Review: EatSmart Precision MaxView Digital Bathroom Scale

Falling off the healthy eating train in the past years, I decided to jump back on. No help from Nutrisystem this time, but with the tips I did learn while using that system. I'm down about 15lbs. in the last 2ish months. Tracking the weight wasn't easy without a working scale in the house. Thankfully, the great people over at EatSmart (yes, the ones I've reviewed plenty on this website before) sent over one of their newer products for me to test out.
I received the EatSmart Precision MaxView Digital Bathroom Scale. When I opened the packaging to take the scale out, all I could think about was the display. At 4.5", the LCD display is huge compared to my last bathroom scale. It's also backlit to make it even easier to read in the dark. The  thick tempered glass sits on a silver colored frame, which comes equipped with the battery area (on the bottom) and 4 sensors.

The Precision MaxView Digital Bathroom Scale certainly is sleek and modern looking, but the best part is how easy it is to use. Auto-calibrated and equipped to handle up to 400lbs., this scale is ready to use right out of the box. Pop in the 2 triple A batteries, step on, and get your weight. There is a handy little button on the bottom of the scale that allows for 3 different modes; Pounds, Kilos, and Stones.

A pleasant surprise was the EatSmart Body Tape Measure that is included for free in the box. This time around, I've started taking measurements with the body tape measure, it is much better than just taking pictures to see my progress. I'm all for easy, and although losing weight isn't, this scale is. Out of the box and in full swing in less than 2 mins. The scale is very sturdy, and not an eyesore. The glass and frame make it look very elegant, it is low profile and easily placed near a corner with a door swinging right over it. I appreciate the wonderful customer service I receive at EatSmart and their great products I've had the pleasure to review over the years.

Disclaimer: I was NOT paid for this post, however I did receive the product in question,  from the company or their representing  PR company,  free of charge in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and I have provided a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

GIVEAWAY - 20 MegaMillions Lotto Tickets from LottoGopher.com

Looking to play the lotto today? Not feeling like taking a drive to a local convenience store to buy a ticket? Yeah, I wasn't either. Lottogopher.com reached out to me when I was craving to buy some tickets after a year or so of laying off. I got a chance to play the lotto... from the comfort of my own home!

That's right, from home. Lottogopher is the only company in which California residents, 18 or over, can legally order tickets to play Powerball, MegaMillions and Super Lotto Plus lottery. Company reps travel to purchase tickets on behalf of consumers and credit their accounts at face value. There is no fee for the service, and you only pay the cost of the ticket. A perfect service for those too busy, or ones looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Using the site is as easy, which is always a plus. You chose you one of the three lotteries available to play, they tell you the current jackpot and you pick your numbers. Quickpick is also available for those too indesicive‎ to pick numbers. Also, you can enter group lottos via the site. You pool tickets and have a higher chance of winning, always a good thing, but winnings would be divided up within the group.

All in all, just the fact that you can buy your lotto tickets in you pajamas from the comfort of your own home at face value is reason enough to be exited. BUT, thanks to the folks at LottoGopher.com you can now win a chance to win (get it?)! The giveaway for 20 MegaMillion Lotto Tickets from LottoGopher.com is open to California residents, 18 and over. Rafflecopter entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get $50 Cashback When You SIgn Up For Discover It Student Card! Promotion!

In an effort to continue building my credit that I started last year, I made a wise choice earlier this month. I signed up for a Discover It Student credit card and was approved. For any students looking to get a god student card with amazing cashback rewards, this card is definitely the way to go. I am new to the Discover family, but from my first call to activate my card, I will remain faithful. I've never had a better CR, she sounded more exited to activate the card than I was!

Discover It Student cards comes with a great cashback program, every quarter (4 in each year) you get 5% cashback on purchases that fall in the quarter's categories. For January - March you get 5% cashback for the category "Restaurants and Movies". Now, this great category includes fast food chains like Burger King, Taco Bell, etc. And movies include Netflix subscriptions, beside purchases made at major theaters like Cinemark, Regal, and more . So you get cashback for things you already commonly pay for, how great is that?

