February 2017 – Page 2

February 13, 2017

How to Book a Luxury Vacation for Less

Savvy travelers know the best vacation packages can be found online for less. Whether you’re booking your honeymoon, a long weekend getaway or a group trip, you can save big on luxury travel if you know where to look. When you search through Ebates, you’ll get even bigger savings with a special promo code and Cash Back.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts

Hilton Hotels offers luxurious rooms and accommodations for all your vacation, business and bridal needs.

Savings Tips:
• Shop the Offers section to earn bonus points and get 20 percent off an early booking. If you’re an AAA or AARP member, you can get 5 percent off.
• Take advantage of Hilton’s free Hilton HHonors membership and earn loyalty points and perks such as late checkout and free breakfast.

Orbitz

From discount flights and hotels to car rentals and full vacation packages, Orbitz knows how to travel on a budget.

Savings Tips:
• Head to the Deals section for money-saving promo codes and unbeatable prices on hotels.
• Join Orbitz Rewards to earn up to 5 percent on your hotel stay and 1 percent on flights.
• Check out the Orbitz travel guide for the insider scoop on the best times to find travel packages to some of the world’s best tropical resorts.

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Hotwire

Hotwire offers deals on hotels, car rentals and flights all around the world.

Savings Tips:
• Save a bundle when you book at the last minute. Check out Hotwire’s Cheap Travel and Last Minute Deals sections to save on your spontaneous getaway.
• Find even more deals when you download Hotwire’s mobile app. It’s the easiest way to book and save.
• Use the TripStarter feature to choose your destination and departure airports and find out when flights and hotel rates historically have been the cheapest.

Expedia

Known for its travel bargains, Expedia offers a Best Price Guarantee so you’ll get the lowest price possible on your trip.

Savings Tips:
• Use Expedia’s free app to get a special promo code for $25 off your first hotel booking.
• Unlock special member pricing and save an extra 10 percent or more when you book with select hotels.

Atlantis

Atlantis vacation packages include meals, entertainment, drinks, local transportation and entrance to water parks at the Bahamian resort.

Savings Tips:
• Get the lowest rates and exclusive benefits when you book specialty offers. Select your location to see the offers for that hotel.

Booking.com

Booking.com is the place to go when you want to book a smaller, independent hotel with a more personal feel.

Savings Tips:
• Subscribe to the Booking.com email list and gain access to exclusive secret deals of up to 50 percent off!

Priceline

Priceline allows you to be an expert auction bidder for the ultimate savings on your luxury vacation.

Savings Tips:
• The trick is to search Priceline’s Express Deals for the lowest price being offered, subtract 5 percent to 20 percent and then use that number to make a Name Your Own Price bid.

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Travelocity

From Europe to Hawaii, Travelocity offers the best deals in travel all over the world.

Savings Tips:
• The exclusive Bargain Hunter ticket feature allows you to see the final cost of your booking without having to guess how any associated fees might add up.
• Check Travelocity’s promotions to see how you can save more with current coupons and an exclusive promo code.

BookIt

BookIt offers vacation packages, flights and hotels to popular destinations worldwide.

Savings Tips:
• Sign up for the BookIt newsletter and get a $50 credit instantly.
• Become a member at BookIt and gain access to the Rest Assured special feature, which guarantees your hotel rate is the lowest possible.

CheapTickets

There’s no beating around the bush here: CheapTickets offers discounted vacation packages and accommodations so you can travel on the cheap.

Savings Tips:
• Download the CheapTickets app for exclusive savings and deals.

February 11, 2017

Four Awards-Season Trends for Real Life

There’s more to red-carpet fashion than ogling the slinky gowns and statement-making bling. From yellow dresses to punchy prints, the trend takeaways from this year’s hottest awards-season looks are ample. Here, we break down four of our favorites and how to accessorize them for everyday use. And the best part is, you can earn Cash Back while shopping for your favorites.

Daring Cutouts

The easiest way to amp up the sex appeal without showing too much skin is all in the strategic slice. Constance Zimmer’s high-neck gown and Nicole Kidman’s classic black dress at the Critics’ Choice Awards prove that the look is a true red-carpet mainstay. Rock it for the weekend with this floral number and a pair of edgy sandals.

Lovely in Lace

Lingerie-inspired looks are always popular on the red carpet, and this year is no exception. From Kristin Wiig’s romantic white dress to Drew Barrymore’s ethereal gown, lace was out in full force at the Golden Globes. We love this lacy top to dress up jeans or tucked into a pair of high-waisted pants.

Slits Are It

Slits allow you to show a flash of leg in the most glamorous way. See: Emily Ratajkowski’s stunning Golden Globes look that is both sexy and seductive. This maxi is destined to become your most popular piece come spring. Pair it with a tiny tank for day or try it with a cropped long-sleeve top for a smart dinner look.

