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February 6, 2015

How to Survive Being a Single Girl on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day sure can be an unfriendly day for single women. At best, it can just feel exclusively not for you. Whether you are single and loving it or lonely and loathing it, we’ve got a list of 10 things you can do to get through the day in one piece with our singles’ guide to Valentine’s Day.

1. Log off social media – If you’d rather not see Facebook check-ins at fancy pants restaurants and “couplesies” on Instragram, just put your phone on lock and get off the grid. Also, it’ll keep you from throwing yourself a little pity party with bitter status updates.

2. Fast food feast – Treat yourself to a cheat meal with the added bonus of knowing no couple will be spending the most romantic day of the year at Wendy’s. At least not happy couples.

3. Shopping spree – Listen, you’re great and if no one is there to spoil you this Valentine’s Day, DIY. Get yourself a little something to help you strut your stuff.

4. Spa/salon day– Primp, pamper, perfection. Come out looking and feeling like a new woman.

5. Galentine’s Day – Leslie Knope had the right idea. Take your fellow singles out for brunch or dinner and dancing. Ladies celebrating ladies!

6. Get physical – Hiking, yoga, paintballing. These are all activities that will work up a sweat and maybe even unleash a little aggression, if needed.

7. Sports bar viewing party of one– If you’re already planning to catch a college basketball game or MMA fight on TV, why not take yourself out for some buffalo wings while you’re at it? You’ll get out of the house without the risk of coming face to face with unsightly PDA. Until someone scores a point, that is.

8. Library trip – Dive into a good book or two without spending a single dollar.

9. Guilty pleasure TV – Unless your guilty pleasure is Rom Com or anything else sappy, get your couch potato on. Perhaps some celebrities in rehab or overbearing stage moms will make you appreciate your current drama-free independence?

10. Traditional date night – We hope you’re just as comfortable as a single gal as you would be in a relationship. If you love you, shout it from a rooftop and take yourself out. Fancy dinner, chocolate dessert, romantic movie, the whole nine. You deserve it!

Bottom line, ladies—do YOU. Create a day filled with things that make you happy simply because you deserve it. Comment below and tell us your ideal single Valentine’s Day.

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January 2, 2015

3 Tools to Help with Your New Year’s Resolutions

With 2015 just beginning, we are sure you’ve decided on your New Year’s resolutions already. If you’re like us, you might have had some trouble in the past sticking to those resolutions for more than a week or two. We’ve put a list together of resolution helpers that can make sticking to those goals just a little bit easier! Let us know below what you’re doing this year to stay on track with your resolutions.

Getting Fit: Fitbit Flex

This discrete high-tech wrist band is just what you need to track your sleep cycles and how many calories you burn throughout the day so you can meet your fitness goals with ease. With ten colors available, you can make this fitness tracker part of your outfit every day.

Price: $99.99
See Kohl’s Coupons
Shop Kohl’s with 6% Cash Back

Eating Healthier: Monthly Fruit Delivery

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies into your diet for 2015, joining a monthly fruit club is a great way to do it! Golden State Fruit allows you to pick your fruit and ships it straight to your door. It’s a great way to try new fruits and eat healthier.
Price: Starts at $22.95
See Golden State Fruit Coupons
Shop Golden State Fruit with 8% Cash Back

Reading More: Kindle Fire HD & 7″ Tablet 16GB

While many of us can admit that we’re probably not reading as much as we should, are we actually doing anything about it? An eReader might be just the thing to nudge you into reading more often. There are tons of eReader options out there, but we are loving the Kindle Fire HD 7″ Wi-Fi Tablet by Amazon for it’s colorful screen, long lasting battery, and lightweight feel.

