Everybody wants comfortable shoes that are also stylish. However, finding a pair of sneakers that is actually stylish AND comfortable is not an easy task. That’s where New Balance comes in.

New Balance offers sharp, classic shoe designs for men, women and children.  Walking, running, hiking, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and much much more. You name it, New Balance makes a shoe for that. Plus, you can even customize and design your own pair of sneakers on their website. Create a unique color combination and put your own flair on a true American classic.

It’s not just shoes, though. New Balance makes high-quality apparel for men, women and children as well. Shirts, shorts, jackets, pants, they’ve got it all!

Here’s the best part: right now you can save 10% off your total plus get free shipping on any order. But, you better hurry because the offer is only good through the end of February.

So, head on over to newbalance.com, use the code WANTACODE to save 10% plus get free shipping, and spruce up your wardrobe for spring and summer!

Finding that perfect costume can be hard, though, and knowing where to search can be harder. I’ve always gone a little overboard when looking for costumes myself; I’ve visited local shops, hunted for the elusive best online costume coupon on some of the best costume websites like HalloweenExpress.com and CostumeCraze.com, and spent more time listing out the pros and cons of various Dracula costumes than I’d care to admit. I even swore off retailers one year and tried the homemade route, which unfortunately made me look more pale and sparkly than the brooding menace I was aiming for.

That doesn’t mean that costume shopping has to be hard, and in fact it can be almost as much fun as Halloween itself. Browsing costumes online has helped me save money and find costumes I never would have found at local shops, and there’s no denying how much fun it is to have a great idea and keep it a secret from everybody until Halloween night.

After I’ve found the perfect costume online the only thing left to do is wait a couple of days for it to arrive, then wear it with style on Halloween night and check out what everyone else is wearing. The hottest costumes may change every year, but I always count on seeing the latest Avengers costumes like Captain America and Iron Man, classic Frankenstein monsters and mummies, at least a few Darth Vaders and Jedi Masters engaged in epic duels, and roving bands of cackling warlocks and witches. One of my personal favorite Halloween memories was spotting a horde of three foot tall Batmen swarming from house to house for candy while being followed by their parents, or rather the rest of the Justice League.

There’s no wrong way to find your perfect costume, so pick the one that’s right for you and stick with it. As for me, I’ll be ready to surprise friends and family with the costume I’ve picked out online this year from CostumeZone.com. I’m keeping what it is a secret until Halloween, but I’ll give you a hint; this year I won’t be sparkly.

I spent a month in Egypt and picked up a free night for every three nights I booked from Hotels.com. The stipulation is that the free night must price match with the paid nights or be of lesser value. The main reason that this booking company offers the best hotel deals is that you do not need to stay in the same hotel with consecutive nights to cash in on huge savings.

In addition to free nights, the travel savings keep mounting with deep discounts and cash back when you use the Hotels.com promo code program. Simply cut and paste your Hotels.com promo code or your Hotels.com coupon to your booking page and Hotels.com will instantly slash their already low prices.

I booked a total of two weeks in Cairo, three nights in Aswan, seven nights in Luxor and six nights at the Red Sea in Hurghada. The Hotels.com free nights incentive program kept the cost so low that I was able to splurge on four and five-star hotels throughout the entire trip.

All of my Hotels.com accommodations came with a free hot breakfast buffet, which sealed the deal with even greater travel savings. Food costs at Egyptian restaurants come to approximately $10 per meal, or $30 per day. However, when a free hot buffet breakfast comes with the room, that’s a savings of about $300 for the month’s food budget. Shop around and you will discover that Hotels.com has the rock bottom rates you are looking for, then watch the rates roll back some more when you use the Hotels.com coupon page.

I have scoured the web for the best hotel deals, and although some sites appear to be lower, they are actually higher priced over the duration of the entire trip. In addition, if you prefer staying in the Cairo hostels, Hotels.com also offers great rates on those budget-friendly rooms and they all come with a free cold breakfast. The Cairo hostels are a fraction of the cost of the traditional hotels, they provide free wi-fi in the rooms, most let you use the washing machines for free, and they are centrally located downtown for easy access to the museum and the Cairo metro stations.

