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Summer Movie Madness
When you’re not basking in the sun, you might want to spend part of your summer escaping into darkness – the darkness of cool, mid-summer movie theaters. With potential blockbusters battling for attention at every turn, it’s a season for great hopes and even greater energy. You can step into just about any theater and know just what you’re in for: an explosion of grit, glamour, and apocalyptic drama.
But before you make a fast and furious rush to the box office, make sure you seriously contemplate the many options for cinematic enjoyment. Will you choose the intense thrills of films like The Purge and Now You See Me – with plotlines that promise interesting post-film discussions about the future of human society? When you watch After Earth, will you be asking yourself ‘is this the end?’ Or will you contemplate other, equally important questions: Would the Man of Steel thrive at one of Gatsby’s parties? Will Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman ever have another chance to play anything other than sage guides for rambunctious young heroes?
At the Daily Steals office, we took a vote to see which of these summer films was likely to be a blockbuster, and which would be a bust. The overwhelming winner was Man of Steel – the intriguing trailer suggests an ambitious series reboot which aims to meet the success of Batman Begins. Office movie critics believe that the complex characters and amazing special effects look very promising indeed. Close behind in the polls were Now You See Me and The Purge – clearly, our team likes to keep things action-packed.
Among the many different options, it’s impossible to say which of these movies will rise and which will fall. When it comes to summer movies, hype can often exaggerate greatness. You might as well sit back in your seat, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show. No matter what, movies will always be an essential ingredient in what’s sure to be an epic summer.
Fun in the Sun: 5 Free and Cheap Things To Do This Summer
We already know you love finding deals on DailySteals.com, but what about saving money in your own neck of the woods? Here are five tips to having a thrifty, memorable summer.
1. Swim in the local watering hole (or, if you must, the public pool). If you're feeling adventurous this summer, take a dip in the wild side. Go to www.swimmingholes.org to locate a natural swimming spot near you: a creek, a watering hole, or a lake. If you live in the city, you might have trouble with this – but sometimes, swimming in your local public pool can be almost as much of an adventure…After all, who knows what you might find in the water?
2. Move over, frozen yogurt. It’s gelato season. Gelato is essentially a ice cream with less fat. Because the gelato counters are kept slightly warmer than ice cream counters, your tongue doesn't get overwhelmed by the “frozen” feeling and you can taste the flavors better. Better yet, you can make your own gelato at home fairly easily. Read more here.
3. Take a date on a nighttime stroll. No matter where you live, there’s a place near you that looks especially lovely at night. Drive up to a hillside and enjoy finding the specks of light that represent your neighborhood, or just walk down the street you live on and see where you end up.
4. Lounge on your roof and look at the stars. When is the last time you climbed up on your roof? Whether you live in an apartment building with easy roof access, or a house with a tiled roof, you should see the world from the top of your home at least once this summer. The new perspective might be more inspiring than you expect.
5. Pack a picnic. Take a blanket or a portable hammock to the park and spend the whole day there just relaxing, slipping into a summertime daze. Just be sure to pack bug repellent.
We’d love to hear your own ideas for cheap summer activities. Please tag “#FeelingThrifty” to DailySteals on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with your best ideas for an inspiring, budget-friendly summer.
Get Pinspired! Father's Day Gift Ideas Now on Pinterest
Mother's Day is simple enough – flowers, chocolates, or jewelry always seem to do the trick – but most people don't know where to begin when it comes to Father's Day. Why is it so incredibly difficult to find a gift for Dad? Perhaps because fathers always seem so very... fatherly. Self-sustaining creatures, they usually don't seem to ask for much from their kids. Unfortunately, this means that Father's Day often goes completely ignored. But it's important for us to show how much we care, even if it can be a difficult task.
The Daily Steals team wants to help you find a gift that know you can count on. This year, we've put together a special board on Pinterest: Father's Day Finds, where you can find everything you need for this often-overlooked day, including DIY projects and of course, our favorite Daily Steals. From outdoor equipment, to home electronics, audio devices, and more, we'll have tons of gadgets that Dad is destined to adore. Most of our deals only last a day, so please act fast – Father's Day will be here before we know it.
Memorial Day Company BBQ
There’s a certain feeling that settles over New York City on Memorial Day. It’s a feeling that reminds you to take pause, to stop being so…New York-ish… for just a moment and smell the roses. Memorial Day is first and foremost about remembering our war heroes. That appreciation creates a spirit of humility and happiness that you can see in the faces of everyone you talk to. On Memorial Day, we found ourselves appreciating all the little things our country has to offer: hot dogs, public parks, and sunshine, to name a few. At Daily Steals, we celebrated in a truly American style, sharing time with our friends and families at an office gathering in Prospect Park (for non-New Yorkers: Prospect Park is the Brooklyn version of Central Park – smaller, younger, and equally fantastic!).
It’s always fun to see work people in a non-work environment and discover new talents that you might never have witnessed in the office. The variety of creativity and passion we have at Daily Steals made for an exciting, delicious BBQ experience. We learned that some of us were handy with the grill; others provided much-needed organization and even musical entertainment. Turns out our creative team can also create adorable kiddies, who enjoyed munching on hot dogs and frolicking in the Brooklyn sunshine just as much as we did.
At the end of the day, we unveiled a special surprise to celebrate our new Daily Steals app: an iPhone cake with the Daily Steals app design, and it was APPsolutely delicious. When we came back to the office on Tuesday, we were a more relaxed, cooperative team. And of course, the boxes of leftovers in the office fridge didn’t hurt things either…
Better Me + Better You = Better Us
Working at Daily Steals means thinking on your feet….so our legs had better be strong. One way to start building mental and physical strength is through healthy, playful competition. That's why our CEO decided to take his “coaching” to a new level with an employee fitness competition. A collaboration with the office Culture Club, the eight-week competition was dubbed “Better Me + Better You = Better Us.” Warm fuzzy feelings aside, it’s a fun and challenging way to get fit and stay fit. And it’s starting to get serious.
