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My stay at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek for BlogHer 17

The Hilton Bonnet Creek was the host hotel for BlogHer17 where I was a speaker. It was an amazing conference.  It was my first time attending and I am so glad that the Hilton Bonnet Creek was the place where I was able to experience the conference for the very first time.

 

Upon arrival I was greeted with beautiful manicured lawns and flowers.

hilton orlando bonnet creek

 

When I checked into my room a beautiful comfy bed awaited me.

I just LOVE upholstered headboards

 

On top of the soft comfy huge bed I had an AMAZING view of the property from my window.

 

Check out those lush greens. Makes me want to learn how to play golf!!!

The lazy river looked so inviting…too bad I had my hair straightened for this trip or I would have jumped right on in. I am actually excited to bring my girls here for a family trip.

I didnt get many pics of the restaurants but I will say you need to definitely get a Myth burger from the Myth lobby restaurant. The burger has to be one of the best I have ever eaten and the patty is made of  brisket and short ribs. INSANELY DELICIOUS.

In addition to amazing views, great food and a restful sleep, I had a fantastic time at BlogHer 17 and here a few pics

 me and carla hall at blogher 17Me and Carla Hall from The Chew on ABC

I can’t wait to come back to the hotel in the near future!!!

Have you ever stayed at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek? If so, comment below and let me know how you enjoyed it. Check out my other travel posts here.

    Saving Money with Ebates and Macy’s

    I love saving money using Ebates and I am going to show you how I saved money on a large winter coat.

     

    I live is South Texas and it is not normally cold here. As many of you know the US has had a massive freeze that has hit the nation hard. This led to the need for me to get a new heavier coat.  I searched hi and low to find a new coat and happened to be on Instagram and saw a post by Jenell B Stewart who showcased a new winter coat she purchased from Macy’s for the brutal New York winters that she lives through.  Her post led me to check out coats on Macys.com

    I found the following coat and saved a ton

     

    Let me show you how!!!

     

    The original price of the coat was $245 and was on sale for $79.99

    I used a 15% discount code which got me an additional $12 off. this brought my total to $67.99

    See below to see my total after shipping and tax

     

     

    PLUS I earned 8% cash back from EBATES when I purchased because  I activated my Ebates button in my toolbar when I started my online shopping trip.

    ebates button from my toolbar

     

    You can get Ebates and save money on all your necessities as well.  I DON’T like to shop in stores and I LOVE saving money so Ebates helps me stretch my dollar.

     

    If you are looking for coupon codes check out retail me not.

     

    Let me know what you do to save money.

      5 Ways to Protect Yourself from AIDS

      Last year, I posted a picture of my father for World AIDS Day.  I received an amazing amount of support from you all and I am so thankful for that.  As December 1st approached this year, I struggled with whether or not to blog about my father again.  I discussed it with my husband and he encouraged me to share if it were important to me. It is.

      My father was and is very important to me. The older I get, I find myself missing him more, especially when my children reach milestones that I wish he were here to see. There have been times during my marriage that I could’ve used his counsel as well. Yesterday, as my family and I were discussing what an ‘engagement’ was, my youngest daughter asked what a ‘proposal’ was. I explained that it’s when a man goes to his girlfriend’s father to ask for her hand in marriage.  After explaining it to her, I became sad thinking about how much my father has always meant to me.

      In his honor, I’d like to share with you 5 ways to protect yourself from AIDS.

       

      AIDS has a face. Know your status.(1)

       

      1. Know Your Status

      It’s scary to even imagine hearing the words, “You are HIV positive.” While I am blessed to have never heard those words, I do know that it is important for me to get tested every year.  Why?  Because my father was a married man when he tested positive. No one is immune to HIV. My children need me to take care of them, so I must first take care of me and I do this by knowing my status.

       

      Sentimental childhood photos of me with my father

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      2. Know that HIV is NOT a death sentence

      You are NOT a bad person because you have HIV.  HIV, a human immunodeficiency virus, is a disease that if managed properly can provide life long results. Over the years, many cases have proven that though there isn’t a cure, thousands of people are finding it easier to live with HIV, especially when it’s detected early. Visit Healthline to learn how to join an online support group during times of need.

       

      3. Don’t engage in risky behavior

      Do not share needles. Do no have unprotected sex. Do not sleep with both men and women. If you choose to, it is your responsibility to immediately let each party know that you are actively engaging in sexual activity with both sexes. Not only is doing this medically safe, but it can save heartache in the long run.

       

      4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions..and get tested together

      If your sexual partner is apprehensive about disclosing their status or about being tested, they should no longer be your partner of choice! No one is worth your health, so do not let a moment of pleasure cloud your judgement.

