Tiffany Eckhardt

I am passionate about traveling!  I love the whole experience of discovering a new culture and seeing the world in a new light.  Unfortunately, there are times when I just can’t get out of Dodge.

My Mom always told me that you make your own fun.

Instead of getting bummed about my travel dreams, I set out to be a tourist in my own community.  I love the idea of a Staycation and was thrilled when Eversave (affiliate) launched their Staycation Celebration this week.  It is a great economical way to treat your family to a vacation at home and be a tourist in your own back yard.

So here’s the scoop:

• Kicking off the Staycation Celebration, Eversave is offering a Summer Staycation Sweepstakes for a $500 American Express card. (Takes a minute to enter)
• Are you on Twitter?  Eversave is having a Staycation Twitter Party next Thursday, July 14th from 3-4 p.m. The Eventbrite page can be found HERE.  There is a chance there will be special promo codes for those who attend.
• Throughout the week there will be Saves offered for fun activities, like Granville Golfland, the Santa Maria and today’s Save, Stars Cinemas.

Star Cinemas Today’s Save: $12 for admission and snacks for two or $7 for one at Star Cinemas in Grove City Expires 12:00 PM – Jul 15, 2011

Sitting in the theater watching a great movie sounds like the perfect escape from the heat! Also, if you use the promo code FUN you can get another $3 off the Save.

Have you ever organized a Staycation?  Or… have you ever took the time to be a tourist in your own town?  If you haven’t, does this inspire you to try it out?

Share your stories in the comment section for a chance to win today’s Star Cinema’s Save!  I’ll pick a winner tomorrow at 3pm during the Staycation Twitter Party.

Winners will be notified and posted to the comment section and on Facebook.

Travel Eversave, Save, Stars Cinema, Summer Staycation Celebration, Tiffany Eckhardt

There are no standards of taste in wine… Each man’s own taste is the standard, and a majority vote cannot decide for him or in any slightest degree affect the supremacy of his own standard.
~ Mark Twain

My standards

I have developed an appreciation for a good glass of vino, by my standards.

I have discovered that I enjoy Merlot and Cabernet from the Washington State region.  My friend Michele, who also enjoys wines from Washington state, introduced me to a couple of my “standards”, Red Diamond and Chateau Ste. Michelle.  I’ve noticed the typical description of a red wine from Washington State includes plum with a hint of chocolate.  I tend to look for those key words when purchasing a new wine.  According to Wine.com, Washington is the number two producer in the United States.  I must not be alone in my appreciation for wines from this region.

Community – Your standards

I am not a wine snob, yet.  (However, I am a definite coffee snob)

I prefer to learn socially and enjoy asking my friends what they like and why.  At times it is rather embarrassing not knowing the jargon, the grapes or the regions.  It is like being in Italy and not being able to order food because of the language barrier.  To combat my ignorance I went to Wine.com (not an affiliate).  I like the idea of purchasing wine online, but LOVE the idea of enhancing my vino knowledge with professional ratings, winemaker notes and customer reviews (kind of like the TripAdvisor for wine).  I set up my profile and am now on my way to becoming a wine snob.

Everyone loves a Save

I’ve enjoyed my affiliation with Eversave, an online savings community who negotiate rock-bottom deals on the things you love to do in Columbus – up to 50%-80% off the regular price.  I was excited to learn they were offering a Save with Wine.com and plan to use this opportunity to try a new region.

Here’s the Save, but wait there’s more… read below.

Wine.com Today’s Save:Drink up! $35 for $70 worth of your favorite reds, whites and bubbly, too, from Wine.com Expires 11:59 PM – Jun 17, 2011

Eversave has generously given me the opportunity to GIVE AWAY this Save!  For the chance to win this Save and to help me learn more about different wine regions, tell me what your favorite wine region is and why. (if you don’t know where you’re favorite wine is from… Google it)

• Submit a comment to this article
• Your name will be entered into a drawing
• The drawing will be held Thursday, June 16th at noon
• The winner will be announced in the comments section and on my Facebook Page

Let’s discover new regions together, socially in community!

Doing Life! Eversave, grapes, Tiffany Eckhardt, Washington State Wine, wine, wine regions, Wine.com

One of the best things about travel is trying new cuisines.  I love Thai food and would love to travel to Thailand someday.  For now, I am thankful to experience authentic Thai food close to home.  Today Eversave (affiliate) is giving me a reason to try out Basil, a local Thai restaurant on High Street in the short north.

Image taken from Basil website

According to their website, Basil has a long history in the Thai restaurant business. The owner’s  family has been in the restaurant business since 1997 and has started a half dozen restaurants in the Chicago area.  Their specialty plate,  Noodle Kee Mow, looks amazing!  It is a mixture of crisp wide noodles with your choice of beef, pork, chicken, tofu, shrimp or squid combined with a blend of sweet onions, plump tomatoes, Thai basil and fresh sprouts.  This delicious Thai meal prepared by seasoned professionals is tempting enough to want to try out Basil.

Today’s Save is for $10 for $20 worth of food at Basil Restaurant and it’s not valid with happy hour or lunch/dinner specials. Guests may use one Save per table and two Saves per tables of 5 or more.  What a great excuse to try this a Thai experience!

May 5th only:

Leave a comment telling me where in the world you’ve had the best cultural cuisine experience.  For instance, I had great Italian pizza in Sienna, Italy.  Get your comment in before midnight on May 5, 2011.  I will announce a winner of  a $20 Eversave Save on May 6th. on my Facebook Page and in the comment section below.

In addition to today’s great Save… check out some bonus saves for gift ideas for Mom!