Price: $224.27
See all Rakuten Coupons
Shop Rakuten with up to 3% Cash Back

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December 5, 2014

10 Reasons to Get Psyched for the Holidays

As the holiday season is fast approaching, we know the stress levels are also increasing at a rapid rate. The holidays can be a tad overwhelming with so many projects to do, decorations to put up, and gifts to wrap. But don’t forget the magic of the season where having fun and making memories is what it’s all about. So just to give you an excuse to take a breather and get some perspective, we’ve put together a list of some things to be excited about this holiday season.

1. Sweater Weather

Who doesn’t love a good sweater? They’re cozy, warm, and can be dressed up or down. Plus, this is the best time of the year to practice styling with layers–chunky knits, boot socks, scarves, and cute hats to boot!

2. Snow

Whether you choose to enjoy the snow falling peacefully outside as you cozy up to a warm fire or you’d rather don your snow suit and speed down the slopes in a sled, skis, or snowboard, the holiday season is the perfect time to embrace the cold. Snow days (and snowball fights!) are an extra bonus. 😉

3. Family

You might be lucky enough to live around your family but for some people, this may be the only time they get to enjoy their parents or siblings. You’ve only got one family so make the most out of this time you get to spend together.

4. Sparkles & Shine

With the glimmering icicles hanging from roofs, holiday lights dazzling the town, and all the shiny decor you catch a glimpse of as you peek through your window, the holiday season does not spare the sparkle. It’s also the perfect time of year to wear the sparkle. If you love shimming embroidery, sequins, and glitter, get festive and pile it on liberally for those holiday parties.

5. Time to Recharge

Even if you can’t get much time off during the holidays, most of us can take a day or two to rest and recuperate. This also is a great opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed. Take a moment to list your gratitudes, accomplishments, and milestones. When you look at it all at once, you may be surprised by all this year has given you and get excited for the year to come.

6. Giving

We all like getting presents but gift giving can also be a huge rush. Finding the perfect gifts for the ones you love most and anticipating their reaction is an adventure in itself. Also, it gives you a great excuse to go window shopping for yourself!

7. Movies

Two words: Oscar Season! Not only is this the time of year when the best movies are in theaters, but it’s also the time when it’s perfectly acceptable to watch your tried and true holiday favorites (over and over again if you want).

8. Music

Whether you’re a fan of classic crooners like Frank Sinatra, or you prefer the newer tunes of divas like Mariah Carey, there’s holiday music out there for every type. It’s really the only time of year that it’s acceptable to blast these tunes, so embrace the Falalalalala!

9. Parties Galore

This is the perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with people you wouldn’t necessarily be in the same room with during the rest of the year. Whether you’re looking for a new romantic interest or you want to network for that new job, you’ll feel like a star all dressed up in your glamorous holiday attire.

10. The New Year

The New Year means a fresh start, a new year of goals and opportunities. There are endless possibilities of what the New Year will bring.

Happy Holidays from Ebates!

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!

October 17, 2012

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

This scrumptious blog comes courtesy of our dear friend Kim, who blogs over at Today’s Creative. She is a wonderful lifestyle blogger. Be sure to check her out!

This fall dessert is not only a favorite in my home, but also around my neighborhood. It’s not uncommon for me to make this a couple of times a month and has become a tradition at my October Ladies Bunco night. This classic dump cake is simple to make and is a hit for any event, even Thanksgiving! No fancy ingredients, or techniques makes this cake super fast to make.

pumpkin crunch dump cake recipe Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 can pumpkin puree

* 1 can evaporated milk

* 4 eggs

* 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

* 1 1/2 Cups sugar

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 package yellow cake mix

* 1 Cup chopped nuts ( I used pecans)

* 1 Cup butter or margarine – melted

Optional

whipped cream

Instructions:

Lightly grease 9×13 baking pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together: Pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Mix well. I use a mixer, but you could use a wooden spoon.

Pour into prepared pan

Sprinkle cake mix over the top of the mixture. Pat down and spread nuts evenly. Drizzle melted butter over the top.

Bake 50-60 min.

Top with whipped cream when serving…if wanted. I prefer mine plain.

Enjoy!

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