NMEDA- Helping the Elderly and Disabled get Back on the Road of Independence

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

You may or may not have ever heard of NMEDA.  NMEDA is a non-profit trade association of mobility equipment dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists, and other professionals dedicated to broadening the opportunities for people with disabilities to drive or be transported in vehicles modified with mobility equipment.  And after learning about NMEDA, you may or may not have any need for them.  But imagine if you did sometime in the future.  Or maybe you do have a family member who could benefit from their services now.

If you're a caregiver for someone with a disability it can be a tough job, and no two people with a disability are exactly the same.  After a personalized “in-person” evaluation (beware of adapted wheelchair vehicles sold over the Internet or through catalogs), you can be sure you are getting the right driving solution customized to your specific lifestyle and needs.  And if you need additional training or product refinements, your NMEDA dealer is there to help you.

NMEDA does not sell anything.  NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled people.  They are non-profit and their members are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  NMEDA dealers, the members, are the ones who sell handicap vans and vehicle modifications for disabled people.  You can read more about the entire purchase process on their site.

NMEDA has Dealers AND Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers.  The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry.  It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

You can locate a qualified NMEDA dealer right from their website, either by State or Zip Code, and you'll be able to see whether they're also a QAP dealer.  I was unaware that there are actually several around the area here in Michigan.  You can also stay connected with NMEDA on  Twitter and Facebook.

Family Fun with the PlayStation Move

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you looking for something new and fun to do with your family instead of the standard family board games night?  Then check out the PlayStation Move-it has something for everyone. Whether you’re experienced, casual, or somewhere in between, PlayStation Move has a wide variety of games including sports, action, party, family, and shooters.

Here's the product information from the PlayStation Move website:
The PlayStation Move is a combination of the PlayStation3 system, the PlayStation Eye camera and the PlayStation Move motion controller.  The motion gaming technology is housed in the pairing of the motion controller and the eye camera.  The sphere at the end of the motion controller allows the eye camera to pinpoint your every movement and position within the room.  This tracking is translated, with absolute precision, into gameplay.  So when you hit that bullseye, it won’t be a fluke.

If a little genie were to appear and give my family the PlayStation Move, I think it would be awesome.  I've been seeing the commercials and it looks like a blast.  Our girls are young, 5 and under, but this would be great for my hubby and I and our 5 year old, and for when we have relatives over for family get-togethers.  My brothers and sisters love playing games- we've done other gaming systems, but this looks like a whole new level of gaming fun!

I think for our family, with our girls being so young, the games we would be most excited to play on the PlayStation Move would be Start the Party! and  EyePet.  I think my 5 year old would really love both of those, and I'm sure the younger girls (1 & 2 1/2 year old) would love to watch.  For myself, and for sibling get togethers, I'd probably go with the Sports Champions.  I'm a very competitive person and love sports and staying in shape, so I think this would be right up my alley.

Find out if the Move is right for your family, and if you already have a PlayStation3 you can bring motion gaming exclusively to your existing system for only $99 with the MOVE bundle package!  To learn more, check out the FAQ's on the PlayStation Move Blog.

Need a new cell phone... and better cell phone company

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

So, I'm in the market for a new cell phone and checking out all my options.  My contract is up with my current company next month and I planned on switching to someone else, just not sure who.  And the fact that my phone also fell in the toilet last week is making finding another phone that much more imperative.  It still works... just not quite the same.

Boost Mobile offers some pretty convenient features:

• Re-Boost method to quickly & easily add funds to your account
• flexible payment options- on-line, in-person, or pay by phone
• You can use your debit/credit card to make a payment or sign-up for worry-free automatic payments
• activation takes just a couple of minutes
• you can sign up for xtras that let you hear about special events, promotions, and more

Boost Mobile phones keep you in the social network too; updating Facebook and Twitter are simple. As a blogger, and I know for others too, that's definitely important to be able to connect to social media from your phone.  It's good to keep up-to-date on what's happening on the web and let others know what you're up to.

