This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pep Boys for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

A photo exhibition at the Museum of Technology in Berlin, Germany, some years ago showcased the intriguing and close-knit relationship that the modern man has with the automobile, a complicity not always understood by women.

For years, German photographer Brigitte Kraemer has focused her camera on capturing this intimate but unique relationship, one that can always be witnessed at dozens of racing events and car shows around the world.

The photo exhibition, which showcased some thirty photographs, was titled ‘Mann und Auto’. In it, the author gave credence to an underlying truth: men love machines. Kraemer intruded into a world dominated by men to show that the car is much more than a male hobby or an expensive, utilitarian object.

In her photographs, she immortalizes the passion of man for car, one who spends his free time cleaning and caring for it, not out of duty alone, but out of love, as if it were a child. That ‘proud father’ feeling is reflected in the faces of the owners, as they lean satisfied and proud, on the ‘body’ of their beloved auto. Sometimes this ‘relationship’ pushes the envelopes of parenthood,  since in certain shots, car and man look alike.

Sitting at the wheel, comfortably and confident, really enjoying a fast drive, men are proud to have under their control such a powerful machine.  This becomes a study in contrast with what happens in real life, where the complexity of maneuvering jobs or family relationships become much more complex than a ‘friendship’ with your car.

The boys of Pep Boys know this relationship all too well. In fact, they have one too and help us car-men maintain ours.  The company sells brand name and private label auto parts, and provides select services through some 700 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Pep Boys stock about 25,000 car parts and accessories, including tires, and combined, operate around 7,000 service bays for vehicle repairs, inspections, and parts installations. 

And get this: Pep Boys is running a “The Best Seat in the House” Sweepstakes on Facebook! Enter today and enter for the chance to win a VIP Race Day Experience with Penske Racing’s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil team in Pennsylvania on August 5, 2012!

The Pep Boys Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner gets travel and accommodations, VIP credentials, a guided tour of Pit Road and seats directly above the Pit Box. AND, there’s more! If you don’t win the Grand Prize, don’t worry! To help cheer on #22, they’ll also be giving 22 lucky fans who enter, a $50 Pep Boys Gift Card. Plus, if you share this with a friend who enters, you can get 22 more bonus entries for yourself. Enter and Win The Best Seat in the House! Click here for contest rules

Also, until May 29th, a contest will occur where one lucky winner that enters “The Best Seat in the House” sweepstakes, tweets out with the hashtag #WinTheBestSeatintheHouse as well as comments on the post on why they want to win the “The Best Seat in the House” sweepstakes will get the chance to win a $50 Pep Boys gift card!

A final note on this subject, a quote: “Stealing a man’s wife, that’s nothing, but stealing his car, that’s larceny.” - JAMES M. CAIN, The Postman Always Rings Twice

Drive safely!!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vianda for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know you had a “sex muscle”? No not THAT one! Your pubococcygeus muscle or PC muscle, also known as the “sex muscle”, stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone) and controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. But get this – having a strong PC muscle can help you have stronger erections and improve ejaculatory control. If that’s of interest to you, here are 3 different routines to try to improve your PC and consequently your ‘performance’ in bed:

PC Exercise Routine # 1:

1. Try to flex your PC muscles at least 100 times or more per day. You can flex your PC muscles during TV commercials, while talking on the phone, when at a stop signs/red light, in the shower, etc.
2. No matter when and where you do your PC exercises, no one will know you’re doing and you’re sure you’re doing a good exercise in muscle PC …
3. DO NOT over tighten your abs.  It’s ok to flex your abs a little, but too much and you won’t get the full PC workout.

PC Exercise Routine # 2:

1. The first thing to do in the morning and before going to bed – Flex your PC muscle 10 times at a moderate pace, rest for 10 seconds and repeat 9 more times, and then …
2. Flex your PC muscles and hold for 5 seconds, rest for 5 seconds and repeat 9 more times and then …
3. During the day is just flexing your PC muscles as often as possible.

PC Exercise Routine # 3 (Advanced):

1. The first thing to do in the morning and before going to bed – Flex your PC muscles as many times as you can in 2 minutes and rest for 20 to 30 seconds, and then …
2. Flex your PC muscles and hold for 2 minutes (120 seconds) and …
3. Probably not be able to hold it for 2 minutes but try to flex your PC muscles and hold for as long as possible, after you finish to hold your PC muscles rest for 1 minute and repeat 4 more times.

Lastly, something to consider is a natural male enhancement supplement.  For instance, for over a decade, Enzyte, the original supplement for natural male enhancement, has provided millions of men with increased erection quality and heightened arousal. Their newest offering,  Enzyte 24/7, is an advanced formula capsule that, taken just once a day, works with your body chemistry for results that intensify over time. It was designed to:  Support erectile function, promote critical blood flow guard against nutrient deficiencies that may impact volume and potency. And now you can get it with a cool $10 coupon.  Bear in mind however, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Enzyte products should be taken as part of a healthy lifestyle and individual results may vary. Feel free to  ’Like’ Enzyte on Facebook and see what others are saying.

