Retail Secret Top Pick - Electronic Toothbrush

If you are in the market to lower your dental bills, Retail Secrets has the best way to get it done.

Consider purchasing an Oral-B Triumph Toothbrush with Wireless Smart Guide. I first started using a Philips Sonicare Essence Toothbrush, e5300 which worked really well but it required a lot of cleaning maintenance. The design requires the brushed to be screwed on and the area below the brush gets very unsanitary and requires periodic cleaning. By accident, I left it at a hotel while on vacation so I had to purchase a new brush.

When I saw the Oral B Triumph, I knew that I was ready for a change. The Oral-B Triumph Toothbrush with Wireless Smart Guide requires no internal hand cleaning! The brush is designed to be removed on daily and placed in the holder in the base that holds the handle. The brush attachment assortment is great. This brush gets your teeth super clean in fact I go through less cleaning at dentists visits.


Check out the Oral-B Triumph Toothbrush with Wireless Smart Guide to change your brushing routine.

Happy Brushing

Setting and sticking to your travel budget

Travel can be one of the biggest-ticket items you invest in each year, so it's worth it to plan ahead.

Setting a budget - and sticking to it - can help you stay in better control of spending. According to a recent Visa survey, a majority (54 percent) of last year's summer travelers either didn't set a budget or overspent their budget while traveling, and more than a quarter of those surveyed overspent by more than $250. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, it's important to create a realistic travel budget and make a plan for how you will spend within your means while on the road.

To create a budget, think through your trip. First, include the basics such as transportation to and from your destination, and lodging. Next, plan for expenses that come up along the way such as meals on the road, host/hostess gifts, rental cars or public transportation. Don't forget to include entertainment - whether sightseeing or going to the movies. It's also a good idea to build in a cushion for the unexpected.

Once you've set your travel budget, you need to stick to it. One tool that can help is a prepaid travel card. A prepaid card draws from funds that are set aside in advance for purchases. Here are a few ways prepaid travel cards can come in handy:

* Keep travel funds separate. An easy way to make sure you don't go over budget is to set your travel budget aside on a prepaid travel card. Simply load the card with your travel budget, and use it for everything from online booking to grabbing lunch during an (unexpectedly extended) layover without worrying about spending more than you planned or dipping into gift-buying funds.

* Access cash. Whether you need a few dollars or several yen, choose a prepaid card that will allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs around the world. If you're traveling internationally, it'll also save you the hassle of tracking down and waiting in line for local currency.

* Browse and buy. Look for a prepaid card that you can use online. Travel sites offer a wealth of information and detailed listings of competing offers from airlines and hotels as well as reviews from fellow travelers. For flights, you can typically compare possible savings by traveling on alternate days or from nearby airports. Once you spot the deal that works for your budget, use your prepaid travel card to snap it up.

* Enjoy peace of mind when traveling. Prepaid cards may come with travel-related services. For example, the Visa TravelMoney card offers Zero Liability for lost or stolen cards as well as lost luggage reimbursement and purchase security. Make sure you know which benefits your card offers and how they work so you can tap into them should the need arise.

With some advance preparation and the right tools in place, you don't have to overspend on travel. In fact, with some careful planning, you could end up with enough left to buy yourself a little something to remember the trip. For more information about Visa TravelMoney, visit: www.visa.com/travelmoney.

Foodie Alert: 3 Course Meals for $12.99 are Back at FRIDAYS!

LET'S CELEBRATE! Friday's® Restaurants to Feature Everyday Value with More than 300 Full-Course Appetizer/Entrée/Dessert Combinations Including Two New 'Sizzling' Entrees and Four New Appetizers/Starters

T.G.I. Friday's restaurants (www.fridays.com) is bringing back its popular "3 for $12.99" dinner menu with more than 300 full-course appetizer/entrée/dessert combinations for a limited time at nearly all restaurants in the U.S. Friday's is featuring two new sizzling entrées and four new appetizers, including three new starter Wedge Salads.

Friday's new food items include:

Sizzling Parmesan-Crusted Chicken – Two Parmesan-Crusted sautéed chicken breasts basted with a touch of Caesar and served on a sizzling skillet of melted cheese and freshly prepared Bruschetta mix with a side of angel hair pasta topped with zesty Roma-tomato, basil and garlic marinara.

Sizzling Chicken Mexicali – Two seasoned chicken breasts sautéed to juicy perfection and served sizzling on melted Mexican cheese with roasted Poblano pepper, green onion, and pico de gallo and with slow cooked coconut jasmine rice with diced pineapple, onion, red pepper, cilantro, and green onion.

Italian Wedge Salad – Crisp iceberg lettuce drizzled with House Vinaigrette and topped with fresh Bruschetta mix and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Southwest Wedge Salad – Cold, fresh and crisp iceberg lettuce smothered with Avocado Chipotle Ranch dressing, black bean & corn pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses.

Classic Wedge Salad – A fresh and crisp wedge of cold iceberg lettuce smothered in Bleu Cheese dressing with crisp bacon, diced tomato and crumbled Bleu cheese.
Southwest Chicken Quesadilla – Spicy chipotle chicken stuffed in a crispy tortilla with melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, served with roasted salsa, pico de gallo, crisp lettuce, sour cream and hand-chopped cilantro

Retail Secrets says anytime you can get a 3 course meal for just $12.99 take advantage of immediately. But we also notice that Fridays is using the cheaper iceberg lettuce to showcase as part of this promotion. Maybe they will substitute romaine lettuce if you ask!

Get in Your Car and Go!

