Hotel at a Glance: Best Western Plus Ruidoso Inn

This Best Western Plus puts you within easy reach of Ruidoso’s considerable charms, from mountain biking in the Sierra Blanca to gaming in nearby casinos. Guests of the hotel can enjoy a piping hot breakfast in the morning and cook out on barbecue grills for dinner.

• Complimentary breakfast: Start your day with homemade waffles and scrambled eggs.
• In-room amenities: high-speed Internet and flat-screen TVs
• Go swimming in the indoor heated pool and unwind in the hot tub.
• Family fun: Kids can play on the swings outside, while grownups grill burgers on the outdoor barbecue grill.
• Work out in the 24-hour fitness center.

Ruidoso, New Mexico: Mountain Scenery and Upscale Downtown

Once a sleepy village in the mountains, Ruidoso is now one of New Mexico’s fastest-growing cities. It’s easy to see why—surrounded by the Sacramento Mountains, ribboned by rivers, and studded with lakes and tall pine forests, Ruidoso makes an excellent home base for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, biking, and horseback-riding opportunities abound, and you can fish for rainbow and brook trout in the creeks and rivers that meander through the area.

Ruidoso also has plenty of indoor activities to keep visitors occupied—there’s the Casino Apache and Inn of the Mountain Gods, both enormous casinos, as well as the slots-only Billy the Kid Casino. And there are shops, upscale restaurants, and galleries galore downtown. Don’t miss a stop at the Hubbard Museum of the American West, an offshoot of the Smithsonian Institution that celebrates the Old West.

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Choose Between Two Options

• $25 for festival admission for two ($40 value)
• $45 for festival admission for four ($80 value)

The 2015 Albuquerque Folk Festival gathers musicians gather’s musicians, dancers and story tellers from various folk traditions for a weekend of song and dance with the main activities on Saturday, June 6. The event takes place at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum grounds. Patrons can sleep in the free camping area and have access to any of the live band performances and and jam sessions, as well as craft and dance workshops. Information will be posted to the website as it becomes available.

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Custom Sterling Silver Necklace From Kidz Can Design

• One-of-a-kind necklace
• Based on your child’s drawing, artwork, handprint, footprint, or other design.
• Sterling silver with a high-polish finish
• 14’’ chain included (16’’ and 18’’ also available)
• Spring-ring clasp
• Actual size of necklace will vary depending on the submitted drawing
• Maximum dimensions: 1.1’‘x1.1’’

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Giving this as a gift? Send it instantly with one of our loving e-cards, or print a handy gift envelope and card.

The Deal

• $13.99 for $20 worth of Dealbucks to be used towards any movie deal on Dealflicks.com

Customers can choose from a variety of current movies playing at multiple theaters. Dealbucks can be used toward movie tickets, popcorn, and sodas.

Certain shows may be limited or restricted depending on availability.

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Choose from Four Options

• $24 for One 30-40 minute infrared sauna session ($39 value)
• $69 for One kinesiology nutritional consultation ($139 value)
• $54 for One colon hydrotherapy session ($89 value)
• $69 for One bio electric pain management session ($139 value)

Colon Hydrotherapy: Energize from the Inside Out

Designed to cleanse the colon of waste in one fell swoop, a hydrotherapy session can lead to a new burst of energy. Check out Groupon’s report to know what to expect.

The process of colon hydrotherapy can seem intimidating, but the treatment is straightforward, simple, and potentially revitalizing. During the procedure, a disposable speculum or nozzle is inserted into the rectum to dispense a steady stream of water, which rushes through the colon to clear out waste materials. Though the process does not carry any scientifically proven medical benefits, many patients report an increase in energy and an overall feeling of well-being after even a single treatment.

Also known as colonics, colon-hydrotherapy sessions can be performed in private or with a therapist present, depending on the type of equipment used. In an “open” system, the water flows evenly through a thin plastic tube, and the patient can control the release of the waste on their own—though a therapist may stand by to help control the water flow or massage the patient’s belly. A “closed” system, meanwhile, requires a therapist to control alternating cycles of filling the colon with water and releasing the waste. Neither system is necessarily better than the other, and their advantages largely depend on the preferences of both patient and therapist.

