Looking For That Perfect TV Stand?

When we were looking to buy a new LCD TV, I told my husband that we needed to find a TV stand first. Our current stand that we had for our 32 inch TV, just wouldn't do. Not only would it not fit a flat screen, but that stand was old since we had gotten it as a hand me down from my parents. But finding that perfect stand was not easy.

There were so many different types of TV stands: oak TV stands, corner entertainment centers, cabinets with doors, and fireplace stands. We were looking for a pretty large TV stand that had cabinets with doors, as well as plenty of space to store DVDs. In my current stand, I had stored all of our DVDs, as well as my photo albums, scrapbooks, and boxes of photos, so I needed a new stand that could hold all of that.


I wish at the time, that I had heard about Cymax because they have a large selection to choose from. As I browsed their website, two in particular caught my eye. The first one was the Coaster Fullerton Transitional Media Console with Glass Doors. I just love that it has room on the ends to hold DVDs and Blu-rays, and it also has glass doors to store your consoles.



The other stand that caught my eye is the Southern Enterprises Tillman Glazed Pine Media Console with Electric Fireplace. I have always wanted a fireplace in our home and this combines an TV stand with a fireplace. I will certainly keep this in mind for the future.

So what type of TV stand is your favorite?

Frugal Ways to Spend Your Summer by Hapari Swimwear

**This guest post was provided by our good friend Hapari.com—offering the best in swimwear.**

Have your vacation plans been upset because of your empty wallet? Is your dream Hawaiian vacation just a dream this year because of your budget?

If you’re looking at starting the summer with no cash to spare on a lavish summer vacation, have no fear. There are still loads of frugal ways to spend your summer months while still having fun.

Cheap Vacations

Maybe your wallet won’t let you spend thousands of dollars on a first class flight to Hong Kong this year, but there are a lot of other great cheap vacation options out there.

Check travel agencies or online booking sites to find all-inclusive vacation packages or last-minute deals on flights to popular destinations. Do a little bit of research to find which airlines use nearby cities as hub airports to save money and cut down on layovers.

The most important rule of thumb in booking cheap vacations is to be flexible. Even if Houston and Baltimore aren’t at the top of your must-see list, go ahead and snag that crazy, cheap deal. These cities and many others offer a wide array of fun activities for out-of-towners that might just deliver your most memorable vacation ever.

Stay-cations

If even a cheap travel deals are too far out of your budget, consider taking a “stay-cation”—a summer vacation based in and around your home city. Check out the local newspapers and tourist guides to find places and activities that you may not have even known were in your hometown. Look on online message boards or chamber of commerce websites to find festivals, concerts, and events that happen once a year.

A stay-cation may not sound very intriguing at first, but the more creative you are, the more fun you can have with it. Is a trip to the beach out? Consider taking your swimsuit for a dive at the city pool, or use your at-home sprinkler system to create an instant water party. Go to the planetarium, and then wake up at three o’clock in the morning to go star gazing. Check to see if your city or a nearby city has summertime specials on aquarium and zoo passes or go ahead and invest in that bucket good for annual popcorn refills at your local movie theater.

With a little planning and a strong drive to find fun, you can have a host of adventures that are easy on the budget and big on the adventure. Stay flexible and get creative this summer and keep your wallet full at the same time.

The Royal Wedding: William and Catherine DVD Review

When I woke up the morning of April 29th, I turned on the TV in order to catch a few moments of the Royal Wedding. I love weddings and of course, the story of William and Kate has caught the attention of the whole world. However, I only was able to catch a few glimpses while I got myself and my boys ready to go to work and school. Fortunately, I was able to watch the entire wedding on the commemorative DVD that was released May 24. Here is a synopsis:

Join HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey as they celebrated the momentous occasion of their marriage. Relive and treasure their special day with this souvenir DVD, containing two hours of coverage from the BBC.

Watch the video below to see the Royal couple exchange their vows:


My thoughts: Growing up, I loved fairy tales. So as I watched the DVD, I realized that it is a real life fairy tale about a commoner and a Prince who fell in love. This DVD includes the arrival of both Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, as well as the entire ceremony. Kate's dress was so beautiful! And I loved seeing all of the hats! After the ceremony, you can watch the carriage procession, as well as the balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace.