Now to the point, Discover is offering $50 to anyone who I refer, so if you'd like to add to your credit, or start building credit, I suggest you apply for the Discover It Student card, or even the non-student Discover It card! To be eligible for the $50 cashback promotion, you must click my referral link here, and just make 1 (one) purchase within 3 months (it can be $1 purchase, doesn't matter!). And who doesn't love free money? :)

Gift Guide: South Beach Smoke eCig Starter Kit

Before I begin this review, I'd like to say that I am not a supporter of smoking. I am, however, all for those who want to quit, and this is one of the methods to do so. My father, a heavy smoker since his early teens, was the receiver of the South Beach Smoke eCig Kit we received to review. He has wanted to change his smoking habit over the years, especially with two kids under the age of 10 in the house. The Deluxe Starter Kit comes with following items:

1 Standard Battery - NEW SuperMAXTM Battery 

1 Extra-Capacity Battery - NEW SuperMAXTM Battery 

1 Deluxe USB Charger 1 Portable Wall Charger and

4 Large Nicotine Cartridges/Atomizers - Equals 14-16 Packs of Cigarettes (Choice of Flavor & Strength)

Unpacking and set-up was easy, we simply screwed on one of the nicotine cartridges to the battery and it was ready to go. There is no on/off switch, all my father had to do was inhale and an orange crystal tip lit up. The amount of smoke that it produces was almost equal to a regular cigarette, he said. From the South Beach Smoke website, "Smokers enjoy doses of a vaporized liquid nicotine solution and exhale a water vapor that resembles a puff of smoke". Charging via the USB charger is just as easy, and with two batteries included in the Deluxe Starter Kit, it's more than enough to keep him going.

After a couple days of using the eCigs, the flavor, as he describes it, has grown on him. While I don't mind the subtle smell of nicotine from the cartridge itself, it's a thousand times more tolerable than his regular cigarettes. There is also no second-hand smoke, which is one of the main concerns in our household. Only time can tell if they will help him quit, but the start of this journey is looking rather positive. We will definitely be doing an update review within a couple of months to map his progress.

The South Beach Smoke Deluxe Starter Kits retails for $59.99 and I think would make a great gift for a smoker in your life who has been wanting to try a method to quit smoking. While this may not work for everyone, I think the positive reviews online regarding South Beach Smoke, and eCigs in general, are enough to try them out. With the holidays already here, this can make a great Christmas present, or in my opinion, a New Years present for those who "wish to quit smoking" for their 2014 resolutions.

Disclaimer: I was NOT paid for this post, however I did receive the product in question,  from the company or their representing  PR company,  free of charge in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and I have provided a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Taco Bell: Free Two Doritos Locos Tacos & Large Drink wyb $20 Gift Card.

If you're someone on a budget, it's no surprise that "free" is always a good thing to hear. So many stores and restaurants like to give incentives during the Holiday Season to gift givers. Gift cards are sometimes the best and safest route to go when it comes to gift giving. On that note, thanks to the great people over at Taco Bell, I have a great promotion to share with you guys!

Taco Bell has a great promotion for you gift givers (whether it be to yourself, or others)! When you buy a $20 Taco Bell Gift Card, you get two free Doritos Locos Tacos (DLTs) and a large drink. This is available at time of purchase, meaning in store. Now, that's around a $5 value, which you can devour yourself while thinking of others. Now, if that's not rewarding, I don't know what is!

I am a huge Taco Bell fan but had yet to try the Doritos Locos Tacos. I got around to trying the Doritos Locos Taco in Cool Ranch (also comes in Nacho Cheese and Fiery flavors) yesterday using the gift card Taco Bell generously sent over for this purpose :) I was skeptical, even with the Cool Ranch being my favorite flavor of Doritos. Once I took the bite, it was gone within the minute, which is unfortunate because I missed out on taking a great little picture for you folks! Best $1.39 you'll spend there, hands down.

The two free Doritos Locos Tacos (DLTs) and a large drink with $20 Gift Card purchase at Taco Bell ends on December 25th, 2013. So hurry and treat others while treating yourself this holiday season!

Watch_Dogs Sweepstakes! Win from $5,000 in prizes, including a Limited Edition PS4!

One of the biggest games of 2014 will be Watch Dogs, and in spirit of it comes a great sweepstakes from Walmart. Your very own chance to win $5,000 in prizes, and the best price of all is a free copy of Watch Dogs!

You have a chance to enter DAILY for your chance to win $50 Walmart Gift Cards, Collector’s Edition Watch_Dogs Games, to ALCATEL onetouch FIERCE phones and a Limited Edition Playstation 4 Console. Now, if a daily chance to enter isn't good enough for you, I'm sure 10 more daily entries is! By playing Watch_Dogs Stealth_Match here you can take on the role of hacker Aiden Pearce and play the game to unlock up to ten entries per day into the Watch_Dogs Sweepstakes. So get your fingers ready and go enter now!