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The Deal

• $75 for an academic evaluation and follow-up consultation ($208 value)

Huntington Learning Center focuses on academic skills such as reading, math, phonics, vocabulary, writing, and study skills as well as exam preparation.

Five Things to Know About the ACT and SAT Tests

One of the first steps in preparing to go to college is choosing which test to take—the ACT or SAT. Read on for a rundown of the differences between these harbingers of fate.

1. The Standards: The purpose of both tests is to provide colleges with a common standard with which to compare all applicants. The ACT covers four subjects (English, mathematics, reading, and science) and includes an optional writing portion. The SAT has three subjects (math, critical reading, and writing) plus a mandatory essay.

2. The Scores: According to The Princeton Review, the ACT gives college admissions offices a better “big picture” view of a student’s strengths. The highest score possible on the ACT is a 36, which is a composite of all the subjects. Students can score between 1 and 36 points on each subject, and those four scores are averaged together to give a final score. The SAT gives 200–800 points in each subject and is used to show the student’s individual proficiencies.

3. The Subjects: The science portion of the ACT isn’t exactly what it sounds like—students don’t need to brush up on chemical reactions and ghost-hunting methods beforehand. Instead, the science section actually assesses how students read and reason based upon a given set of facts, often incorporating charts and graphs. The other main difference in content is that the ACT also covers trigonometry in addition to the arithmetic, algebra, and geometry skills highlighted in both exams.

4. The Skills: Because of the way the SAT is designed, the test can be “tricked” by implementing certain strategies. With questions that can be difficult to interpret on the first read-through, the SAT relies more on vocabulary and reasoning skills to determine the correct answers, so students can learn behaviors that make the exam easier to interpret. The ACT, however, features more straightforward questions that test a student’s general knowledge of the high-school curriculum.

5. The Styles: Multitaskers may be better suited to the SAT, which bounces back and forth between different subjects throughout its 10 sections. The ACT, meanwhile, tackles subjects one at a time in four large chunks, a boon for students who prefer to finish a single task before moving on.

Groupon Says

The Deal

• $20 for six months of access to an online mind-body wellness course from Deepak Chopra ($59.99 value)

The online course, known as Discovering Ayurveda, comprises over six hours of video lessons featuring Deepak Chopra, guided yoga and meditation, and a quiz to determine your dosha.

The course contents are rooted in Ayurveda, or traditional Indian health practices. Students will learn how their mind-body type affects their diet, sleep patterns, stress, and activities; then, they can find ways to improve their health and daily well-being.

Groupon Says

After purchasing this deal, you will need to visit the website listed on your Groupon voucher to complete redemption. See voucher for more information.

Personalized Cutting Boards

• Decorative and functional cutting board
• Customize with a couple’s first names, last name, and anniversary date, depending on design
• Array of elegant designs to choose from
• Makes a thoughtful gift for weddings, anniversaries, and housewarmings
• Durable bamboo wood
• Various sizes available

Groupon Says

Hotel at a Glance: Best Western Pine Springs Inn

You can get mountain views wherever you turn at Best Western Pine Springs Inn, located in the sprawling Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area. Gaze at the distant peaks when you’re lounging in the outdoor courtyard or swimming in the pool. You can also see the mountains from your spacious room, which is appointed with a microwave and fridge.

• Complimentary full breakfast with waffles, eggs, and fresh fruit served daily
• Relax in the outdoor hot tub.
• Enjoy the great outdoors with horseback riding or golf, both available nearby.
• Place your bets: The hotel is less than 1 mile from the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and within 6 miles of the Billy the Kid Casino and Casino Apache Travel Center.

Ruidoso, New Mexico: Mountain Scenery, Skiing, and Upscale Downtown

Once a sleepy village in the mountains, Ruidoso is now New Mexico’s third-fastest-growing city. It’s easy to see why—surrounded by the Sacramento Mountains, ribboned by rivers, and studded with lakes and tall pine forests, Ruidoso is an excellent home base for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, biking, and horseback-riding opportunities abound, and year-round, you can fish for rainbow and brook trout in the creeks and rivers that meander through the area.

