love using the second one to make myself a special treat!

I make a delicious SNICKERS® Parfait within seconds using chopped apples, tapioca pudding, some whipped cream, and of course, a SNICKERS®. I use a SNICKERS® extreme and chop it up into itty, bitty pieces so I get a little bit of that rich, caramel-y goodness in each bite! It's a wonderful way to reward myself when I'm hungry after a long day of shopping and hits the spot, every single time!

Don't miss your chance to enter to win the SNICKERS® "Who are you when you're hungry?" contest! Just upload a personal photo or video from your computer, facebook, instagram, or use the SNICKERS® meme generator to create something new! Voting begins at noon on 5/11/15 and ends at midnight on 7/15/15!

See more great SNICKERS® recipes and fun stories on the SNICKERS® social hub.

Now that I've shared how hubby and I enjoy a SNICKERS®, I'd love to know who you are when you're hungry?