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Contest: #UnpaktReality

Unpakt, an instant pricing application helping consumers find reputable moving companies and book their moves online, launched the Unpakt Network featuring a series of reality television parodies inspired by the moving industry as well as the #UnpaktReality social media contest, allowing for creative consumers to dream up a reality parody of their own for the chance to win cash and prizes totaling $10,000.

Recognizing consumers’ opinions of moving as challenging and frustrating, the Unpakt Network was launched to debunk the perception that moving is always stressful and overwhelming. A series of reality television parodies will illustrate the lighter side of moving, in line with Unpakt’s mission to provide consumers with a hassle-free move.

 

·         America’s Next Top Mover 

·         The Moving Truck Whisperer 

·         Mover Wars 

·         MoveBusters 

 

Tasked with naming the next moving industry-inspired reality show for the Unpakt Network, participants in the UnpaktReality Social Media Contest will have the opportunity to win cash and prizes totaling $10,000. To enter the contest, participants are invited to post their reality television parody suggestions via Twitter by tweeting @Unpakt with their idea and the hashtag #UnpaktReality. Multiple entries are encouraged. The submission period will run from Tuesday, June 18^th to Wednesday, June 26^th 2013, and the winner will be announced on Friday, June 28^th. 

Contest: The Friskies

Films have the OSCARS®. Music has the GRAMMY Awards®. Cat videos have The Friskies.

Cat video creators everywhere are encouraged to put their most entertaining and funniest content on display as the 2^nd Annual “The Friskies”, the major award show for best new internet cat videos of the year, is back. The Call for Entries is open now through July 15, 2013. Cat video creators may upload videos up to two minutes in length at www.TheFriskies.com in one of four categories:

• Cat Comedy: Your cat(s) in an humorous situation   
  
• Catventure: An indoor cat adventure     
  
• Rescue Cat:  Your cat(s) adopted from a rescue group or shelter enjoying life
• Pursuit of Food/Treat: Your cat(s) pursuing or engaging with their cat food or treat(s)

A total of $25,000 in cash prizes will be awarded amongst winners in four categories and the popular Fan Favorite from 12 finalists as well as a custom-made gold plated Friskies Catuette. The 20 Semi-Finalists will be awarded a one-year supply of Friskies cat food and Friskies® Party Mix brand cat treats. The Semi-Finalists will be announced August 6, 2013 to kick off the public voting phase of the Contest. Cat video fans will have the opportunity to view, share and vote (limit one (1) vote per entry/per person/e-mail address per day) for their favorite Semi-Finalists’ videos through noon ET September 16, 2013. Based on the popular public vote, the top three from each category will be named Finalists, and will win a trip to New York City to take part in the Friskies Award Show October 15, 2013, live from New York City. One winner from each of the four categories will be announced during the show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize. One Fan Favorite will be named based on public text vote on the day of the Award Show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize.

All entries will be evaluated by an eclectic panel of judges with strong ties to popular cat culture. Judges will evaluate each entry using the following criteria to select 20 Semi-Finalists, five from each category: originality & overall artistic impression (25%), audience appeal & entertainment quality (25%), sense that there’s a story being told (25%), and portraying cat’s perspective (25%). 

 The 2013 “The Friskies” judging panel includes:

·         Will Braden: Creator of “Henri le Chat Noir”

·         Mick Szydlowski: 2012 “The Friskies” Grand Prize Winner for “Oskar’s First Toys”

·         Abbie Moore: Executive Director, Adopt-a-Pet.com

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Centrum Flavor Burst

Shopping Savings: New Printable Coupons

Disclosure: Post contains affiliate or sponsored links, which support this blog at no cost to you.


$1.00 off any one Mott's For Tots Juice
$0.65 off ANY TWO (2) DOLE Canned Juices 46 oz
$0.75 off one (1) Simply Lemonade, any variety
$1.00 off TWO Bottles of Welch's Summer Sparkling
$1.00 off your favorite magazine
$2.00 off any ONE (1) Mars Ice Cream
$0.70 off ONE Kellogg's Special K Nourish™ Bars
$1.00 off Campbell's Skillet Sauces
$0.75 off any TWO (2) Barilla Pastas
$1.00 off any TWO Kashi Cereals
$1.00 off any Breathe Right product
$1.00 off 1 Quilted Northern Ultra Soft and Strong
$1.00 off ONE (1) Almay Liquid Lip Balm
$2.00 off any REACH Brand 2 Pack
$1.00 off any REACH Brand toothbrush
$2.50 off one Purina ONE beyOnd dog food
$1.10 off (2) packages of Friskies cat treats
SAVE $1.00 on any FIVE (5) boxes of Scotties® Facial Tissues
SAVE $1.00 on ANY L’Oréal® Paris Skincare (excludes trial size)
$0.75 OFF ANY package of BAR-S® Deli Shaved Lunchmeat
SAVE $2.00 off any ONE (1) Right Guard® Xtreme™ Antiperspirant or Deodorant
SAVE $1.00 on any ONE (1) Newman's Own® Frozen Pizza
SAVE $1.00 on any ONE (1) Newman’s Own® Complete Skillet Meal
SAVE $0.50 on any ONE (1) Newman's Own® Salad Dressing
SAVE $2.00 on ANY Ester-C® product
SAVE $1.00 on ANY Disney or Marvel Character Shaped Gummy Vitamins
SAVE $0.50 on the purchase of ANY LUIGI'S® Real Italian Ice product
$1.00 OFF any TWO (2) Polident® tablets (40ct or larger)
SAVE $2.00 on any ONE (1) box of Garnier® Nutrisse® haircolor

Thrifty Thinking: School Shopping

It might seem a little early to think about school shopping, but as you'll see from the tips below, it's a good idea to think about it all year long. Last year, according to National Retail Federation “Back-to-School” spending (combined K-12 and college spending) reached more than $83.8 billion. The average parent with children in grades K-12 spent approximately $688.62 on their children -- serving as the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays.