Boost Mobile devices offer unlimited connectivity to Facebook for one price per month.  I love to be able to check my Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends, but I'm not always at a computer, so having the option to do it from my phone would be great.

Two of the most popular phones and their plans that Boost Mobile offers are:
• Blackberry- you can check out the plan details here
• Motorola i1- you can check ou the plan details here

So it's good to explore all my options when considering a new cell phone and carrier.  I have another month to do my homework and compare the companies and features to find the one that's best for me.  What about you- which carrier do you use, are you happy with the phone and service?

Win a FREE Weekend Stay at any Hampton Hotel

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

This is the last week to enter for a chance to win a free weekend stay with Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes.  Until September 4, 2010, they're giving away a weekend stay daily to the winner and three of their friends.  And if you're the Grand Prize winner you could win an entire hotel for a weekend!

How cool would that be?  With summer ending and the kids going back to school, this could either be a fun weekend trip with the kids or a mini-getaway for you and some friends.  If I won a weekend stay away from home, it'd be a tough decision between those two.  My kids may win out, but since I never get a mommy weekend I may just call up some girlfriends and hit the road.

I wouldn't go too far... but just far enough so that my hubby can't bring the kids and come find me.  There's actually a Hampton Inn right in the city where I live but I might just opt to go to the one in the next city over.  Short enough that it's a fun little road trip but lets us feel like we're getting away from all the stress for awhile.

I think having a weekend away from it all every once in awhile is a necessary thing for your sanity and for some rest and relaxation- a nice break from the humdrum of work and home life.  And having some good friends to share that with would be awesome!  Can you tell I already have this planned out in my head... I'd so love to win!

Send Gift Cards Online!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of FriendGiftr. All opinions are 100% mine.

Wow, I wish I would’ve heard about FriendGiftr a month ago!  June is one of the busiest months in my family- 5 birthdays, Father’s Day, & there is almost always a graduation party or two.  One of my brother’s lives down south in Georgia and I totally forgot to get his birthday card in the mail on time.  This would have saved me the stress of buying a card, buying stamps, and then sending it by snail mail.  I could have just sent an instant gift card online to somewhere he eats, like Red Robin or Applebee’s.

When you use Friendgiftr, you can choose from over 120 of your favorite retail and restaurant gift cards.  Choose amounts from as little as $10, all the way up to $100! And you’re able to buy and send real digital and/or physical gift cards to your family, friends, co-workers… for any special occasion.  But what I thought was really cool about Friendgiftr is that the receiver has the option to exchange the gift card for any of the other merchants if they want, at no additional cost and without the buyer knowing.  So now they can get what they really want.  They can also split the gift card across multiple merchants- enabling the ulitmate user choice and control!

Using Friendgiftr is totally convenient too- you can buy your gift cards from their website, Facebook, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and more.  I myself would love one from Kohl's or Texas Roadhouse (*hint, hint- my birthday is in September*).   ;)

I Signed Up For SocialSpark

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I seen a post over at Mama's Cool Things about SocialSpark and decided to check it out for myself.  It's a site that gives bloggers the chance to make money writing reviews (sponsored posts) or by posting display ads on your blog or website.  The site itself is very easy to register for and after you claim your blog you can start taking opportunities that you qualify for (like this one).  Payments are paid via Paypal once you've reached $50.

SocialSpark is very user friendly and easy to navigate. All you have to do is look for opportunities that are open and you qualify for (that are in green). And if there is a wait you can add it to queue and once available, they will notify you and you have 12 hours to complete the post.  Once you take an opportunity, the requirements (min. # of words, links to use, etc.) are clearly stated, making it easy to get your post up quickly.

SocialSpark also strives for transparency and honesty in all communications.  So it's a must to have a full in-post disclosure when writing a sponsored post (like at the beginning of this one) so your readers will know. You can read about their Code of Ethics to learn more.

I'm excited to be trying out SocialSpark and if you're interested also, you can Sign up for SocialSpark in just a few easy steps.