I’ve traveled to Egypt nine times and will be going back for more the rest of my life. Egypt’s absolutely fabulous and Hotels.com gets me there every time at the right price that I want to pay.

Choose the Color.

Look for a color that is like your own natural color, but to take it up a notch. So if your lips are pale, your lipstick color could be beige, sandy or pale pink. A medium lip tone needs browns and roses, while dark lips can wear raisin. If you are very dark and have purple or dark brown lips, go for chocolate and blackberry colors. For evening, take your daytime color to a richer intensity. If you chose a berry lip-gloss during the day for example, a satiny burgundy would look more dramatic at night.

Beware your skin tone!

Another factor that can make your lipstick look right or all wrong is your skin tone.

Everyone’s skin tone (rather than their skin color) tends to have a warmth or coolness to it. Warm skin will have yellow undertones and maybe some orangey red. Cool skin has red undertones, tending to the pink.

Typically someone very fair or with high coloring is a cool skin tone, though you can have a medium skin and be cool. Equally, very black skin with a blueish undertone is cool. Likewise fair skin can be warm as well as the more obviously warm olive, Asian and lighter black skins.

Determine your tone type.

If you’re not sure whether you are predominantly warm or cool, try these tips:

1. Which suits you better, gold or silver jewelry? Whichever lights up your complexion best, reveals whether you have warm or cool skin tones. Gold looks great on warm skin, while silver enhances cool skin.

2. The inside of your arm can be revealing. If the skin is pale and your veins look bright blue, you’re a cool skin tone. In warmer skin veins are less obvious.

Once you’ve discovered your skin tone, apply that to lipstick. Broadly speaking, warmer shades of lipstick or those with yellow and orange undertones will suit a warm skin tone – think cappuccino, caramel, certain browns with hints of gold and bronze. For cool skin, good choices will be in the blueish pink spectrum, light pinky reds and blue-toned reds and classic beiges with pink undertones.

Enjoy shopping for the best lipstick at Avon.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

You can never go wrong when you spring for a nice piece of jewelry that can be cherished and worn as a reminder of your love.  There is lots of unique jewelry for him and for her to choose from at Kohl’s like the Hershey’s Kiss Sterling Silver Pink Crystal Pendant – Made with Swarovski Elements pictured. It wears delicate and carries a sophisticated feel with its sparkling pink crystals and blue “Kisses” lettering. Best of all it is part of Kohl’s buy one get one 1/2 off jewelry special.

Another one of Kohl’s great Valentine’s Day gift ideas is this incredible men’s Titanium Diamond Accent Band Ring. Also available at a reduced price when taking advantage of the buy one get one 1/2 off sale. Your special guy will definitely feel special on Valentine’s Day when he dons his stunning new band.

Remember giving out Valentines in elementary school? Kids love to give and be loved. At Kohl’s You can find all sorts of fun sparkly charms and accessories to give your little one like the Disney Princess Stick-On Earrings & Rings Set by Hanover Accessories pictured below.

Sometimes the best Valentine’s Day gifts ideas are lost in translation and for that we say you can never go wrong with a Kohl’s gift card. Purchase an XO Kohl’s gift card for that special someone in increments of $10, $20, $25, $50 or $100 and we guarantee you will put a huge smile on his or her face.

Remember to shop Kohl’s, one of the most popular department stores in the U.S. and use our Kohl’s coupons when you shop for Valentine’s Day. Kohl’s offers apparel for men, women, teens, kids and babies, sport fans and has a large selection of shoes, jewelry and watches, luggage, bedding and items for your home. We have the latest Kohls promo codes and deals to help you get top brands Rock & Republic, Jennifer Lopez Collection, Dana Buchman, ELLE, Simply Vera Vera Wang, Sonoma life, Dockers and more for less.

Don’t forget to take advantage of Kohl’s Free Standard Shipping offer for purchases of $75 or more.