TheCalifornia Society of CPAs is the nation’s largest professional, non-profit, state professional association representing more than 40,000 CPAs in the area of tax, audit, accounting and consulting services such as personal finance. They offer the following steps parents and students can take to save money on back-to-school:

Step 1: Take an inventory. You might already have on hand some of the supplies--pens, pencils, notebooks--and don't need to buy them again.

Before you head to the mall, have your child clean out his closet. Need ... or want? A key personal-finance question for people of any age is: "Do I need it or do I just want it?" Armed with the list they made after going through their closets, get your child to clarify which items on the list are surefire needs.

Parents are often hesitant to say "we can't afford this" for fear of upsetting their child or because they don't want their child to go to school with less than other kids have. Instead, focus on your budget, and on the long-term goals you can attain by sticking to it. Don't be afraid to say, ‘we don't have endless cash for this stuff.’

Tell your children that if they come in under the budget limit, they can have the money to spend on some of those "want-but-don't-need" back-to-school items, like that pair of designer jeans.

Don't change your budget limit as you shop. If you're letting your children have $200, then that's the amount and don't waiver. Also, if they owe you money, make sure they pay it back. Make it real, because in real life, if you don't pay your car payment, you lose your car.

Setting a budget means you avoid the leakage issue. You drip out $20 here, $20 there. The children know they can keep coming back to the well and it keeps dripping. What have you taught your child? You've taught the child there's an entitlement program.

Step 2: Spread purchases out over the year, instead of buying an entire year's worth of outfits upfront. Besides, while fall fashions are now full price, they’ll be on sale in a few months--at significant savings to you. Don't charge school supplies if you won't be able to pay off your credit card when the bill comes in. Otherwise, the finance charges can wipe out any sales tax savings.

Step 3: Lower-income households should contact the school. Find out if there are any local programs in which businesses or other organizations donate school supplies.

Step 4: Use this time of the year to teach your children to withstand peer pressure to spend. Children are constantly tempted to spend money but aren't born with the ability to spend it wisely. Your child needs guidance from you to make good buying decisions. You can teach your child to think carefully about purchases by explaining that you will not buy him or her something every time you go shopping because his/her friend has the item. This will encourage your child to save up for something he or she really wants rather than buying something on impulse or because of peer pressure.

Step 5: Set up an allowance for your child.

With school starting, now's the time to set up an appropriate allowance for your child for the upcoming school year. If you have a teenager, ask her to track her purchases for a few weeks, then, estimate what her monthly expenses are. Then, decide what portion of that you're willing to pay for.

Step 6: Do additional research.

The California Society of CPAs has created a free Web site of articles, tools and resources to help consumers.

Fun Freetime: Freaky Pets Live (NYC)

A little over a year ago, Freaky Pets had under 1,000 fans on their Page and now they have over 42,000 and growing every single day! The Pets are real, living breathing creatures that sometimes look just like plush toys -- some big and some that transform from cute to cranky -- and sometimes kinda like humans who sing and dance! Freaky Pets are from Petania, an ancient place that is 4,000 miles southeast of the Ben & Jerry’s plant in Vermont (they’re kinda obsessed with Ice Cream!), just north of the equator, and a little south! They'll be having a Live Freaky Pets Show in NYC on June 23rd!

Money Makers: Sorority Alumni Casting

Doron Ofir Casting and a Major Cable Network officially announce the Nationwide search for Sorority Sisters who have kept the sisterhood alive past college for a brand new docu-series.
The iconic casting firm behind Model Employee, Jersey Shore and Millionaire Matchmaker are looking for sorority alumni who either live with, or in the same city as their sorority sisters. Do you live with or near your sorority sisters from college? Do you maintain the same code of ethics? Are your parties bigger? Are the men hotter? Is the drama amplified? Without a house mom, who is in charge? You lived together for the defining part of your college life—sisterhood was forged on the row, a sacred bond with virtue and elite standards. You redefined family and chose to continue the tradition after graduation. Just because you graduated doesn’t mean you have grown up… old school was for the boys—this is a house of legacies! Abide by your pledge and live Sorority Ever After. If you are at least 21 and appear under 35, want to hear your story. Apply Online!

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Disclosure: Post contains affiliate or sponsored links, which support this blog at no cost to you.

Chili's Flatbread  (still available)

Freebies!

Disclosure: Post contains affiliate or sponsored links, which support this blog at no cost to you.

Flatbread from Chili's
Nature Made VitaMelts  (Facebook)