In the beginning, some of us were doubtful, even a little intimidated. Our new nutritionist started the competition by leading a healthy eating class and recording each competitor’s weight, BMI, and body age. Then she helped us define short term and long term fitness goals that were reasonable and achievable – and no, they didn’t involve running fifteen miles uphill every day after work. Instead, the program introduced insanely fun kickboxing aerobics and yoga classes in the recreation room. These intense after-work classes left all of us laughing and dripping in sweat. “This competition has allowed me to connect with some of the employees in ways that I wouldn't have before. It has also motivated me to break some of my unhealthy eating habits,” observed Office Coordinator Stacy. Another important change in the office: the sharing of fruit in the recreation room on an almost-daily basis. The Daily Steals team knows that smart cookies don’t actually eat too many cookies. We know when to put the cookies aside and eat a banana instead (unless the cookies are really, really good).
We’re well into the program right now, and the competition is fierce.Beach body season is upon us. Which of us will achieve the elusive, tantalizing prize: a year’s membership at a gym of the winner’s choice? It might be too early to say. From stretching between breaks, to aggressively chomping down on carrots, or getting up at ungodly hours to go jogging or walking, we’re taking this very seriously. And we all know that at Daily Steals, things get intense. Intensely awesome.
Most importantly, the fitness program is bringing us together. Striking hilarious yoga poses is a healthy post-work alternative to happy hour, and it turns out it’s just as important for fostering team bonding. Human Resources Assistant Manager and resident fitness guru Medeka is in full support of the competition. “We spend most of our days here so it's really great that we have access to the tools and knowledge for a healthier lifestyle,” Medeka said. Long-lasting change is the ultimate goal, but in the short term, we’re doing pretty well – if we do say so ourselves.
Ready, Set, Summer!
There's no better feeling than stepping outside, with the expectation of being greeted by a bitter wind, and instead being pleasantly surprised by a pleasant warmth. These days, all of us here at Daily Steals have been doing some spring cleaning, trading out snug cold-weather comforters for minimal sheets, and heavy winter jackets for light cardigans, in anticipation of the humid heat ahead (Ah, the joys of east coast living). We're also getting ready for a summer selection of gear and steals like you've never seen before. If you thought iced tea and backyard BBQs made your last summer, you're about to experience a summer like never before. We're boosting our outdoors selection, bringing you even more of the cool tech accessories and hardware we've always offered, and doing everything possible to make sure your house is the go-to spot on the block. Ready? Set? Summer!
Mother's Day: In Which We Buy Into the Hallmark Thing
Mother’s Day is the one holiday a year when we allow ourselves to shamelessly buy into Hallmark marketing. We agree that occasions like St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day are entirely self-indulgent days, and legitimate reasons for skipping celebration. But there’s really no excuse to ignore this goodhearted day. Because no matter how independent you claim to be, someone in your life was responsible for changing your diapers. For some of us, Mother’s day inspires weeks-long planning of an activity-filled, daylong festivity. For others, a simple breakfast in bed or freshly picked bouquet of peonies does the trick. We’re not suggesting elaborate surprise plots here; in fact, we’d point out that a little recognition every day can serve as a much more authentic representation of your gratitude. So please, show your mother (or whoever warmed your bottles) some love!
Spring is here!
Having to wear one less layer means spring is here! We’re excited to phase out winter coats for sandals and cardigans, but even more thrilled by the prospect of BBQs and dinners out. There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from sharing meals in the company of friends and nature; maybe it’s our innate kinship with all things living and green rooted in our primordial past. Maybe it’s the charred crunch of meat one can only get from a grilled meal out on the patio. Or perhaps it’s the extra hours of sunshine that make evening fiestas three-hour social ordeals. In any case, we’re ready to trade our winter blues for spring cheer!
Daily Steals Takes on the Great Outdoors!
This week, we’re introducing a new Outdoors section on our website to promote all the items we deem suitable for an active lifestyle.
The launch comes after months of head-scratching over how to better meet our customers' expectations. We considered many suggestions – Car giveaways! Free massages! A lifetime supply of green tea! – but ultimately decided that the best way to meet your needs (at least within our means :P) was a broader offering of products. And we can’t think of a better category to add than one that promotes wellbeing.
An active lifestyle can be hard to accommodate. With demanding work hours and social obligations crowding out our schedule, spending just a few hours on exercise each week can easily fall to the bottom of our task list. And unfortunately, these avocado turkey sandwiches do add up.
We understand that a hefty price tag is not the most encouraging step in the get-fit process. We hope that our latest price-reduced additions will finally motivate some of you work-obsessed office fixtures to make treks further than the water cooler. From Zumba capri pants to LED lights for your backyard, included in the new category will not only be all the items previously featured in our Toys tab, but all additional ones fit for your outdoors and entertainment needs!
As if you needed another reason to schedule time outside of your workplace, our Outdoors collection will, as always, present the very best prices on the web. Now, get moving! That extra-white-sauce gyro isn’t going to burn itself off!
Introducing Forever Free Shipping
The ideal shopping experience involves more than finding the best deals on the web. That’s why this week, Daily Steals is officially promising free shipping on all items ordered on our site. Not just this week, or any limited period, but forever!
Since we’re all about steals and deals, we can’t think of a better way to offer a lower bottom-line price than eliminating those pesky shipping fees that can inadvertently double your final charge. Next time you’re browsing around Daily Steals, the price you see, is the price you get.
You’re welcome.