So there you have it, the dirty little secrets to reaching peak sexual enhancement,  increasing erection quality and stamina, and heightening arousal and response.

Thinking about sprucing up the kitchen? There are many different sources available online to help create a tile design that transforms your kitchen into a cool entertaining area, one that is functional and beautiful at the same time. While you can install a basic color pattern, you can add some pizzazz by adding an intricate array of glass tiles.

Although there are plenty of people who always call a competent contractor to install glass tile backsplashes, the work is quite simple and can be done by the homeowner. The first step for installation is to determine the type of tile and have enough to fill the entire backsplash location, along with some extra stock, just in case.

Install the backsplash by mixing and applying  mortar, setting the tiles (which come in whole sections) a section at a time. As soon as the mortar sets, add grout and wipe off the excess. Depending on the arean you are tiling, the process may take a couple of days to complete the work.  But it will be well worth it in the end.

No more having to choose between sneeks with good cushioning and good stability. Now you can have both with Nike Men LunarEclipse + Shield, which combines an effective support when you need a cushioning for total comfort, all with a rugged design that keeps the elements at bay.

Sex can be a good exercise for beauty. In fact, making love cleans pores, helps burn calories and keeps her hair soft and shiny. The reason? Sexual activity produces estrogen. When women make love, twice the amount of estrogen is produced, this being the hormone that keeps skin soft and gives shine to her hair.  And estrogen can slow-down the process of osteoporosis and may protect against hypertension. It can even help in preventing cellulite because sex improves circulation of lymphatic fluid in the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for eliminating bacteria, toxins and other substances that accumulate in the body, especially in the thighs. Who knew??!!?

And sex not only helps her physically but emotionally (clean sex is always recommended, i.e., make good use of condoms). Sexual activity releases endorphins, which, as they circulates through the bloodstream, produce a pleasant sensation of euphoria and well being. Sex can make you laugh. Yes, sex can be good for depression. Oh and frequent sex makes lips kissable. It gives them color, a better shape and appearance.

So there you have it.  Have more sex. She’ll love you for it! Who ever said too much of a good thing is bad?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Parker Pens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Parker, manufacturer of fine writing instruments, has recently released the Parker 5th, a new ink technology that they claim will revolutionize the way we write. The tech is being used in the all new Parker Ingenuity collection.

Founded in 1888, the Parker Pen company has a rich heritage of pen innovation and the Parker Ingenuity Collection builds on the trend. It’s not a fountain pen like the Parker 51. However, it does have a handsomely engraved metallic hood in a shape of the traditional FP nib that holds a refillable in place and one that gives the pen a sophisticated look – without looking to ostentatious – while also being functional, as its designed to give the refill the flex you are want.  After your initial strokes, the pen acclimates to your writing style.

Many won’t upgrade their daily writer for fear that an upgrade means dealing with an inky mess. The 5th is clearly targeting that specific demographic with their clean disposable inserts. But the big secret to its appeal however is the way it writes: A light stroke creates a fine line but a firmer stroke a thicker one. The Parker 5th incorporates the buttery smoothness and precision of a rollerball, the ease and longevity of a ball point, and the smudge-free, and the fluid experience of felt point, in a very attractive, modern body (with 6 beautiful finishes) and that, my esteemed modern brethren, is revolutionary.

What do you think? Would the Ingenuity be a fine addition to your writing arsenal? Would you gift it to someone? ‘Like’ Parker on Facebook and let them know how much you love it.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

“Two are better than one, because a better reward awaits them” says the old proverb. LG may have had that in mind when they designed the LG DoublePlay™, a dual-screen 4G smartphone that runs on the T-Mobile network.

Why two screens? Well why not! You can get more stuff done, and that’s the point LG is trying to make. Designed for the socially adept, this double-screened device has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and two touch screens, which means your fun doesn’t stop for a text, a tweet, or to surf, stream, or share. You can do it all at the speed of 4G. Need to text a group of individuals simultaneously? Send a Group Text™ and create reply-all groups with your friends. Everyone can see each other and send messages back and forth, all at once. Additionally, Cloud Text™ keeps you in the know by syncing and storing texts from your phone and PC on the web.

Enjoy facebooking pics? The LG DoublePlay™ also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recorder, allowing you to capture and share pictures and videos via messaging, email or Facebook. And since it runs Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread), you can access tens of thousands of Apps on the  Android Market. Oh, and its TV friendly, meaning you can take live and on-demand TV with you with T-Mobile® TV.

Know a super-texter? Think this device can change the way they text or interact in their Socialsphere? LG is betting two screens are better than one.  And based on my experience, two-for-ones are rarely bad deals.

Farmers Almanac says this winter we can expect “clime and punishment,” a season of unusually cold and stormy weather. For some parts of the country, that means a frigid climate; while for others, it will mean lots of rain and snow. Thank goodness for the Sorel 1964 Premium T.