Winter cooking: 'Tis the season to grill

The bold, unique flavor of grilled foods is more popular than ever - from steaks (the hands down favorite), burgers and chicken, to grilled vegetables and appetizers. And while grilling is typically thought to be the quintessential summer cooking activity, an increasing number of Americans are firing up their grills year-round.

In fact, winter is becoming the new grilling season, according to the NPD Group's 23rd annual Eating Patterns in America report. So if you find yourself looking wistfully at the patio and dreaming about grilling without having to stand in the cold, an indoor grill is your best bet.

Today's manufacturers offer indoor grills that allow you to enjoy the flavors of outdoor cooking any time of year. For example, Calphalon'a Removable Plate Grill has an oversized grilling surface that makes it easy to sear large steaks, chicken and pork chops or even delectable panini sandwiches. The exclusive Opti-Heat system ensures even heat delivery and the high-performance bronze nonstick surface allows for low-fat or non-fat cooking. The adjustable grill height fits even the thickest burgers, or can lightly brown delicate foods such as fish or seafood. So what's the most popular grill flavor?

Not surprisingly, barbeque flavors ranked among "Flavor and The Menu" magazine's Top 10 Flavors Trends of the year. Even children's tastes have evolved. They have learned to enjoy flavors that often accompany grilled foods; International Flavors and Fragrances Group data shows that "classic" children's flavors now include sour cream and onion, buffalo, and honey-mustard.

And while men typically grill more than women, indoor grilling is so user-friendly that it encourages all home cooks to experiment and go beyond the basics, recreating the foods of specialty restaurants like panini, quesadillas and crostini - more proof that as classics prevail, the American palate is expanding and growing more sophisticated. Another advantage: Indoor grilling makes for easy clean-up. The Calphalon'a Removable Plate Grill features grill plates and an internal drip tray that are removable and dishwasher safe.

So brush off the tongs and heat up the indoor grill. Invite some friends over to enjoy a meal or snack while watching the game on TV. Then sit back and relax in the warmth of your home.

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A Fresh, Fast And Fabulous Low Fat New Year's Meal

Serving a healthful, home-cooked meal to stick with a weightloss resolution is easier than you might imagine.

In fact, cooking light and luscious meals is what the test kitchens at Cooking Light magazine specialize in. The kitchen crew has put together a cookbook,"
Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast," with 160 mouthwatering menus that are not only great for you but taste great, too.

With short ingredient lists, straightforward procedures and fresh ingredients, the recipes and meals in this cookbook may transform your weeknight meals.

Favorites include roasted vegetable pizza, corn and bacon chowder, chocolate pretzel bark and this recipe for Kalamata-Balsamic Chicken with Feta.

KALAMATA-BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH FETA

Prep: 4 minutes

Cook: 14 minutes

4 (6-ounce) skinless boneless chicken breast halves

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking spray

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

16 pitted Kalamata olives, halved

3 tablespoons light balsamic vinaigrette

3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons small basil leaves

1. Sprinkle chicken evenly with pepper.

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray.

Cook chicken 6 to 7 minutes on each side until done. Transfer chicken to a serving platter; keep warm.

3. While chicken cooks, combine tomatoes, olives and vinaigrette in a medium bowl.

4. Add tomato mixture to pan; cook one to two minutes or until tomatoes soften. Spoon over chicken. Top evenly with cheese and basil.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast, ¼ cup tomato mixture and ¾ tablespoons cheese).

Other Cooking Light Cookbooks:


Available at Borders.com

Get free shipping at Borders.com for orders over $25

10 Ways to Create a More Hopeful 2010 (and Most of Them are Free)

2009 was not an easy year. Here are a few ideas to help make 2010 a better year for you, your friends and family, and perhaps even the world.


1. Let Someone Know You Care
E-mails and text messages are no match for a heartfelt, handwritten message. Mail a REAL card or note to someone, right now. And if you don't know someone who needs a lift, then simply write the word HOPE on the back of anything you mail.

www.HopeIsInTheCards.org
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2. Shop Local
Pick three local businesses. Spend $50 with these neighborhood enterprises instead of a national chain. You don't add anything to your budget, and you help keep small businesses going.

www.the350project.net

3. Read To A Child
You feel great, the child feels great, you promote learning and education and it's just plain fun to do.

www.readingfoundation.org

4. Play With A Puppy (or a kitten)

A visit to your local animal shelter or pet store is all it takes. If you know your zip code, go online and find a fuzzy friend nearby.

www.petfinder.com


5. Get Inspired
Loren Gelberg-Goff's internet radio show, Loving The Life You're In, serves up a weekly dose of positive, upbeat tips and conversations with some of the world's most interesting guests and experts.

www.worldtalkradio.com

6. Thank A Soldier
These people put their lives out there to serve our country. Let them know you'll be happy when they're home again.

www.amillionthanks.org

7. Give Something Back

Ditch TV for one hour and serve a meal at a shelter. Drive someone to an appointment. Paint over some graffiti. That hour will be treasured far longer than any sitcom.

www.unitedway.org

8. Turn Everything Off For 5 Minutes
TVs, stereos, iPods, computers, lights, clocks, the heat....everything. The quiet, the thoughtfulness, the lack of buzzing....it does wonders.







9. Go Outside
There is something inspiring outside -- even if it's just a weed in a crack on the sidewalk. Think about it -- with nothing but rain and sunshine and the ickiest bits of dust and dirt, that weed broke through concrete! If a little plant can do it, so can you.





10. Spin
In your office chair. In the elevator when no one else is in there. Outside. Nothing so easy can make you feel so 8 years old again. And when you were 8, anything was possible.

It still is.

Have a happy, hopeful New Year.