Shiny Styles

From mega-watt jewels to shimmering stilettos, a little bit of sparkle and sheen goes a long way. Although you may not have an excuse to pile on the bling, we can think of a million reasons you’ll love these two-strap sandals. Use them to update a beach look or take a basic LBD to the next level.

February 10, 2017

The Bearded Man’s Guide to Winter Skin Care

By now, the scraggly stubble you started with at the beginning of November has become a full, lush beard. Congrats on making it this far. Most guys give up during that awkward phase a few weeks into the beard-growing process.

Now that we’re in the dead of winter, you’re probably starting to notice a few things about your beard. Particularly dandruff collecting around your collar, wiry and unruly whiskers, and irritation on your neckline and under your mane — all of which are completely normal. But those issues are a sign that it’s time to start doing more than trimming up every other week.

If you want to make it through winter without completely destroying your skin, you need to develop a winter skin-care routine. It adds only a few minutes to your morning routine so you can get on with your day, and you can earn Cash Back at Ebates while shopping for all the best products.

Go easy on the hot water.

Few things feel better than stepping into a steaming hot shower on a cold winter day, but bearded guys have to be mindful of the water temperature. Hot showers wash away all of the oils that protect your skin and beard, and it’s hard enough as it is to keep the skin under your facial hair moisturized. You don’t have to polar bear it. Just dial back the heat for a week and you’ll notice a big difference.

Dry it. Dry it real good.

The biggest mistake most guys make is not drying their beard enough. We know everyone’s busy, but that extra minute or two will really make an impact. Beards naturally trap water, and all that moisture next to your face has the same effect as a hot shower. Plus, any beard oil or moisturizer you use will be less effective.

Pro tip: Pat dry instead of rubbing a towel all over your face. When you pat dry, you’ll end up with less irritation, follicle damage and split ends.

Stroke, don’t pluck.

One of the best things about having a beard is touching it 10,000 times a day. If you’re going to touch it (and you are) you have to avoid the temptation to pick at it. Picking leads to a patchy beard, which usually drives the owner of said beard to shave it off at midnight in a moment of weakness. Picking also opens the door for infections and ingrown hairs. Don’t be that guy. Take it easy on your beard.

Oil is your friend, but don’t overdo it.

Kiehl’s Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil (Saks Fifth Avenue)

If you want an easy and cheap way to keep your skin and beard healthy year-round, beard oil is it. It’s one of the best skin-care products for men — particularly bearded men. Sprinkle a few drops of oil in your hands, rub them together and run your fingers against the grain starting at your neck. Then run them down the sides of your beard to smooth it out. You can also comb in the oil. Really, there’s no wrong way to apply it.

There are endless options out there, but it’s all more or less the same. Generally, it comes down to whatever scent works for you. We’re big fans of Kiehl’s Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil. It’s a little pricey but well worth it.

Resist the urge to wash.

Art of Shaving Peppermint Beard Wash (Sephora)

If you’re the type of guy who shampoos and conditions daily, you need to cut back. Daily washing makes it even harder to build up the essential oils your skin needs to stay healthy. You also need to avoid using the same products you use for your scalp. There are far more follicles on your head than on your face and the skin is different as well, so you’ll want to reach for shampoo and conditioner developed for beards.

Art of Shaving Peppermint Beard Conditioner (Sephora)

We love Art of Shaving’s peppermint beard wash and conditioner. They both have great scents, and you get a nice tingling sensation from the peppermint that lasts long after your shower. Use them for a deep clean once a week.

If it’s really damaged, reach for the butter.

Joe Grooming Beard and Moustache Balm (Ulta Beauty)

Beard butter, that is. Most are pliable blends of oils and wax that’ll stay in your beard longer and really bring it back to life. You apply it the same way you apply beard oil. Use it liberally if your whiskers are really unruly. Check out Joe Grooming’s Beard and Moustache Balm if you want a good beginner balm. It has no scent, and it’s non-greasy.

Now that you’ve got a few beard maintenance and winter skin-care tips under your belt, it’s time to put them to use. Follow some or all of this routine and you’ll be on your way to having a healthier beard and skin.

February 9, 2017

How to Keep It Cute at a Mardi Gras Party

There’s no better way to get through a long and dreary winter than with an all-out bash. Fortunately, Mardi Gras is just a couple of weeks away! We bet you’re excited for a little self-indulgence while catching up with friends, and we want to make sure you look great while cutting loose. If Mardi Gras costumes aren’t your thing, check out these tips on how to create a fun yet fierce look while getting paid to shop. Be the life of the Mardi Gras party while keeping your style on fleek.