Ruidoso also has plenty of indoor activities to keep visitors occupied—there’s the Casino Apache and Inn of the Mountain Gods, both enormous casinos. And there are also upscale restaurants, shops, galleries galore downtown. Don’t miss a stop at the Hubbard Museum of the American West, an offshoot of the Smithsonian Institution that celebrates the not-so-distant Old West past.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.

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The Deal

• $25 for two weeks of unlimited yoga classes ($69 value)
• View the schedule.

Groupon Says

Choose from Three Options

• $36 for a custom 50”x60” fleece collage blanket ($109.99 value)
• $40 for a custom 50”x60” velveteen collage blanket ($129.99 value)
• $49.99 for a custom 60”x80” fleece collage blanket ($149.99 value)

Users first select a collage shape for their blanket, be it a simple rectangle, a teddy bear for a series of baby pictures, or a tree for an Arbor Day enthusiast. Once photos are uploaded to the easily navigated site, the images are printed on fleece or velveteen. The personalized piece can withstand regular machine washings, and it arrives ready for any and all blanket duties.

Groupon Says

Mattress technology has evolved over the years, moving from cloth stuffed with goose feathers to memory foam stuffed with the softest pages of old history books. Repose on a personalized pallet with this Groupon.

Choose from Four Options

• $299 for $1,150 toward twin or twin XL memory-foam mattresses
• $379 for $1,200 toward full memory-foam mattresses
• $399 for $1,300 toward queen memory-foam mattresses
• $499 for $2,000 toward king or california king memory-foam mattresses

Shipping is included, and each mattress features a 20-year limited warranty. For mattresses priced less than the value of the Groupon voucher, customers may purchase multiple mattresses of the same model.

Groupon Says

The Deal

$99 for one Cisco networking package ($4,443.60 value)

• Includes the following 9 Cisco courses:
  • Cisco CCENT
  • Cisco CCNA
  • Cisco Route 642-902 (CCNP)
  • Cisco Switch 642-813 (CCNP)
  • Cisco Troubleshoot 642-832 (CCNP)
  • Cisco CCNA Security
  • Cisco CCNA Voice
  • Cisco CCDA 640-864
  • Cisco CCNA Wireless
• Provides a comprehensive introduction to computer networking and security
• Topics include troubleshooting, implementing Cisco IP routing, handling security threats, and voice certification
• Package provides 12 months of access to downloads, templates, quizzes, and practice tests to improve IT knowledge

Groupon Says

Choose Between Two Options

• $9 for one personalized softcover children’s book ($24.99 value)
• $14 for one personalized hardcover children’s book ($39.99 value)

The book is personalized with a child’s name, allowing them to have a starring role in the story.

Groupon Says

The Deal

• One G-Pass to see Brad Paisley
• When: Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Isleta Amphitheater
• Door time: 6 p.m.
• Full offer value includes ticketing fees

Pricing Options

• $25 for early-discount general-admission lawn (up to $40.50 value) [Limited tickets available at this special price]
• $30 for general-admission lawn (up to $40.50 value)
• Click to view the seating chart

How G-Pass Works: Your G-Pass will be ready to print 48 hours after the deal ends. Print the G-Pass and use it to enter the venue directly; you won’t need to redeem at will call. Due to security restrictions, G-Passes cannot be redeemed through the Groupon mobile app. Discount reflects the merchant’s current ticket prices - price may differ on day of event.

Brad Paisley

• Number of Grammy awards Brad Paisley has won: 3
• Number of Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards combined: 28
• Number of CMA Entertainer of the Year awards he’s won: 1, in 2010
• Number of singles to hit No. 1: 23
• Number of gold and platinum certifications he has: more than 25
• Current single: “Crushin’ It” (from his chart topping 2014 album Moonshine in the Trunk)
• Special guests on his 2015 Crushin’ It World Tour: reigning ACM New Artist of the Year Justin Moore and highly anticipated newcomer Micky Guyton

Groupon Says