Friday Finds: Cleverbug, Awesome Year & Deals!

cleverbugPure Wow made my day again! I love cards – real cards the postman carries – but I often remember birthdays late and have to send (lame) e-mails or call. Enter Cleverbug.

What is Cleverbug? It is an iPhone app that syncs with your Facebook account, it alerts you when your contacts’ birthdays are approaching, prompts you to create custom cards for folks you might ordinarily forget. It then prints AND mails the cards in two to five business days so they arrive just in time.

To send a card ($3, plus postage), pick the birthday person and choose a design. Cleverbug pre-populates the cards with photos from your Facebook albums, but you can change the images to just about anything. You can edit the language if you want something more personal than the generic “Happy 40th!” You don’t even need to find the address to get the card mailed: Upon sign-up, Cleverbug aggregates birthdays in date order and automatically requests updated addresses from your contacts (which it stores for future use). That said, you can send cards for non-birthday events as well: new job, new baby, etc. Not all of your friends/family on Facebook? You can add contacts in advance and set reminders. Love it!

Screen Shot 2013-01-16 at 8.28.49 PMI may be late to this party, but I just discovered Kid President. OMG. I am in LOVE. Check out his 25 suggestions for “making this world AWESOME for somebody else this year.” [Note: hit refresh on your browser if you do not see a video below.]

I love the idea of sending cards every day for 365 days, visiting to old people (but not calling them old) and more standing ovations, among others. What was your favorite? Kid President’s “Pep Talk” is also priceless. These will make you smile. I promise.

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What would Friday be without some deals and a sweepstakes?

Need to impress your Valentine? (or need me to send these to your Valentine? I can!) Gilt City is at it again!
> Save 70% on a Glossy Box filled with (fancy) perfume, makeup, hair products and more!
> $100 for a $250 voucher (or $50 for a $100 voucher) for custom, handcrafted jewelry from Gemvara
> $20 for $40 (and other great deals) for some saucy stuff from Booty Parlor
> In Chicago, check out $85 for facial or massage AND a pedi at Balance Spa in the Palmer House and other great Chicago deals
> In LA, check out cool cooking classes from a Meal and Schpiel and other great deals
> In NY, check out Angel Delivery for a great Valentine meal delivered or Burlesque Bikini Boot Camp and other great NYC deals.

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> It’s been a while since I’ve shared a sweepstakes (though I enter them ALL of the time!) Check out this great one from Well+Good NYC. Your entry lands you newsletters and intel from eco-friendly boutique Ethical Ocean, a members-only site that has everything from the best organic coffee to chic vegan sandals, as well as the adventure site Bootprints.com and Women’s Adventure magazine. Enter to win now!

> In Chicago, check out awesome local foods (healthy and treats) from Artizone. Buy 4 $50 vouchers for $99 or 4 $60 vouchers for $119 at Living Social. They carry some of my favorite local goodies including: Good Hope Rusks and Mama’s Nuts (plus great produce, groceries and other local treats). A great deal! Trust me.

> Also in Chicago, get 3 days free at Flirty Girl Fitness in Lincoln Park or West Loop with the code CHEEKY.

> Buy one custom smart phone case at IMakeMyCase.com, get one free through Feb. 15 with the coupon code 1FREEDIY. They also have some awesome college designs (but not RU – :()

That’s all I have for now! I hope that you can find some ways to make this year awesome for somebody (or that somebody finds some for you!) Have a great weekend!