Head-Turning Party Dress

When shopping for Mardi Gras party clothes, always consider the tone of the party. If it’s a more formal affair, a purple cocktail dress with added details is always a good choice. With this gorgeous dress from ModCloth, you’ve got movement, texture and a killer color — all the ingredients needed to turn heads. Since the dress is a solid color, you now have the freedom to accessorize with green and gold. Green pumps and gold jewelry would pair perfectly, but you can also go bold with gold lipstick or eye shadow.

Punched-Up Casual

If the event is a house party or small gathering, casual Mardi Gras outfit ideas can still be chic and exciting. Your favorite pair of jeans will look amazing with a gold sequin top like this one from Charlotte Russe. Try pairing it with a green cardigan or blazer, and throw in a purple headband to complete your color combo. Now you’ve got a more laid-back look that still steals the show.

Handmade Mask

Not all Mardi Gras outfits require a mask, but if you’re shopping for one, either go big or go home. Spend a little extra cheddar on a quality handmade mask. You can find plenty of styles and colors on Etsy for less than $20! Plus, you can reuse it for Halloween or display it on your wall as a conversation piece.

Bag Those Beads

You may be tempted to incorporate those iconic plastic beads into your outfit. Don’t. They’re not only cheap and plastic, but it’s also in bad taste to give them to yourself. Throwing beads is a Mardi Gras custom, so it’s better to have them handy and give them away. Once given to you, go ahead and rock them all night long. After all, it’s a party!

February 8, 2017

How Many LEGO Would It Take to Build These Sci-Fi Megastructures?

With LEGO, it’s often said you can create your own universe, so to get your imagination running wild, we’ve decided to LEGO-fy some of science fiction’s most memorable icons. From hoverboards to Death Stars, here’s how many LEGO it would take to make just a few of the classics, along with a couple of real-world items to help put it all in perspective.

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<a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/lego-to-build-sci-fi-megastructures/"><img alt="How Many Lego Would It Take To Build Sci-Fi Megastructures" class="ngg_none" src="https://www.ebates.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/How-Many-Lego-Would-It-Take-To-Build-Sci-Fi-Megastructures-Batman_IG-2D.png" width="600px" height="6290px" /></a><br><a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/lego-to-build-sci-fi-megastructures/">How Many Lego Would It Take To Build Sci-Fi Megastructures</a> Created By:  <a href="https://www.ebates.com/"> Ebates</a>

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We didn’t start with moon-sized star destroyers. We began with one of the smallest units of LEGO possible: the 15.8 mm by 3.2 mm brick. With two of these, a red one and a blue one, we were able to recreate one of the tiniest icons in all of sci-fi cinema: the pills offered to Keanu Reeves at the beginning of “The Matrix.” Of course, you probably don’t want to swallow either of these, since the only trip they’ll take you on is one to the emergency room. From there, we moved upwards, from 300 LEGO to build the 12th Doctor’s sonic screwdriver to 550 LEGO for our very own Baby Groot to 850 LEGO to build an Identity Disk from “Tron” to 940 LEGO to build Benny’s spaceship from “The LEGO Movie.” (We know that seems tiny, but Benny is a LEGO mini-fig, so his spaceship would be LEGO-sized too.) And for Marty McFly’s trip to the future year of 2015 in “Back to the Future Part II,” his Nike Air shoes would take 1,500 LEGO to build, and the Mattel Hoverboard would take 2,050 LEGO.

Jumping into slightly bigger structures, we started to turn to Matija Puzar, our certified LEGO expert, for help. Matija is a trusted business partner of The LEGO Group who has built some amazing scale models of the world’s most iconic landmarks. If there’s a guy who knows how LEGO and the real world intersect, Matija is your man. The first thing our LEGO expert alerted us to was that any LEGO structure of a certain size wouldn’t be all LEGO. “Larger models need both a steel structure and gluing of the bricks to prevent them from collapsing on their own weight. I’ve made a 1.5-by-1-by-1.5-meter model with no glue at all, although in retrospect I probably should have glued it.”

Matija also alerted us to some real-life LEGO creations to help us with our equations. A man in Austin, Texas, actually built his own fully functional LEGO R2D2 using 16,000 bricks along with a steel frame and a motor from a remote control plane. We calculated that Johnny 5 from “Short Circuit” would take 17,450 LEGO to build. Our master builder also pointed us in the direction of an actual, working car that was built entirely out of LEGO. Although he was quick to remind us that the plastic LEGO bricks wouldn’t “fancy the temperatures around the engine,” that didn’t deter us! Using the real LEGO car as a basis of comparison, we were able to determine that it would take 573,314 LEGO to build and travel through time with the flying Delorean from “Back to the Future Part II.”