       

      5. Get regular checkups and be honest with your healthcare provider

      Obamacare has given everyone the luxury to rightfully see a doctor when in need. There are also many free and/or low cost clinics sweeping the nation. At your appointment, it’s imperative that you’re honest with your doctor about your sex regimen so that they may provide you with the best care possible. To find an STD clinic near you, visit Your STD Help for more information.

      Don’t let today be in vain. Get tested on World AIDS Day and encourage those around you to do the same. AIDS has a face, so it’s important to always know your status.

        2016 Holiday Gift Guide

        Crystal’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

        The most wonderful time of year is upon us and I couldn’t be happier about it. This year, I’ve been busy raising my family, building my business, and connecting with amazing women along the way. Still, I decided to take a little time out to create a simple holiday gift guide for those of you needing gift ideas for your friends and family. My guide only has five items, but they’re things that would make any busy mom’s life more efficient and stylish.

        See why they made the cut onto my holiday gift guide.

        2016-holiday-gift-guide

        1. Sony Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Camera

        My girls and I are wanting to start a vlog.  I need a more portable camera that won’t weigh me down carrying it around everywhere.  I have watched a flew vlogs and consulted with a few of my curl friends and influencers and this camera seems to be the one everyone is raving about.  From its portability to ease of use, this one is a cult classic.  Even better, this camera has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating.  You can find this $549.99 camera body and lens at Best Buy.

        2. Vera Bradley Weekender Bag

        I work full time and operate a business, which means I travel quite a bit.  This beautiful Vera Bradley bag will give me the space that I need to store what I need without being so big that I have to check my baggage.   Plus, it’s fabulous and is in my favorite color! Grab your weekender bag here.

        3.  Ted & Muffy Boots

        So because I have big calves (which I had even when I was skinny) I have not been able to find knee high boots.  I loved being able to wear tall boots but haven’t been able to find any in years.  Imagine my excitement when I found this brand and you can find them for calves of all widths.  Made with the finest Italian leathers, so you know you are getting top quality.  I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair of these.   Purchase your handcrafted boots here.

        4. Alex and Ani Bracelets

        I recently discovered these simple yet gorgeous bracelets.  I love that they come with symbols that symbolize things important to you. My favorite symbol is the fleur de lis and my sign is sagittarius.  So I will definitely be picking up some for these.  I am a less is more type of gal and these are right up my alley.  These bracelets and more can also be found online at Alex and Ani for around $19+.

        5. Jord Wood Watch

        Jord wood watches focus on creating timepieces that are modeled after a modern lifestyle. The watches can be engraved!!! This is a perfect gift for those who love watches like I do.  I am a simple girl and all I need is a watch on one wrist and a simple bracelet on the other.  This beautiful watch is online here.

         

        I hope you enjoyed this guide as it was fun to create. I want to also share Flor Bella Boutique’s Cyber Monday sale with you. Use code: CYBER16 to receive 25% off your purchase until 11:59 pm PST on 11/28/16. Shop our satin hand made bonnets here.

        fbb_cyber-monday-sale-2016

        What’s on your holiday gift guide this year?

          How I save money on the BEST hair and beauty products

          Hey Bellas,
          My blog started as Crystal’s Curls & Q’s; a hodgepodge, if you will, of hair and coupons and how I combine both to have the best for less.  I have changed the name of the blog, but my mission has not changed.

          This post is all about how I just saved quite a bit on my recent purchase from skinstore.com and how you can save, too, when purchasing high dollar items at more expensive online shops.

          As you can see below, I was trying to obtain some clarisonic brush heads in the 4 pack. Those are no longer available and I had to purchase (2) of the 2pack.  The highlight of this picture, however, is the pink banner below showing that there is a 20% off coupon STOREWIDE!!!!

           

           

          The green bar at the top of this pictures shows that if you shop online at skinstore.com using EBATES you earn a WHOPPING 12% back.
          (This is a toolbar that I installed on my computer. Any website I visit that offers cash back through EBATES automatically populates the green banner to alert me to my savings. All I do is click the activate cash back button.) You can install the toolbar here: http://www.ebates.com/button.htm

           

          Here is the screenshot of my final purchase showing what I paid and what I will save (remember the 4pack of brush heads were no longer available and I had to get (2) of the 2 packs.)
          The 4 pack sold for $75 which was $13 cheaper. But you can’t win them all. LOL!!

           

          You can see I saved $17 with the 20% coupon and I earned $8.44 cash back that will be deposited into my Paypal account at the end of the quarter. It’s that easy.
          If you don’t have ebates you can sign up here:
          http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=zuOItLmBEEBvtduAqE7UQg%3D%3D&eeid=26471

           

          I even got FREE SHIPPING!!!!! 

           

          Check out all the different places you can earn money through Ebates.

          If you have any tips you use to save, please leave a comment below or post on our Facebook Page

          As Always,