December 2018

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past five years, chances are you have heard of North America’s latest sport fascination. Axe throwing has slowly crept its way into popular culture, to the point where now – less than a decade after the first leagues opened – it is a household name. That is a sharp uptick in popularity that recalls the Roller Derby craze of the early 2000s, and the interest doesn’t appear to waning any time soon.

Still, a lot of people haven’t tried it. It might be because the opportunity has never presented itself, or because they figure, ‘what could possible be so great about chucking some axes at some wooden targets?’. Whatever the reservation, this article is going to make the case that you should join an axe throwing league at some point, if just to try it; you get a solidly supportive community, an enticing sense of competition, a good amount of exercise and a unique experience unlike any other pastime sport.

Community

You might not be able to tell at first, from the heavily tattooed, bushy bearded guys that frequent many axe throwing leagues, but the community surrounding the sport is an incredibly supportively, incredibly inclusive one. Take for instance BATL, the Backyard Axe Throwing League, the largest and probably best known of the North American leagues, which makes a point of stressing that their facilities – and axe throwing in general – are open to people of all abilities, all walks of life and all types.

Competition

If you, like most people on planet earth, have a competitive side, but are starved for competitive outlets, axe throwing might be just what the doctor ordered. Not only is the act of axe throwing very cathartic, but the round robin competitions surrounding it can be the perfect mix of stress relief and competitivedrama. If you join an axe throwing league, it’s almost guaranteed that you will let out some of that workaday stress.

Exercise

Unsurprisingly, a sport that involves you hurling a heavy weapon repeatedly has some exercise benefits. What might comes as a surprise, however, is just how thorough the workout is. The act of axe throwing engages the core, meaning that you get a pretty well rounded exercise. And the cherry on top is that the sport is so fun and engaging, you hardly pay attention to the workout your body is getting. For people who find the gym a real grind, axe throwing could be your solution.

Uniqueness

Finally, you can’t discount the fact that axe throwing is just a cool hobby. Even though it’s enjoying a moment of popularity, it is still relatively rare to meet someone who has taken it on as a pastime, and as a result it still carries some mystery and import. You are guaranteed to leave your axe throwing league with at least a few badass photos of yourself, that’s for sure.

Whether you do it for the friends or the fitness, the competition or the Instagram posts, you should join an axe throwing league. One thing that’s absolutely guaranteed: you won’t be bored!

2018 Fall Gift Guide – Sponsors Information

1. We have a network of bloggers that you can choose from to work with.
2. The gift guide is featured on all blogs involved.
3. You can feature your products or have us run a giveaway to get your product more attention.
4. Giveaways are promoted by up to 40 Bloggers.
5. We share reviews on our social media and we share other Blogger’s reviews from the guide, not all bloggers involved.
6. We promote your product at least 3 times per week until the end of the guide – Chosen Blogger only

How many potential customers can you reach?

Below are the packages offered with each gift guide.

All Bloggers will be posting and promoting the Gift Guide.

1. Feature Package – A review or write-up about your product/service with blogger of your choice. The review will be shared minimum of 3 times per week by the chosen blogger on various social media. This is posted in the correct section of the gift guide. ($100 for first product, $50 for an additional products)
2. Giveaway Package – Includes Feature Package and a 3-week giveaway. This will be posted and shared by up to 40 blogs. You can have more than 1 winner of the same item. This is your product only. ($200 for first product, $100 for each additional with separate giveaway, $50 for additional items added to original giveaway)
3. Long Giveaway Package – Includes Feature Package. Giveaway starts the first week of the gift guide when possible, if bloggers has the product in time. If not the giveaway starts as soon as payment is made and a temporary review can be completed and updated when product received. The giveaway ends on last day of guide. (Your products only) You can have winners draw each week for 4 drawings. You can feature more than 1 product. ($300 for first product, $50 to add additional products to same giveaway and needing reviews – $150 for any needing separate giveaways)
4. Add on only – Multi-sponsors giveaway with packages of products given away to 3 – 4 winners depending on total package value. Product picture, company name and social media all linked on giveaway post and on entry form. Product name linked to where to purchase and a link to review also on the giveaway post. ($25 per product)

2018 GIFT GUIDE SCHEDULE

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Dogs love chasing things whether it’s sticks, cars or balls and this Nerf Dog Tennis  Ball Blaster is going to take their catch and retrieve game to the next level.

Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster|$29.99

Available on Amazon

I had a chance to play with this bad boy at the recent Toy Fair Convention at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City and it was so much fun. All I was doing was aiming to shoot at a bullseye. Once I got really good at it is when the guy who was over seeing the table mentioned that this is actually for dogs. I was shocked and delighted. I couldn’t wait to bring it home for my daughter’s dog Pugsley to play with.

The thing about Pugsley is that he’s a runner as in he’ll run away. So, if we shoot these for him to chase we have to do it in a confined area otherwise he’d chase the ball down, grab it an keep running. That’s important to note because this launcher sends the tennis balls pretty far which means we’d be getting just as much exercise as Pugsley trying to keep up with him to make sure he doesn’t run away to the next town.

This Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster is perfect for any dog that is full of energy. The ball launches pretty far as I mentioned. 50 ft to be exact so your dog with get a work out and a half. It comes with 4 nerf tennis balls that will fit comfortably in your dogs mouth. They’re soft enough for your dog to get a good grip.

You can find the Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster on Amazon and anywhere that Nerf products are sold including Walmart, Target and Toys r Us.

About the Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster

Nerf-Powered Blast: Skyrocket tennis balls 50 feet into the air! Hands-Free Pickup: Re-load totally hands-free, simply place the barrel over the ball Simple Operation: Just pull back on the handle, load ball, and shoot Adjustable Power: Easily change the distance of your shots and adapt to any environment 4 balls included, compatible with any standard-sized tennis ball or smaller A High-powered blaster launches your dog’s favorite fetching tennis ball over 50ft in the air. When your dog brings it back, stay in the game by placing the barrel on the tennis ball and pick it up “”hands-free””. NERF DOG blaster’s mechanism is safe for your hands with no exposed moving parts. Energy and excitement for your dog and safe control for you.

I received this product to give my honest opinion and to share with my followers. All opinions are mine.

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The biggest problem about finding a therapist is that if you don’t take the right steps, you will not only waste your time and money, but it will not be effective for your problems. When searching for a therapist online, you need to know that the most important aspects that will determine the success of the therapy is the relationship between the two of you. Therefore, it is vital that you work with a person who specializes in the kind of problems you’re dealing with, and someone who is a good fit for your kind of personality. This will make it easy for you to open up about everything that is bothering you.

How to find the right fit

When a person is going through a difficult part of their life, they tend to be confused about a lot of things and it becomes hard to make clear decisions. For this reason, finding a therapist becomes even harder than it would be under normal circumstances. Fortunately, there are people who can help you, and there are several ways you can find a good therapist online. Talk to a physician, a family member, or a friend, and ask them for a recommendation. Of course, this should only be the beginning of your search, not the end, because you will have to find out more about this specific therapist.

Why search on the internet?

Even though referrals cannot be underestimated, sometimes you justcan’t tell anybody about the things you are uncomfortable talking about. Inthis case, the internet will allow you to search for professionals withoutinvolving anybody that you know. This way, you can keep your business toyourself. On top of that, even if you do receive referrals, it doesn’t meanthat just because the therapist was good for them they will be good for youtoo. Everybody has unique problems and that therapist might not specialize inyour kind of problems. The internet, however, is an easier and faster way tofind someone that suits your needs. You can find several reputable therapistdirectories, such as e-counseling.com/directory, where you will find different types of therapists.

Searching for a therapist in your area

You can use a search engine to locate a professional therapist in your area. For instance, if you live in California, then you will search for therapists in California. However, “therapist” is a broad term and if you want to make things easier, you will need to specify the kind of therapist you are looking for. For example, you can look for a marriage counselor, a bipolar therapist, an adolescent counselor, or even a social worker if that’s what will work for you. You should thoroughly check the websites of your potential therapist, take down their number, and contact them so that you can ask them a few questions to gauge whether they are a good fit for you.

Closing thoughts

Though the internet is a very big help on searching for the right therapist, take it upon yourself to interview several of them before you make a final decision. After all, you’re going to be working very closely with this person, probably for some time. This means that you should be completely comfortable with them – both after your research and after your communication with them.

This post contains affiliate links if clicked on I may receive a small commission to support this blog. 