	Today’s Save: Basil Restaurant Today’s Save:Take Mom out for some delicious Thai at Basil in Short North ($20 value) Expires 11:59 PM – May 07, 2011
	Bonus Save: Save the Children Today’s Save:Donate to Save the Children in celebration of Mother’s Day, and your contribution will be matched! Expires 11:59 PM – May 08, 2011
	Bonus Save: www.travelocityincentives.com Today’s Save:$50 for $100 toward your hotel-booking at www.TravelocityIncentives.com Expires 11:59 PM – May 05, 2011
	Bonus Save: Kim’s Capture Today’s Save:Pamper Mom with her choice of two relaxing facials from Kim’s Capture Expires 11:59 PM – May 05, 2011
	Bonus Save: The Rejuvenating Touch Today’s Save:Bronze your bod with half-off two airbrush tans from Rejuvenating Touch in Dublin ($70 value) Expires 11:59 PM – May 06, 2011
	Bonus Save: Silk Flowers Today’s Save:$25 for $50 worth of artificial flowers and plants from SilkFlowers.com Expires 11:59 PM – May 06, 2011

Promoting My favorite places Basil, Cuisine, Eversave, International Travel, Thai Food, Tiffany Eckhardt, travel

I’m not cheap, but get giddy over a good deal.

Recently I’ve been asked to blog for Eversave, a company that negotiates rock-bottom deals on the things you love to do in Columbus – up to 50%-80% off the regular price!  I’ve been having a blast buying Saves with Eversave.  I’ve seen a movie at the Gateway Film Center, had a Karaoke party at Ontani, stayed at a cabin in Hocking Hills and had dinner at Tratorria.  At the Karaoke party, Kelly Gingery and I enjoyed singing Stray Cats Strut and learned that you don’t have to be professional to sing Karaoke.

I am all about spreading the good news!

Saves are extremely easy to share with your friends and family using a Facebook and Twitter link directly embedded in the daily email.   This week Eversave Columbus is making the deals sweeter featuring promotion codes, contests and freebies during their Fan Appreciation Week.  One lucky fan will win an Ipad on Monday, February 28th.   More reasons to spread the word!

This week I am interested in a few Saves: Wines direct and a couples massage.  I’ve never tried a couples massage and would love to have wine delivered to my doorstep.  Two deals I can get giddy over!

Once you become an Eversave member, check out the EversaveColumbus Facebook page for special promotion codes and contests.  Let me know if you are the lucky winner of the IPad!

My Wines Direct Today’s Save:Pay $27 to have wine delivered to your doorstep — with complimentary shipping — from MyWinesDirect.com ($60 value) Expires 11:59 PM – Feb 28, 2011

	Today’s Save: Hilliard Massage Today’s Save:Schedule a romantic rendezvous with a 60-minute couple’s massage at Hilliard Medical Massage ($140 value) Expires 11:59 PM – Feb 28, 2011
	Bonus Save: Bari Pizzaria Today’s Save: $10 for $20 worth of homemade pizza and Italian food from Bari Pizzaria Expires 11:59 PM – Feb 26, 2011
	Bonus Save: Full Steam Ahead Today’s Save:Jump start your spring cleaning with a one-room carpet cleaning from Full Steam Ahead Cleaning Services ($30 value) Expires 11:59 PM – Feb 25, 2011
	Bonus Save: Smoky- Mountain Minerals Today’s Save:$16 for $32 worth of natural beauty and skin care products from Smoky Mountain Minerals Expires 11:59 PM – Feb 25, 2011

Doing Life! deals, Eversave, EversaveColumbus, Fan Appreciation Week, Kelly Gingery, saving money, Tiffany Eckhardt

Let’s just say upfront that I am not a singer.  I am the backup dancer.

I recently partnered up with Eversave, a company that negotiates rock-bottom deals on the things you love to do in Columbus – up to 50%-80% off the regular price!  I will occasionally blog about Saves I think YOU will want to take advantage of, both at DoingLifeBeingTiff and Weekend ReTweat.  I’ve already taken advantage of a Save at the Gateway Film center.  I am so excited to have another date night with my hubby that won’t break the bank!

Today Eversave is offering a Save at Ontani Sushi and Karaoke bar.

$40 for a two-hour private karaoke party at Otani’s Sushi and Karaoke Bar ($100 value)
Offer expires: 11:59 PM – Jan 19, 2011

Perfect!  I love Sushi, watching Karaoke and putting together a party.  I can see using this Save for a birthday party, an office party, my son’s graduation party or just getting some friends together for the heck of it.  Small groups can have fun and make fools of themselves in the sound proof party room without interrupting the restaurant’s dinner guests.  In a smaller setting I might even be persuaded to sing along with a group.

To make the Save even sweeter, Eversave is sponsoring a Columbus Tweet-up at Ontani Sushi and Karaoke Bar to celebrate!  Februray 5th from 5:30-7:30 pm Eversave will provide the Karaoke private party room and prizes for the brave talent.  Sushi and drinks are at your cost.  The space is limited to the first 25 people to RSVP.

To RSVP: http://twtup.com/karaokeontani

Columbus knows how to tweet-up and is deserving of the honor of being one of the top ranking social media towns.  In the past few years I’ve met some of my best friends at tweet-ups and have seen the talented Columbus Tweeps in action.  I am very excited to help organize another opportunity for the Columbus Tweeps to meet!

Hope you are able to join the Tweet-up & Karaoke, even if you can’t sing….  I will be the back-up dancer.

Doing Life!, Promoting My favorite places Columbus, deals, event planning, Eversave, karaoke, Karaoke bar, sushi, talent, Tiffany Eckhardt, Tweet-up