Here’s a sweepstakes that should have parents with teens running to the computer. Invisalign Teen is hosting the Straight to Stardom Sweepstakes with a grand prize of a VIP trip for 4 to the Teen Choice Awards 2010. One lucky participant will enjoy a trip for four to attend Teen Choice 2010 (air, hotel, and transportation included), four Post-Show VIP Party Tickets, and two Flip cameras to capture every moment.

And…being a runner-up is no small potatoes…you could win an iPad, laptop computer, and an authentic Teen Choice 2010 surfboard. Three iPod touch mobile digital devices are also up for grabs. In total, Invisalign is offering approximately $10,000 worth of prizes.

Hurry fast as the deadline to enter the sweepstakes is July 11, 2010. I repeat: All online entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM (EDT) on July 11, 2010.

The Fine Print: The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of all 50 United States (not including territories and possessions) and the District of Columbia. Entrants must be 14 years old or older for entry. You may enter ONLINE DAILY by visiting the Invisalign “Teen Choice 2010″ Sweepstakes page .   Simply complete all the information requested on the entry form and click on the “submit” button to complete the entry process.

What is Invisalign Teen?

When I was growing up, eye-catching braces were the main method of straightening crooked teeth on teens (and boy, did it traumatize many). With Invisalign Teen, young adults can take pleasure in correcting their teeth with nearly invisible and removable aligners that gradually shift teeth over time. No more worrying about food getting stuck in braces. No interference for student athletes. No chance of being called ‘Braceface.’

For full Straight to Stardom Sweepstakes rules, click here.

Disclosure: I did receive a gift card incentive to spread the word about this fabulous sweepstakes for teens, but I really would love it if one of my readers could win this contest…and all opinions are always my own!  Good luck!

You never know when you’re going to find a deal in your city. All I have to say is keep your eyes wide open and read everything around you. A simple trip to the library turned into free entry to an Everson Art Museum exhibit I’ve been wanting to attend: Fantasies and Fairy-Tales: Maxfield Parrish and the Art of the Print.

The library [Soule Branch in Syracuse, NY] offered what was called a FunPass, where two adults and up to four dependant children could attend the art exhibit for free. You checked the pass out with your library card and could keep it for 3 days.

My mother and I attended the museum on her birthday. Tickets are normally $10. Honestly, without the FunPass, I would have never experienced the exhibit.

Maxfield Parrish [1870 – 1966] used painstakingly intricate techniques that resulted in amazing paintings that literally glow. It looks like light is actually coming from behind  or casting a spotlight on his main subjects. His work has appeared in and on fairy tales, album covers, book jackets, advertisements, and my personal favorite – annual General Electric calendars from the 1930s.

If you’re looking for a 1-day getaway and are free to travel on May 11 and May 12, you better pay a visit to JetBlue’s online booking because for the next two days – the airline is offering all remaining seats to dozens of its destinations for $10 each.

With taxes and other fees, you could be hitting a beach or popular destination for around $40 total.

By the way, this special deal is to celebrate Jetblue’s 10^th anniversary. I love this airline – not just because  you don’t have to pay for your checked bags, but also because they have the best snacks, television (with your favorite TV stations and movies), and an overall more comfortable atmosphere and service.

The reason I’ve been slow to post is because I went to New York City on Wednesday to attend a LOHAS networking reception, stayed until Thursday night…and I’ve been catching up with my writing assignments ever since.

LOHAS stands for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. The event was such a fun experience. I had a blast exploring eco-friendly products and services I had never heard of. I can’t wait to start spreading the word. So today, I’d like to briefly highlight the following companies and organizations:

Ingeo

You know those new 100% compostable SunChip bags that make the earth-shaking crinkle noise? That bag is made with Ingeo fibers, which is comprised of transformed plant materials.

The SunChip bag contains 90% renewable plant material and will disappear in a compost pile within about 14 weeks (under the right conditions). The chips you eat only last a short period of time, why should the bag they come in last forever?

Ingeo fibers are also used to make clothing, durable iPhone cases, and I brought home a container with hand sanitizer that was made from the plant-based material. It’s sturdy and you’d never know the difference from a plastic one.

EcoBonus

You know how you earn reward points on your credit cards? Well, EcoBonus uses that concept to reward people for the eco-conscious choices they make – whether you purchase fairtrade coffee or start the day off with a bowl of organic cereal.

Icestone

Icestone blends recycled glass with cement to create non-toxic, sustainable materials for kitchen countertops, bathrooms, tabletops, and other surfaces where you would normally use stone. The colors are impressive, ranging from Sapphire Snow to Persimmon. Best of all – the durable surfaces can be repurposed. It looks amazing in person.

Bambeco

Last but not least, I’d like to thank Bambeco for inviting me to the reception. They create some of the most innovative products out of eco-friendly materials – works of art that also put the most versatile and renewable resource on the planet to good use (bamboo).

Bambeco’s products include colorful bamboo bowls, sustainable office décor, hummingbird feeders made out of recycled glass, and organic supplies to jumpstart an indoor or outdoor garden. I’ll be writing an article soon on how you can enhance your time spent outdoors with Bambeco products.

Only in New York will you see a grown man wearing a dress shirt and slacks, riding a bike in the middle of traffic, pick his nose, and eat a booger…right next to a carload of people (which happened to include myself). I was utterly mortified and couldn’t get the thought out of my head for the rest of the day. I still can’t get the thought out of my head and it happened like five days ago.