Our master builder also had a friend who built a life-size Tardis from “Doctor Who” with 150,000 LEGO. But, of course, that number would go way up if you built the inside to scale as well. (There are more LEGO on the inside.) A Light Cycle from “Tron” would take 120,217 LEGO to build, and a Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy” would take 334,235. To build the Batsignal from “Batman,” it would take 226,851 LEGO. To bust ghosts in the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1, it would take 955,200 LEGO.

As we took off for space, our LEGO numbers took off into the millions. An AT-AT from “Star Wars” would take 12.4 million LEGO to build, and an X-wing fighter would take 5.5 million LEGO. From “Avatar,” a Scorpion Gunship would take 3.2 million LEGO to build, and the Batmobile from “The LEGO Batman Movie” would take 340,000 LEGO. The Millennium Falcon would take 15.5 million LEGO to complete, and NASA’s space shuttle would take 58.3 million LEGO to build.

Matija even had some theories about how a LEGO starship would hold up when it jumped into hyperspace. “I am not sure how LEGO would survive the constant radiation and extreme temperatures. It would definitely be an interesting — albeit expensive — experiment to perform!” NASA has shown that plastics are, pound for pound, more effective at shielding against cosmic radiation than aluminum!

The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from “The Avengers” would take 81.7 million LEGO to build, the Discovery One from “2001: A Space Odyssey” would require 186.3 million LEGO, and the Heart of Gold from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” would take 162.1 million LEGO. Matija told us that “in space, it would be hard to keep track of pieces, in addition to the space suit making it difficult to grab the pieces and build precisely.”

Heading back down to Earth for a little bit, we also wanted to see how many LEGO it would take to build our favorite superhero homes. James May, a presenter from the British hit “Top Gear,” actually built his very own full-size LEGO house a few years ago as part of an art project. The house was two stories high, 20 feet tall and took 3.3 million bricks to complete. Using that as a basis of comparison, we determined that Superman’s Fortress of Solitude from the 1978 film would take 850 million LEGO, and Wayne Manor from “Batman” would take 840 million LEGO. The Mothership from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” would take 999 million LEGO to build.

Batman’s secret headquarters, the Batcave, would take 1.18 billion LEGO to build. The NSEA Protector from “Galaxy Quest” would take 1.5 billion LEGO to build, and an effort would require Tony Stark to assemble 6.6 billion bricks to recreate the Avengers Tower in Manhattan. Matija commented that the “Avengers Tower would definitely be an interesting one to build! Definitely not a life-size one, but a nice scale model would be cool to do.” Which kind of disappointed us, as we were really looking forward to partying with a full-size LEGO Hulk in the full-size LEGO tower.

The iconic Starship Enterprise from “Star Trek” would take 13.5 billion LEGO to build. That’s still pretty small compared to some other ships, like the Dark Aster from “Guardians of the Galaxy.” According to its creators, this villainous starship measured as long as 11 Empire State Buildings laid on their sides, which we calculated would take 42.5 billion LEGO. The Axiom from “WALL-E” would take 463 billion LEGO, and the Borg Cube from “Star Trek” would take 255 billion LEGO. It would take 554 billion LEGO to build the Spaceball One, and 102 trillion LEGO to build the Halo Megastructure.

The Death Star, a moon-sized planet killer from “Star Wars,” would require 435 trillion bricks to complete (even more if you want to go the extra mile for safety and throw in a few guardrails!). Sadly, Matija didn’t see completing this model as entirely realistic. “It would be a really nice experiment to see how many bricks it takes before a structure collapses on itself due to its own gravity. A bit unfeasible, though, I’m afraid. The average 2×2 brick can withstand 950 pounds.”

But this is sci-fi, and who’s to say what isn’t possible today won’t be possible tomorrow! Could some brilliant hero create a new, stronger LEGO brick capable of withstanding the cold, hard realities of space? We sure hope so! Until then, we’re going to keep building, and we encourage you to do the same. Just please put your toys away when you’re done. Your mom isn’t going to be happy if she has to pick up a quadrillion LEGO off the living room floor.

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February 7, 2017

Luxury Store Rewards Programs for Savvy Spenders

You treat yourself to the finer things in life. Why not? You deserve it! But that doesn’t mean you don’t know the value of a dollar. Although bargain hunting may not be your thing, some luxury stores have convenient and often free rewards programs. Check out these high-end retailers that offer Cash Back at Ebates and worthwhile rewards programs. Shop designer clothing, shoes, accessories, home goods and more to make your life a little lusher while getting the most out of your money.

Bloomingdale’s

Why it’s worth it: Opportunities to earn extra points are abundant with Bloomingdale’s Loyallist program, making it easy to cash in on rewards. Earn a point for each dollar spent, and get a $25 reward for every 5,000 points earned.