Although, I loved watching the wedding, I really enjoyed the bonus program "William and Kate: A Royal Engagement." In this 50-minute feature, I was able to learn about Kate's background, as well as how they met. In this section, the story of their relationship is told via interviews with colleagues and friends.

Interested in purchasing this commemorative DVD? You can check out the official site at www.bbcamericashop.com.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and my honest opinion of the product.

Kidtoons Giveaway-Thomas: Hero of the Rails

Kidtoons helps parents and kids connect with each other by providing family friendly animated movies to participating theaters. This month's feature is Thomas: Hero of the Rails. Here is a brief synopsis:

See Thomas & Friends™ like never before in this new action-packed movie. Follow Thomas as he discovers Hiro, an abandoned engine from a faraway land. Fearing that Hiro will be scrapped, Thomas enlists the help of many friends, but mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their rescue plans. Watch and find out if they can work together to help their new friend in the most heroic movie of the year!

Check out the list of Kidtoons Theaters here.


Win it: Kidtoons has offered to giveaway the following prize pack to one of my lucky readers.

• 1 Thomas train
• 1 Toby train
• 1 Kidtoons flashlight
• 1 Thomas Hero of the Rails movie poster

Mandatory Entry: Leave me a comment letting me know who you would give this prize pack to.

Extra Entries:
1) Become a follower of my blog through google connect (this counts if you are already a follower too.)
2) "Like" Dealightfully Frugal on facebook and leave your username.
3) "Like" Kidtoons on facebook and leave your username.
4) Follow me on Twitter and leave your username.
5) Follow Kidtoons on Twitter and leave your username.

Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, as well as your email in one of the comments.

This giveaway will end June 17, 2011 at 11:59 pm(EST). The giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post. All opinions are my own and are my honest opinion.

Kidorable Hooded Towel Review

When my boys were babies, I used to have hooded towels to wrap them up in after their bath. They always looked so cute, but as they grow up, hooded towels are harder to find for their age. So I was delighted when Kidorable offered to let me review their hooded towels. Here is a little about Kidorable:

Kidorable delights both children and the adults who love them by transforming everyday, functional kids accessories into objects that excite their imaginations and enrich their lives at play.

From rainwear to backpacks to knitwear and towels, Kidorable speaks to the precious spirit of childhood.

If you have never checked out Kidorable, you really should. They have the most adorable accessories. Both of my boys have Kidorable umbrellas, and now my youngest has the Fireman Hooded Towel. When he opened up the package, he immediately wanted to try it on. This cotton towel is soft and absorbent and perfect for bathtime or a day at the beach. Even better, my son loves to use this towel to dress up in. There is a button under the hood to keep it on him. The hood of this towel looks like a fireman's hat and the rest of the towel looks like a flame with a picture of a fire hydrant and firetruck. For the longest time, my youngest son wanted to be a fireman, so this towel is perfect for him. He wore it around for about an hour the day we received it. Kidorable's hooded towel comes in two sizes: newborn to two years old, and ages three to six.

The hooded towel usually costs $33, but through June 12 you can receive 20% off your entire order when you purchase their hooded towels by using the coupon code DRYOFF33.

Disclosure: I received a towel to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and my honest opinion of the product.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life and My Cat's Life Review

Are you a dog or a cat lover? I am a dog lover personally. We own a Yorkie, who is the perfect size for me. I love it when she cuddles up on my lap each night. While, I think that cats can be cute and cuddly also, I am allergic to them. If you love animals, you will enjoy the latest books from Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat's Life and My Dog's Life. Here is a brief synopsis of each book:

My Cat's Life:
From kittenhood through the twilight years, our feline companions continually bring joy, love, and laughter to the lives of their "staff." This collection of 101 new stories captures the experience of living through the natural life cycle with our cats- from the laugh-out-loud antics of kittens and tear-your-hair-out escapades of teenage cats to the more mature adult years and final stages of life. Stories cover each age and stage with all the fun, frustrations, special bonds and routines involved. The book also holds a special chapter about grieving and recovery when our feline friends leave us.