I remember being a kid and playing Perfection. It’s a very fun game but, also very nerve wrecking trying to get all the pieces in correctly before time runs out and the game pops up scattering the pieces all over the place.

Perfection|$16

Available on Amazon

You have to get 25 pieces into their right place before the timer goes off. This is a timeless game that was fun when I was a kid and still fun today which is why I recommend it as a gift for kids and even for an entire family.

You can set the timer all the way for the entire time allotted or you can be a rebel and set it for a shorter amount of time to see how many pieces you can get in to their slots in the shortest amount of time. Perfection has small pieces so it’s not recommended for kids under 3 years old. The perfect recommended age to play is 7 – 10 years old. You can find Perfection on Amazon or anywhere that toys and games are sold.

About Perfection

Ready, set, go! Be the quickest to fit all 25 shapes into their matching holes in the tray. But watch the timer! If it runs out…pop goes the Perfection game! The player who matches all 25 shapes in the shortest time wins. While kids are having a blast playing the Perfection game, they can also practice valuable skills including focus, hand-eye coordination, and shape recognition. Play without the timer so that it’s easier for younger players. And, when they’re all done playing, easily store the pieces inside the game unit. Choking Hazard: Not recommended for children under 3 years old. Recommended for children 5 years and up.

I received this product to give my honest opinion and to share with my followers. All opinions are mine.

• return to A Rain of Thought Gift Guide
• return to SMGuru Gift Guide

This post contains affiliate links if clicked on I may receive a small commission to support this blog. 

If you haven’t had a chance to try Bella Sun Luci products then you’re missing out and I’m here to change that. The first time I tried their Sun Dried Tomatoes on a bruschetta I was in heaven. I used their recipe which I’ll include below.

Bella Sun Luci| Varied Prices

Available on Amazon

In addition to the great flavors and options the prices are so incredibly reasonable that you can make a really nice kit for the foodie in your life and pick several products like the ones below.

Risotto

I’ve always wanted to make Risotto but never attempted to make it because I heard it’s a long process and unlike rice , you can’t just leave it to cook until it’s done. I was excited to get the Risotto from Bella Sun Luci and was determined to finally take the plunge. The instructions are on the back of the container and easy to follow. Yes, I still had to watch and stir the risotto 20 minutes but that was quite alright once me and my family tried it’s. It’s delicious and they come in different flavors from Cranberry Almond,Tomato & Wild Mushroom andSun Dried Tomato Risotto.

The Marinades

The marinades aren’t too shabby either. I tried them for the first time just like the risotto. It’s amazing to marinate your meat in a few minutes and just cook. Perfect for people who get home late from work and still want some flavor in their food. Again, they are priced right so you can pick up a few flavors and put them together for a nice gift.  You can choose from Korean BBQ,Basque Norte Meat (which I absolutely loved) and Carne Asada

Sun Dried Tomato

Then of course there’s the sun dried tomatoes which is what originally got me hooked on the Bella San Luci products. As promised here’s the recipe for the Bella Bruschetta (You can also print it here):

Ingredients

Sour or French Baguette, sliced 8 oz tub of spreadable cheese 1 – 8.5 oz jar of Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Fresh herbs to garnish

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This post contains affiliate links. If clicked on I may receive a small commission to support this blog.  MouseTrap is one of those […] This post contains affiliate links if clicked on I may receive a small commission to support this blog.  I remember being a kid […]

Hip Hop duo Vally & Rocket originally met while serving in the Army together. The talented duo formed a group and have been building a buzz across the south from Arizona to Georgia. 

Their latest single “Winnebago” gives a taste of their catchy lyrics and flow. The vibe is really nice and they compliment each other with their rhyme styles. There’s even a dance to go with the song so make sure you learn it.

We connected with Vally & Rocket for our Music Spotlight series and had a fun chat with them about their music and goals. You can check out the video to “Winnebago” below and get to know them via the sometimes humorous interview.

You can follow them on Snapchat(@mister_rocket,  @vallydoesit) and also connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to hear more of music which they’ll be dropping mid-December.

Describe your music for those who have never heard it.

Vally Does It: Trap, Soul, Fun, Party, Fellas wanna get a smart fine ass woman who cares about you then listen to Vally & Rocket. Ladies wanna bag a real man than listen to Vally & Rocket. 