Sorel knows how to keep your toes-sies dry and toasty. These aren’t your childhood galoshes. Originally designers of boots for explorers craving to comfortably and boldly go into the great cold unknown, SOREL has been creating footwear for the fearless since 1962. Leveraging that experience, they now create footwear that is fashionably bold, unapologetically daring and beautifully brave. Luxurious materials and flawless construction are crafted into designs that challenge, invigorate and surprise.

Chippewa Logger

This season, the legendary 1964 Pac boot lives on in rich full grain leather. But don’t be fooled by its handsome looks—it’s just as rugged and durable as the classic utility boot it was inspired by. Seam-sealed, completely waterproof, and incredibly warm, the full-grain leather upper and handcrafted rubber shell are lined with a 9mm recycled felt InnerBoot for a temperature rating down to -40° below zero. Should the need arise, the InnerBoot can be easily removed and washed to keep boots feeling (and smelling) like new. And where the rubber meets the black ice and snow-covered road, a low-profile herringbone outsole provides plenty of grip when the going gets slick.

For those looking for something a little more rugged, there is the Chippewa Logger, by Chippewa Boots. Developed for the Lumberjacks of the great upper Midwest back in 1901, these styles are not only worn by the logging industry but by men that perceive this silhouette to be the ultimate in a rugged outdoor wear.

Available at Dave’s New York from $119-$179

We all know that too much sunlight to the eyes can have serious detrimental effects on our vision, so it is essential to protect your eyes when you’re outside with sunglasses – good looking sunglasses.

Sunglasses aren’t just functional, they ‘re the ultimate stylish accessory. They provide the wearer with a touch of sophistication, mystery and charm. There are a plethora of styles and brands to choose from.  How do you choose the right pair?

On a previous post we mentioned how to choose sunglasses by face type. But your skin color also must be taken into consideration.  For instance:

• If you have warm skin tones, such as yellow/golden, black or orange-esque undertones, then choose frames that are red, orange, gold or brown.
• If you have cool skin tones, such as white or brown with pink undertones, choose frames that are black, blue, brown, pink or silver.

Hugh Jackman sporting Ray-Ban 3309's

One of our favorite brands of sunglasses is Ray-Ban. It has spent over seventy years mastering the art of great eyewear. Some of Hollywood’s hottest stars wear Ray-Ban sunglasses, which might be why they’re so easily recognizable. Of course, there’s another reason why Ray-Ban sunglasses are so popular … they’re awesome sunglasses! Introduced in 1937 with an aviator style (the renowned and iconic Ray Ban Aviators), Ray-Ban Sunglasses were initially designed for the U.S. Air Force. It has since offered more fashion-forward, modern styles and designs, all emphasizing quality, function and comfort.

Ray-Ban’s motto “Never Hide” encourages users to be themselves and be bold. There is no reason to hide behind those Ray-Bans.   Not only does Ray-Ban’s motto encourage users to be an individual, their sunglasses guarantee the maximum certified protection, according to European and American regulations. They are made of the highest quality materials and are uniquely effective at providing excellent vision. Ray-Ban has excellent light transmission and offers 100% anti-reflective lenses and serious protection against blue light that can be hazardous to the eye.

Ray-Ban’s classic designs and high-tech lenses will not only protect you but will keep you looking hot all year round. If they are good enough for Wolverine, they are good enough for us!

Living in Orlando, I reside in one of the top travel destinations in the world.  So where do I go when I need some R&R? Everywhere else!

Monaco meets all the requirements of the unique destination trip, a place that  teaches how others enjoy life. Located at the foot of the Alps and bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean, the city of Monte Carlo is the epitome of European luxury, a destination so ingrained in the collective imagination that it may seem more myth that reality. Perhaps the reason are its ultra-luxurious shops, casinos and its marina, the quintessential backdrop used in many many films, television and glossy magazines.

Monte Carlo is a small town that is home to just 30,000 inhabitants. The city was established in the thirteenth century and those that were granted land were exempt from paying taxes, this to attract new residents. This tax haven feature remains today. The Grimaldi Dynasty oversees the Principality for more a record 700 years.

Monte Carlo Casino

Monaco is known for its hotels and casinos, such as the Monte Carlo Casino, among the most renowned and luxurious in the world. The city is also known a world mecca for great sporting events, such as Formula 1 Gran Prix. The Monter-Carlo Tennis Masters is another of those world attractions.

Some of the must-see venues are the Grimaldi Palace, located in Monaco-Ville, the heart of the city, as well as the Oceanographic Museum.  A stroll by that Monaco-Ville will provides spectacular views of the Mediterranean coast, with its curious horizon filled with skyscrapers and ginormous yachts.

All this wouldn’t  be so enjoyable worn without the mild climate. The mild temperatures all year round with only a few days of rain, make this city a great place to play and cut lose.  And Monaco is located less than an hour from the ski resorts of the Southern Alps, making it a sought after destination throughout the year. 

Time to get my Orlando airport parking in order and my flight on..