My Dog's Life:

It's a dog's life. This collection of 101 new stories focuses on all the memorable ages and stages of our lovable canines' lives. Starting in puppyhood and covering a range of middle and senior years to the twilight and end when our dear friends leave us, this book captures the entire experience of living through the natural life cycle with our dogs. All dog lovers will laugh, cry, and recognize themselves and their furry friends in these heartwarming and inspiring stories of puppy antics, teenage rebellion, adapting to an aging dog and, finally, having to say goodbye.

My thoughts: I always love reading Chicken Soup for the Soul books. As I was reading My Dog's Life, it made me think about my own dog. I can still remember the day that we went to pick her up. She was so adorable! Despite the fact that she is so small, she is one feisty dog. She will go right up to a big dog with no fear. And of course she always barks at the mailman. She will always have a special place in my heart. I enjoy reading stories and watching movies about animals, so Chicken Soup for the Soul is no exception. If you love animals, you will enjoy reading these books.

Disclosure: I received a copy of each book to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own and my honest opinion of the product.

39DollarGlasses.com Review and Giveaway

When I was younger I used to wear contacts. However, during my first pregnancy and after I was no longer able to. So I wear my glasses all of the time. The problem is what to do when it is sunny out. I have always wanted prescription sunglasses, but they seemed too expensive to me. Until I came upon 39DollarGlasses.com. Here is a little about 39DollarGlasses.com:

39DollarGlasses.com was developed by eye doctors to create an inexpensive method for people to acquire high quality, finished prescription eyeglasses online. From their experience in both private offices and retail establishments, the founders decided they could provide this service for people inexpensively, bypassing expensive retail establishments.

We use the same high quality materials, but can offer them at a high discount because of our high volume, since we don't have the additional overhead constraints (such as retail rent space, behind-the-counter employees, and expensive displays) that your doctor's office or optical must overcome. Since operating this website is much less expensive than a typical retail establishment, we are able to pass these savings on to the general public online.

39DollarGlasses.com has a huge selection of discount eyeglasses and sunglasses to choose from. I decided to order sunglasses. The process was very simple. I choose the frame called Fiji. Next I was asked to pick the frame color-so I choose brown/tan. When I was choosing the frame color, the measurements of the frame were listed, and you can also print out an actual size picture of the frame. After you choose your frame color, you are asked to select the type of lenses you need and then you type in your prescription. You are also asked to select your PD (pupillary distance). If you are not sure, you can print out a ruler to measure it yourself. I just contacted the last place I ordered my eyeglasses through and they had my PD on file. On the last screen before checkout, you will select your lens type, as well as choose the case for your glasses. You receive a complimentary glass case, unless you choose to upgrade for an additional cost. I chose the Polka Dot Glass Case.

My thoughts:
I have to tell you, I was a little skeptical about ordering online. However, it was pretty easy. I love the variety to choose from and it was also helpful to be able to print out the actual size of the frames. My lenses tend to be very thick, however, they use Polycarbonate lenses which are thin and ultra light. And I love my Polka Dot Glass Case-it is so cute. To me it looks just like a little purse.

Interested in ordering your own pair? Use the code DELIGHT for 10% off your order.

Win it: 39DollarGlasses.com has offered to give away one pair of prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses (up to $75) to one lucky reader.

Mandatory Entry: "Like" 39DollarGlasses on Facebook. Next come back and leave a comment below saying that you like 39DollarGlasses and leave your username.

Extra Entries:
1) Visit 39DollarGlasses and then leave a comment letting me know which frame is your favorite.
2) Become a follower of my blog through google connect (this counts if you are already a follower too.)
3) "Like" Dealightfully Frugal on facebook and leave your username.
4) Follow me on Twitter and leave your username.
5) Follow 39DollarGlasses on Twitter and leave your username.

Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, as well as your email in one of the comments.

This giveaway will end June 12 at 11:59 pm(EST). The giveaway is open to US and Candian residents only. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: I received a pair of sunglasses to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are my honest opinion of the product.