What better place to spend Earth Day (April 22) than in the city that never sleeps. As you pass through the diverse neighborhoods of New York City, you encounter all sorts of green businesses – from organic dry cleaners to holistic food shops. The windows of businesses are plastered with eco-friendly advertisements. There is no doubt that the city embraces the movement towards greener lifestyles.

In Times Square, a larger than life display of celebrities and regular Joes supporting Earth Day continuously played in all its colorful glory.

Earth Day also happened to be on the same day as the NFL draft, so it was interesting to see the nervous throngs of young football players carrying their suit bags over their shoulders throughout the city streets. It seemed everywhere you turned, cameras were flashing and tourists were eagerly absorbing the energy of the city. Even the NYPD posed with tourists– whether they were perched on top of humongous horses or patrolling the sidewalks.

Sigh– I love New York.

Do you want to visit an amazingly beautiful site and crack a coconut (fun!) to see if you win a trip to Bora Bora? Visit the Bora Bora Organic Foods website to enter your address for a chance to win the trip. If you don’t, you’re automatically entered to win three cases of their organic, all-natural bars. The site is best viewed with your sound on. This offer ends on April 12, 2010.

According to Guinness World Records, the United States Library of Congress, located in Washington D.C, is ranked as the largest library in the world. This priceless gem holds more than 118 million items – spanning more than 500 miles of shelving. Aside from the never-ending assortment of publications decorating the library, travelers come from near and far just to come closer to:

• The largest rare book collection in North America – including a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg bible (one of only four perfect vellum copies known today).
• 4.8 million maps
• 2.7 million sound recordings
• The Prelinger Collection – with more than 48,000 historical motion pictures, unique master materials, and items recently named to the National Film Registry.

The Library of Congress is found in three different buildings, each named after an influential president of the United States. The Thomas Jefferson Building is found between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street on First Street SE. The John Adams Building is situated between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street on 2nd Street SE. Between First and Second Streets on Independence Avenue SE, you will encounter the James Madison Memorial Building – home to the Law Library of Congress.

In case you were wondering where in the world you can find other spectacular libraries, consider the following:

• New York Public Library (New York City, NY – 11 million books+)
• Vernadsky National Scientific Library of Ukraine (Kiev, Ukraine – more than 13 million books)
• Harvard University Library (Cambridge, MA – founded in 1638 with more than 13.1 million books)
• Institute for Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia – over 13.5 million books since 1969)
• British Library (London, England – home to 16 million books and counting since 1753)
• Deutsche Biblothek (Frankfurt, Germany – carries more than 18.5 million)
• National Library of Canada (Ottawa, Canada – home to more than 18.8 million books)
• Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia – stocks more than 20 million books since 1714)
• National Library of China (Beijing, China – with more than 22 million books since 1909).

Are you a college sports enthusiast? If so, then a visit to the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana – the perfect place to catch record-breakers and memorable moments regarding collegiate rivalries. The exhibit space is filled with interactive kiosks and hands-on exploration. All of the 23 sports played within Divisions I, II, and III competition are represented.

Don’t forget to take the time to step inside the Hall of Honor to pay tribute to award-winning athletes, such as recipients of the Woman of the Year Award and Theodore Roosevelt Award.

Another fun feature is the 1930s-style gymnasium – complete with tile walls, hardwood floors, and grated windows. You can even try your hand at showing off your jump shot. I did and I’m pleased to announce that I did not shoot any air balls.

The museum also offers a Champions Speaker Series, which has seen the likes of Angelo Pizzo (writer and producer of the movies “Hoosiers” and “Rudy“); Doug Williams (Super Bowl XXII MVP); and Pat Williams (Senior VP of the Orlando Magic). Before leaving the museum, check out the gift shop, where you can leave with a NCAA ball cap, jersey or folder covered in the same material as a basketball. We purchased an NCAA book bag and something less substantial in price – a pencil for our memory box (less than $1).

You will find the Hall of Champions on 700 W. Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Hours

Mondays – Closed
Tuesday – Saturday (10am – 5pm)
Sundays (12pm – 5pm)
Extended Summer Hours (10am – 5pm) on Mondays

Admission: Adults ($5), Seniors ($3), Students ($3), Ages 5 and under (free)

Photo Credit: NCAA Hall of Champions

Calling all speed demons and racecar enthusiasts – northwestern Utah is home to an ancient glacial lake turned speedway that holds quite a history. Located west of the Great Salt Lake, the Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the largest of its kind, measuring 159 square miles. Accessible by Interstate 80, locals and tourists alike come to take pictures, test out their vehicles, as well as enjoy the sights and sounds of the Bonneville Speedway.

In 1896, it was W.D. Rishel, who first recognized the potential of the Bonneville Salt Flats, as he searched for suitable bike-racing grounds. The location showed promise for prime speed testing and continued to gain interest throughout the years. During the 1930’s, an international spotlight blanketed the salt flats, as Malcolm Campbell (the first person to drive a car more than 300 miles per hour), set his final land speed record at Bonneville in 1935. There is even an old motorcycle named the Triumph Bonneville – after the salt flats that served as a site for many motorcycle speed records.

Today, the Bonneville Speedway plays host to many different high-speed racecar competitions – some of which have reached speeds of 600 miles per hour. Each year, tourists and participants rally up for Speed Week, a festival that takes advantage of the best weather conditions for achieving top speeds. For example, the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 (a fuel cell car) hit 200 mph at the salt flats.

Cool Fact: Portions of Hollywood hits, such as “Independence Day” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” have been filmed at the salt flats.