Use 10 Household Items for Exercise Equipment

The kitchen houses several useful household items that can easily be converted into exercise equipment.

1. Put an empty gallon of milk to good use by filling it with water until it reaches your desired weight. You can also fill two half gallons to create a couple of free weights with ready-made handles.

2. A 3-5 pound bag of beans or rice are the perfect size for any type of biceps or triceps curls. You can place them on your ankles while seated and do some leg raises.

3. Water bottles are also a perfect size for bicep curls. Another excellent advantage of using water bottles is that you can rehydrate yourself after a great workout.

4. When careful, soup cans are another good source for basic strength training. Increase your repetitions if the weight of the cans are too light and be very careful not to drop these on your feet.

5. Take a chair and use it to balance when doing some complicated yoga moves. You can also use for step-up exercises for an added challenge and a chair is always the type of useful exercise equipment that can help you get a good stretch.

Take a stroll around your home and you will find some other household items that can serve you well in the home fitness department.

6. A pair of hole-less socks can be filled with beans, sewn closed and then used as ankle weights. It’s a great way to use socks that have lost their match.

7. Stack up some books on the floor and do a variation of the traditional push-up. Heavier books can also serve as weights.

8. If you have access to stairs you have a huge at-home gym advantage. They can be used for cardio as you run up and down them. You can also use them for squats and lunges.  You can also do incline or decline pushups.  Stairs are a household item that give the feel of all-in-one exercise equipment .

9. Back yourself into a wall and sit parallel with your tush off of the floor for a very difficult squat variation. You will definitely feel the burn the longer you hold the pose.

10. Your kids can be a great source of calorie-burn. You can place your smaller kids on your stomach while you do crunches.  Playing tag in the yard with your children is also a fun way to get your exercise in with the added bonus of spending quality time with your family.

Organization Reduces Stress

Think about the last time you were in a hurry and couldn’t find something you needed, such as the keys to your car or an important document. At first the frustration builds but you remain calm. Under the surface, however, your blood pressure begins to rise and the heat builds in your face. Your muscles become tense and the longer you scramble to find what it is you’re missing, the more stressful and angrier you become.

The stress, anger, and frustration are all conditions that our bodies attempt to fight as though they are an infection. The natural antibodies in our systems that are intended to fight infection actually course through our veins seeking invaders when we’re stressed and ‘on edge.’

By being organized, you minimize the chances of losing important items and having to scramble at the last minute to find them, so from this alone it should be quite obvious how being organized is good for your health. But it isn’t the only reason.

Organization Frees Up Time

When we feel that our schedule is controlling us, we endure a level of stress that, over time, can build up and cause other health related issues. Ulcers and headaches are two of the most common health problems that stem from stress. Skin complexion problems can also be a cause.

When you’re organized, when your home and/or workplace is clean and neat and everything has its place, then you are better able to manage and optimize your time. It becomes easier to prioritize daily tasks that need to be done. You also find that you’re more in control of your schedule. Organization can help.

Organization Creates Fresh Air

Organization isn’t merely about finding a place for everything; it’s also about keeping things clean. While we can spend hours dusting and wiping down furniture, all that dust that is kicked up settles on the floor. When we walk around, we end up stirring those particles back up. When you decide to get organized to improve your health, don’t forget to vacuum at the end. Your life will be much healthier in the long run.

Fail-Proof New Years Resolutions

Lose Weight-Probably at the top of everyone’s list, resolving to lose weight in 2013 isn’t a bad idea. Unfortunately, the preceding gluttony of the 3 months leading up to the New Year’s Eve doesn’t help this resolution in the least. Don’t wait until the clock strikes midnight to try to lose weight. Reaching a weight-loss goal is a complex and challenging event that should not be constrained to the beginning of the year. Start tonight. Don’t have that extra cocktail and pass up that third round of appetizers. Whatever you decide to do, take it one bite at a time and make it a life-long goal. Here’s a great article on How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain that you can refer to any time.