Randy Rocket: Man that’s a hard ass question because we can be super versatile. I don’t think you can box us in with anyone description. Just listen to it, the shit is undeniable.

Have you ever sat in one of those heated massage chairs in the mall, at the nail salon or Planet Fitness and wished you could have one of your very own at home? Me too. But, they’re so big and bulky and probably cost a fortune. 

Well, I have a solution to that. I was super geeked to get this Shiatsu Back Massager With Heat to test out in the comfort of my home. It doesn’t take up much space and I can use it on my couch or on my computer chair. I’ve even used it while sitting in my bed.

The Shiatsu Back Massager with heat by has so many features that you’ll be getting that spa experience without leaving your home and it’s a really great price. We’re even giving you an extra 10% off if you purchase using my special link: 
https://dealspotr.com/getcode/I4oMb

Shiatsu Back Massager w/Heat -15% Discount

This massager has done wonders for me. After a long hard workout or if I’ve been out and about walking around all day I like to come home, take a nice long shower and then just sit in my chair and crank up the massager. I’m working my way through the different modes and kneading intensity. There are so many options and features. Here’s some of what you’ll getL

12 ROLLING MASSAGE NODES – 4 shiatsu massage nodes caress your neck well and it can be moved up and down vertically catering different height; 8 deep-kneading massage nodes soothe the tension of your upper & lower or even fullback. With the 12 massage nodes, Keeptop massage seat cushion not only provides a deep-kneading type of massage but also can be used in multiple places of your full body like neck shoulder back thigh buttocks, which will give you a wonderful shiatsu massaging experience

HEAT FUNCTION AND MULTIPLE PROTECTION- The built-in infrared heating can be more effective to relieve muscles fatigue which is optional and set by yourself. Equipped with the 15-minute auto shut-off system and overheat protection device, plus the certification from CE, FCC and RoHS ensures quality safety, it brings you no worries about the safety.

INDEPENDENT REMOTE CONTROLLER– Using a handheld remote controller, you can independently and easily control 3 different massaging areas: ① Adjust the position at “Up” and “Down” for the neck massage that suits you best; ② Choose 8 moveable shiatsu nodes to massage your upper & lower and even entire back; ③ Adjust the 3-level intensities of the buttock part for your comfort

ALL YOU WANT -① Excellent PU leather, wear-resistant cloth of neck part and breathable 3D mesh fabric let you enjoy the back massager with comfort; ② With wall & car adapter included, you can use it everywhere you want; ③ Weighs only 5.4kg to carry and move with ease; ④ 16.5 x 15 x 31.5 inches plus the adjustable massage nodes of the neck part catering for different heights; ⑤ Nice package makes it could be a surprise present to your parents, lover or friends.

What do you think of the Shiatsu Back Massager? Is it something you would get for yourself or for someone you love as a gift? If so, don’t forget to use my link to get 15% off your purchase. Enjoy and be relaxed! 

I recevied this item for review purposes. All opinions are mine. This post contains affiliate links.

I haven’t taken off this Tennis Cross Necklace since I received it. When I saw HipHopBling.com was selling it I thought it would be a big cross worthy enough for a rapper but, it’s a really nice and delicate piece of jewelry.

3MM CZ Tennis Cross Bling Bling Stainless Steel| $34.95

This 3MM CZ Diamond Bling Bling Cross is made with Stainless Steel so it will not tarnish or fade. It has a high polish with a smooth back. The cross has an incredible shine for a smaller sized hip hop cross. The length is 35MM and the width is 17MM. The cross comes on a free stainless steel bead chain that can be cut shorter or you can upgrade the chain for a little bit more money.

People compliment me on the necklace all the time. The cubic zirconia is really great quality and people can’t tell that they are not ds

If you’re looking for a classy and tasteful cross necklace for yourself or as a gift that still has that appeal then this is the necklace for you. The necklace can be worn by men and women. It’s a gift that your teen would appreciate. I’d even get it for a religious person. I can see my  aunt wearing it with pride on her way to church.

You can find this gorgeous stainless steel tennis cross necklace at HipHopBling.com on sale for $34.95. You can also find other great jewelry and stylish clothes and use there 25% off code to get some holiday discounts.