March 2014 – user's Blog!

March 24, 2014

Five Spring Trends

Spring has technically arrived! Even though some of the country is still enduring the harsh reality of Winter, we have our eyes on sunshine and flowers. While Fall may be our favorite season to shop ( we can never have too many boots), Spring is *very* fun. We have spent some time perusing the blogosphere and picked five trends that we are excited to participate in. What are your favorite Spring fashion trends?

1. Stripes –

It seems like stripes reemerge as trendy every few years. We can’t deny – we jump on the stripes train every time since they never *really* go out of style. Stripes all suite a variety of fabrics AND body types. We tend to prefer bolder rugby-type stripes, the options abound. They add a stylish simplicity to a wardrobe. Pop on a great pair of jeans, cute flats, a striped tee (black and white), and some lipstick – voila! Selections below via Old Navy.

2. Pastels –

We know this may seem like a cop out, but we couldn’t not include it. Pastels are popping up everywhere – from tees to sweaters and dresses to eye shadow. Pastels are a very pretty fashion statement that is perfect for the warmer Spring months. While we love all the fun pastel clothing options, sometimes our messiness makes light hues a bit trickier. Perfect solution: nail polish! In a perfect world we would snag 5 beautiful pastel polishes and paint each finger a different color. Crazy? Maybe. But nails seem like the perfect place with a bit more exciting fashion statements. Selections below via Sephora.

3. Floral –

Another obvious choice. but florals are having a moment. We have been seeing floral shirts, tees, jeans, skirts, dresses, and more. Nothing screams Spring more than a beautiful floral item. The pieces we have selected are very much seasonal – and priced accordingly. You won’t find us suggesting floral investment pieces from Forever 21, however, while the sun is shining we would encourage you to have fun with your wardrobe however you see fit. Want some more versatile florals? Try and stick to a black and white color scheme – those will be suitable all year ’round. Selections below via Forever 21.

4. Distressed Denim –

we waver a lot on this trend, but we can’t give you a credible list without including it. Distressed denim seems to be making a bit of a comeback and we are having mixed feelings about it. On one hand it can look super rockstar cool. On the other hand, when styled improperly, it can look messy and poorly put together. Luckily the reemergence of this trend is giving us a lot of different options – from different washes to variety in distressing. With a great selection we think everyone could find the right level of distress for their taste. Selections via Nordstrom.

5. Bold Pouts –

We know we blog about it all the time, but a pretty pout just screams Spring. We are seeing fashion and beauty bloggers putting away those bold plums and reds for violets and pinks. We love bold lips for a few reasons. First of all – if you have anything on your face that isn’t your favorite (for us it is dark circles under our eyes) they are an immediate distraction. Second – pops of color create visual interest, creating the illusion that a possibly bland outfit is much more exciting. Selections below via Sephora.

What are your favorite Spring trends?

March 20, 2014

You asked and we (finally) delivered: Ebates for Android!

Our iPhone app has been rocking and rolling for quite awhile now. FINALLY we have our Android counterpart. This beautiful app has all the same features as Ebates – signup bonus for new customers, up to 50% Cash Back on your purchases, and thousands of awesome stores. Android users can now earn Cash Back on the go! Next app? iPad 🙂

March 17, 2014

Ebates Button – Few Changes

We <3 our Cash Back button and are constantly working to make sure it’s the best experience possible. We have made some recent refinements that may be a bit of a change and want to make sure you are all still earning all your Cash Back. Questions/comments/concerns about the button? Please let us know 🙂

We removed IE from the install page on the site. We are now only promoting installs for Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. IE was really not work properly with our technology or our stores’ technology. We are sorry to have to do this, but moving forward that browser won’t be available.
VERY IMPORTANT: Cash Back will no longer be automatically activated. The user will always have to click to activate Cash Back. We decided that we needed to take every measure to make sure tracking was working properly. We know it’s an extra step, but we think that the Cash Back is worth it 🙂
When you activate your button you will now see a small transition window like when you click through from Ebates. This will help remedy any tracking issues that our old tool bar might have had.

March 6, 2014

Who Wants a Great Deal?

There are LOADS of amazing deals today. Be sure to stop by our Facebook page for THREE awesome giveaways. We are giving away jewelry, cash, and FIVE gift cards! Happy shopping – enjoy the sales and Cash Back 🙂

70% off clearance at Wet Seal! Plus earn 2.5% Cash Back.

$25 gift certificates for $4 from Restaurant.com! Plus earn up to 10.0% Cash Back.

Use code SAVE20 for 20% off when you buy 1 pair of pants at Old Navy! Plus earn 2.0% Cash Back.

20% off clearance at Nike! Use code BESTINGAME. Plus earn 6.0% Cash Back.

Use code FEBAT14 for $15 off $75+ athletic shoes at Amazon! Plus earn 3.0% Cash Back.

Use code SPRING20 for 20% off any purchase at SkinStore. Plus earn 8.0% Cash Back.

March 5, 2014

Spring Produce: Shop Smarter

Here at Ebates we are trying so hard to stick to keep up our healthy eating resolutions. One of the ways we are doing this is keeping ourselves very aware of new, tasty vegetables by trekking to any and all farmer’s markets. This past weekend we paid way too much attention to the flowers and dried fruit, so we decided to brush up on which fruits and veggies to pay the closest attention to at our next farmer’s market adventure. Here are Spring’s best produce options:

Apricots: we are going to grab some, chop them up and toss them in some Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with some almonds and voila – breakfast!

Asparagus: this is one of our favorite veggies. It’s so versatile. We have roasted it with a little olive oil, salt, & pepper. We have thrown it into an omelette with some cheese. We have eaten in a quinoa salad with various other veggies.

Beets: We are always struck by how sweet this veggie is. It hasn’t always been a favorite, but we have found ways to really enjoy it. Our favorite way to prepare beets is quite simple and VERY tasty. Cut off the stems and poke a few little holes in the beet with a fork or sharp knife. Then wrap them in foil with a little salt and olive oil. Bake at 350 for an hour. Once they are cooled a bit remove the skin, slice in pieces and sprinkle with some goat cheese and chopped chives.

Cherries: we aren’t huge fans of cherries, but are eager to give them another chance. Or maybe a few more. These could easily be pitted and served just like the apricots, or just snacked on in front of the TV.

Fennel: We are recent converts to team fennel after having it in a wonderful salad at a local restaurant. It was served sliced quite thin with tomatoes and pitted olives in a light vinaigrette. We know that doesn’t sound the most delicious, but it is worth trying.

Leeks: Leeks are one of our favorite veggies. They make everything taste better. We saute them in a little olive oil and throw them in fritattas, salads, soups, stews. They add a delicious onion-y flavor but less sharp and more sweet.

Peas: No shocker here that peas made this list. We are big fans of peas but don’t have a ton of recipes to share. We typically shell them and saute with a little salt and butter. A little fresh grated parmesean makes for a nice finish.

Rhubarb: We aren’t skilled in the art of pie making but love a good strawberry rhubarb pie. Grab these red and pink stalks because their season is quite short!