Getting Organized-Getting organized can be quite simple. Staying organized is a whole other battle. Trying to tackle it all at once is a surefire way to fail at this resolution. Much like losing weight, If you approach getting organized as an everyday life goal, you will be ahead of the game.  Here are a few articles we published in 2012 that can help: DIY Organization Tips, Conquering Shoe Clutter, Getting Organized, Spring Cleaning & Organizing Your Kids Room

Spend Less, Save More-If you’ve been around us long enough, you’ll know that saving money is are mantra. As long as you try to avoid paying full price by using coupons, promotional codes and taking advantage of discounts, you are in the clear with this new years resolution. Stay on track by checking back with Wantacode for the latest savings on over 1800 online stores.

Spend More Time with Family-Kids are as busy as adults these days and many families are forced to neglect quality time with each other in order to get everyday tasks done. Instead of waiting for a gap in your schedules, try to take achieve this resolutions in smaller time increments. Spending 10 minutes chatting over breakfast with your loved one every single day is much better than waiting until you have a few hours to spare once a month. You also don’t need to spend money to enjoy quality time with your family. We wrote a great article this year that can help: Family Bonding on a Budget

Enjoy Life to the Fullest-It should go without saying that any change you decide to make for the new year should make you happy. If you commit to a new years resolution that does the contrary, you have failed.

Good luck with your new years resolutions and have a Happy New Year.

Reduce Bags Under Eyes the Natural Way

Apply Tea Bags Apply two cold black teabags to the eyes. Black tea contains caffeine, which helps reduce puffy eyes. Wet two teabags with cold water, then apply the bags to the eye area for 10 minutes. Wrap each teabag in a tissue to prevent staining the skin.

Pillow Prop Sleep with an extra pillow. Propping up the head with pillows will encourage drainage in the under-eye area.

Cold Cures Place a cold compress over the eye area. Wrap a handful of ice cubes in a towel, and then apply the towel to the eye area. Leave the compress on for at least 10 minutes to help temporarily reduce swelling underneath the eyes.

Stay Allergy Free Stay away from allergens. Get an allergy test, then avoid these allergens whenever possible. Allergens trigger a histamine release, which may cause swelling underneath the eyes.

Frozen Spoons Place two spoons over the eyes to help reduce puffiness. Freeze two spoons in the freezer overnight, then place the concave sides over the eyes. Leave the spoons on the eyes for several minutes, until puffiness has diminished.

Easy on the Salt Eat less salt. Sodium can create fluid retention under the eyes. Consume less fast food, canned vegetables, canned soups and salty snacks to help reduce your sodium levels.

Get Extra Help Although there are many natural ways to reduce bags under eyes, it can be challenging to keep up with the demands of aging skin. Elizabeth Arden carries many Opthalmologist-tested beauty enhancing products including those that help reduce the appearance of under eye bags like the Ceramide Premiere Regeneration Eye Cream and Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Eye Serum. The special cream and hydrating serum can also be used to battle fine lines and crows feet.

References: Mayo Clinic

Take care of your skin and health by eliminating or reducing stress and getting enough rest. Utilize the skin care products found at Elizabeth Arden to help your eyes and skin defy the causes of aging.  Remember to visit Wantacode.com before shopping online to find all of the latest Elizabeth Arden promo codes and Elizabeth Arden coupons.

Wacky Pumpkin Carving Ideas

This pumpkin creation certainly packs a punch. Artist, Ray Villafane of New York seems to have an unlimited supply of pumpkin carving ideas. Click on image to see more.

Here’s an entry to a pumpkin carving contest hosted by This Old House.

The groove is in the heart of this creation. One of our favorite pumpkin carving ideas and another one of Villafane’s creations.

Villafane is at it again with this hungry guy.

Created at Villafane Studios, this pumpkin carving borders on terrifying. Perfect for Halloween.

Yoda creation was a 2010 pumpkin carving finalist at This Old House.

Hope you enjoyed these fun pumpkin carving ideas. Don’t forget to share your Halloween creations and ideas with us in the comment section.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween.