How Xfinity Can Support Your Home During the Pandemic

Remember back in March when many of us thought we'd be back to our normal routines before we knew it? Well we are a solid eight months into this global pandemic and many of us are still facing new challenges and changes.

As a mom and small business owner, I feel like I'm spinning the plates even more these days. My youngest is at home doing virtual learning for school, while my college sophomore is fortunate enough to be living on campus and attending a hybrid semester of classes. Besides supporting them and running my household, I work part-time with a local non-profit and also run a small home-based business. That's a LOT of stuff going on and I know I'm not alone in this!

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with some of my favorite local influencers and some wonderful folks from Xfinity to talk about how they are helping small businesses and families during this pandemic. While this post is sponsored by Xfinity, all opinions are my very own, so please read on to see how Xfinity may be able to help you and your family during this pandemic.

What's Hot in Modern Farmhouse Design and Technology

I attended the Philadelphia Magazine Design Home thanks to an invitation from Xfinity.  This is a sponsored post in partnership with Comcast.

There is no doubt that farmhouse style is hot right now, with its comfy-chic aesthetic and liberal use of neutral tones. But a term being tossed around in design circles, is "modern farmhouse". . .what does that even mean – how can a farmhouse be modern? When you typically think about a farmhouse, you may think of a rustic, old-fashioned farmhouse. But the trendy modern farmhouse look is anything but. It's full of warmth and simplicity, in the traditional farmhouse style, but it also encompasses natural textures and materials, and if you do it right, the latest in modern technology. 

Thanks to an invite from Comcast, I recently got a tour of a local modern farmhouse, that takes this design trend to the next level! Located on 2.9 acres in lovely Villanova, Pennsylvania, this 6-bedroom gem of a house sits among estates that have been around for decades. When you pull into the drive, you are greeted by a lovely home, that despite its luxurious feel, harkens back to a simpler time.

"The goal was to create a home with a formal elegance that respected the architectural past and that fit the neighborhood setting, but that had a decidedly modern appeal - a home focused on style, comfort and function, rather than formality and grandeur."

How to Create the Perfect Summer Movie Night

Ahhh. . .the promise of a perfect summer night . . .is there anything better? And now that school is over, and kids' activities have settled down for the summer lull, it's the perfect time to plan some quality relaxing family time, preferably in the outdoors. Thanks to Best Buy for sponsoring this post.

Family Movie Night has long been a winter favorite. When it's too blustery, dark and cold to go out, families hunker down in living rooms and finished basements, pop corn and watch a variety of popular movies and TV shows. Gone are the days of the VCR and even the DVD, replaced by Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu! But why should this family time favorite be kept in the cold?? Why not start enjoying your family movie night in the great outdoors this summer?

Moto Racer 4 for Xbox Review and Giveaway

This post contains affiliate links

I don't know about your kids, but mine are obsessed with simulation games. We have a truck driving, bus driving and even a goat simulator game! So when the PR company for the new, child-friendly motorcycle racing game, Moto Racer 4 reached out to see if we were interested in  reviewing the game, the kids said, "YES!"

Last fall, we made the switch from our much-loved Wii U, to an Xbox. I wanted to keep the Wii U, but my teenager really wanted the live-action sports games available on the Xbox, so we switched. Except for the Mario games, we were able to get our favorites for our new Xbox. Paired up with our upgraded Xfinity from Comcast, our gaming experience has really gotten sophisticated.

The Way You Watch Sports Is About to Change

I live with a major sports fan . . .contrary to what you may think, it is NOT my husband. . .it's my teenager! Growing up, my dad watched a lot of ball games, and my younger brother was into watching a lot of sports on TV, but none of it prepared me for this kid that watches everything from the Indy 500 to the PGA Tour.  He's even considering a Sports Management major in college, and is toying with Broadcasting.

So when I asked him if he wanted to join me at a media event sponsored by Comcast introducing their new programming for the Big Games in Rio, he jumped at the chance. The fact that it also included a night at the Phillies Game, was just icing on the cake.

I've mentioned before that we are long-time Comcast customers and fans. For our family, there's never really been a reason to consider switching. Comcast fills all of our television and internet needs plus more.I recently went to a demo of their X1 Platform and their improved Xfinity Home program, and to say I was impressed is an understatement. I came home and promptly told John we needed to upgrade.

A Parents' Guide to Pokemon Go

When I was a kid, there was a product, probably a toy, with the slogan, "the sensation that's sweeping the nation" - I have long since forgotten what the amazing product was, but the slogan has managed to stay with me all these years and I was reminded of it after last weekend's Pokemon Go craze. If you haven't caught the fever, I'm willing to bet your kids have, or know kids that are already collecting. You may have even seen them yourself - kids roaming the neighborhood or cars pulling over suddenly.

While Pokemon has been around for more than 17 years, in a variety of formats, Pokemon Go is the newly released mobile App from Niantic Labs in collaboration with the Pokemon Company (of which Nintendo owns 32%) . Despite launch problems and criticism, the App added $9 BILLION to the Nintendo Market Capitalization. That's Billion with a "B". So despite what you may think about Pokemon, the craze is real and it's not just for kids based on the number of my adult friends claiming their obsession with finding all the Pokemon in their towns.

4 Ways to Stay Organized With Xfinity

Wow, Xfinity has a lot more to offer families than I knew! A big thanks to them for partnering with me to bring you this post. #XfinityMoms

I am always looking for better ways to organize my life. In our busy lives, I think we are always searching for ideas and inspiration to make things easier; ways to cut the clutter and streamline the processes in our day-to-day lives. Well after a recent visit to my local Xfinity store, I found 4 ways that I could use Xfinity to help streamline and organize my life.

Yes, I said Xfinity Store. Comcast and Xfinity invited me, along with some other local bloggers to take a tour of their new facility in Willow Grove, PA, as well as learn about their current services. It was an information-packed day for sure, as well as a lot of fun. The people in the store were friendly and knowledgeable and they endlessly answered our questions regarding upgrading our current systems, how their services works, and how we can manage media for our kids.

What I learned while I was there, is that there are 4 big ways that I can use Xfinity to help streamline and organize my life. We all want to make things easier, right, so let's start here with our homes and family entertainment.

The Latest Video Game Craze - Yo-Kai Watch {giveaway}

“This post was sponsored by Nintendo as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.”

I don't know about your kids, but my kids love video games. We have been a Nintendo family for a long time. My husband and I had a Nintendo 64 back in the early 90's and indulged in some crazy, pre-kid Super Mario Brothers marathons. These days, we still enjoy the family-friendly feel of Nintendo and their gaming systems.

Video games get some bad press these days, but as the mom of two active boys, I think they can be a great way for my kids to unwind and enjoy some downtime. In fact, I'd rather they actively engage with a video game, than mindlessly watch a television show. But it's all a balancing act, and every kid and family is different. Differences are what's so great about Nintendo, because they have something for everyone, no matter what your interest is. Take the new Yo-Kai Watch game, for example.

Do You Love Gadgets? What You Need to Know About Drones

I am surrounded by gadget lovers around here. We spend hours fooling around in our local Best Buy with all the latest technology. In fact, my kids had a 3-D printer on their Christmas list last year (Santa did NOT deliver). The latest and greatest topic of our gadget discussions is Drones.

I have mixed feelings about Drone technology, it's simply fascinating to me, that a normal person can posses one of these and fly it around! So when Best Buy offered me a gift card in exchange for sharing some information with you, I agreed!

What is a Drone anyway? Well, a Drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (a UAV). Essentially, a Drone is a flying robot. . .for real, just like The Jetsons! How cool would it be to able to use one to drop off your kid's forgotten lunch at school? Ok, we may not be at that point quite yet, but the technology and capabilities are pretty cool.

Let's say you were in the market for a Drone of your own . . .where can a person get a Drone for themselves? Best Buy is the destination for drones, including the new Solo™ by 3DR. Solo, the Smart Drone, arrived in over 400 Best Buy stores on June 8th. It’s the first-ever drone powered by two integrated Linux computers, making capturing the perfect shot easy for anyone. Solo can define its own flight, freeing users to focus on getting the shot. This intelligent drone is also the first to support full control of GoPro® cameras and deliver live HD video either wirelessly to your mobile device or through the controller’s HDMI port for live broadcasts.

I got a glimpse of a Drone in use last summer, during our local neighborhood fireworks. I had no idea, until John mentioned it and pointed it out - hovering in the distance. He is truly a gadget lover and early tech adopter. The Solo is a smart drone that's designed for easy flying (perfect for beginners), and built to capture stunning video and photography with your GoPro camera. With features like push-button flight, Solo makes it simple for anyone to get off the ground quickly. And with computer-assisted Smart Shots and the GoPro frame, you'll be able to capture professional-style aerial photos and video in Full HD quality.

The technology available still fascinates and amazes me, I grew up in the 110 film era.  We certainly have come a long way in capturing our lives and memories. How can this technology be used for the typical family? Getting the best view of athletic skills and techniques, taking your family vacation even further or even letting you get a birds' eye view for future home improvement and landscape design.

The 3D Robotics Solo Drone retails for $999 at your local Best Buy. But right now, Best Buy is offering a limited time deal on the Solo. Get a FREE Solo Smart Battery (Reg. Price: $149.99) when you purchase the 3DR Solo Drone (Sku: 5354101). Valid 6/7-7/11 at Best Buy. (Disclaimer: Offer valid with purchase of the 3DR Solo Drone SKU: 5351035)

What would you do with a Drone of your own?

catch you soon - 
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card, however all opinions are my very own.

Don't Miss a Moment This Summer

This is a sponsored post with Best Buy and GoPro.  Summer is here, and you don't want to miss a moment of it! The new GoPro Hero + LCD camera is perfect for capturing sweet family moments, long summer breaks and every journey that lies ahead. In fact, I was surprised to learn that a GoPro Camera is top on my 8th grader's list of graduation presents!

Of course, Best Buy has long been our family destination to check out all the latest and greatest in tech, including the new GoPro HERO+LCD. The new camera arrives in stores just in time for Father’s Day, and man is it cool! The new GoPro HERO+ LCD features 1080p60 video, 8MP photos and built-in Wi-Fi, plus the convenience of a touch display. The cool factor gets kicked up with the built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®. These features allow you to connect to the GoPro App for shot preview, total camera control and easy content sharing to Instagram, Facebook, and more.

Think about all the adventures you and your family can have this summer! We have some camping, and kayaking planned, as well as our annual family beach vacation. This camera would add a whole new element of adventure to our trips! In fact, I'm pretty sure I could come up with even more things to do and try, just because we had this awesome camera with us! Capture all of your incredible moments and relive them on the spot with the LCD display!

To help make you a hit this Father's Day (or at graduation), Best Buy has two great deals, but HURRY because  the offers end on June 20th!

• HERO+LCD (Sku 6954009) with free 32GB Extreme Plus memory card (Sku 9387066). Valid 6/14-6/20 

• Free $50 Best Buy Gift Card with purchase of the GoPro HERO4 Silver (Sku 8374096) or GoPro HERO4 Black (Sku 8374078). Valid 6/7-6/20

What moment will you capture with a GoPro camera?

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The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card, however all opinions are my very own.

Canon Is A Great Family Gift From Best Buy {#HintingSeason}

Remember a few weeks ago, I shared I was teaming up with Best Buy to share some great Family Gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season? Well, today, I'm back to share another great Family Gift Idea!

How about a fancy, yet easy-to-use Canon EOS Rebel T5i? 

It's confession time . . .big cameras intimidate me. I know I should be using one for my blog, but I'm so comfortable with my current Cannon SX170 IS! But I'm toying with dragging John's DSLR out of the closet for the new year. How fun would it be to have this amazing piece of equipment under the tree?!

I'm pretty sure we have purchased ALL of our cameras from Best Buy over the years, and believe it or not, they are all Canons. (When something works, I say stick with it!) Best Buy is the ultimate destination for the latest cameras to capture your holiday memories. I love that ALL the choices are in one convienent location, and you can try them all out right in the store!

The Canon EOS Rebel T5i is one of the best-selling DSLRs. This camera makes advanced photography easy and fun, and gives you exceptional image quality, along with a host of features to enhance your creative expression. Sounds like the perfect family gift for the family of a blogger, doesn't it?

Some of the cool features of the Canon EOS Rebel T5i are:

• Hollywood caliber full HD video capture capability
• Continuous autofocus while taking HD video
• An 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 image processor to ensure vivid, crystal-clear images
• A 3" vari-angle touch screen to simplify navigation

Sounds perfect, doesn't it? Just think about all the school plays, concerts and programs you can capture? the possibilities are endless!

FYI - You can save $150 on the Canon EOS Rebel T5i at Best Buy from 12/7 through 12/20 (so act fast!). Visit Best Buy to learn more.

What memories would you capture with a new Canon Camera from Best Buy?

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This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card for my time spent preparing this post, however, as always all opinions are my very own.

A Truly Smart Home - Xfinity and The Philadelphia Magazine Design Home

For months, I have watched the latest Philadelphia Magazine Design Home go from an empty lot, to an 8200 square foot luxury manor home. Trees went, and trees came. The footprint was poured, the frame went up, stones, a pool and a three-car garage with a lift were all added.

All of those amazing and beautiful things were visible from the outside. What you couldn't see, and I  found out last week, was all the amazing stuff on the INSIDE. The 2014 Design Home is not just pretty to look at and luxurious to be in, it is also fully equipped with Xfinity Home.  Comcast and Real Mom Media invited me, along with some other area bloggers, to come check it all out for ourselves.

The house is simply stunning. With four floors of living space, room for three cars in the garage and luxurious outdoor living space, this house was something to see. What was so fascinating, was what you couldn't see. On my visit, I learned that Xfinity Home offers customers a way to manage your home security and "smart home" devices in a simple and secure way, from anywhere. The platform seamlessly integrates a wide range of electronics, appliances and security technology into one easy-to-use experience.

According to Comcast, one in five Americans own a home appliance that's connected to the internet, and it's estimated that there will be 25 billion (BILLION!!) devices connected to the Internet by 2015 and 50 billion by 2020.

Now, if you are anything like me, you're probably asking yourself, who needs that much connectivity?? You may be surprised. With Xfinity Home you can control your lights and your thermostat. Those are two ways that Xfinity Home may be able to help you lower your utility costs and help your home run more efficiently. In fact, EcoFactor learns your home's heating and cooling patterns and automatically makes adjustments or you can make adjustments remotely.

The security sensors can alert you to such things as leaking water in your basement, broken windows or opened doors. Multiple arming modes can help keep you safe around the clock. And again, you can monitor this remotely through the Xfinity Home App.

If home security and monitoring isn't your thing, Xfinity has a nice selection of Apps for their customers that can help you with your entertainment and on the go lifestyle. My favorite is by far Xfinity Connect. This keeps me in touch with my email and home phone and voice mail no matter where I may be. A close second is the Xfinity WiFi App. With this app, you can locate thousands of Xfinity hotspots across the country.

For you TV buffs, you may want to check out Xfinity TV Go, which lets you watch live TV on any device anywhere you go (Hello Good Wife!) or check out Xfinity TV Remote which allows you to control your TV from your smartphone. Never forget to turn on the DVR again!

So this house really is smart on both the outside AND on the inside. It's also move-in ready, and I'm ready . . .now only to come up with the money.

What home technology are you most interested in learning more about?

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I was invited by Comcast and Real Mom Media to tour the Philadelphia Design Home and the Comcast features of the home. I received a Samsung Tab4 from Comcast to facilitate my review of Xfinity. .All opinions, are as always my very own. 

The LG OLED is A Great Family Gift From Best Buy {#HintingSeason}

Do you do "Family Gifts"? I've never done this in the past, but I think it's a great idea and can be a really fun and festive way to get something big everyone in the family can enjoy, no matter what holiday your family celebrates. I'm teaming up with Best Buy to share a great Family Gift idea for the upcoming holiday season.

 

I've never been a big TV person, truth be told, I'd rather read a good book than watch TV any day. But the rest of my family enjoys TV and quite frankly, I've been toying with the idea of a larger screen with newer technology. Our go-to technology place has always been Best Buy. Best Buy has a great selection, all laid out there in the store. You can check out everything live and in person before you make a purchasing decision.

On a recent trip, we were checking out the TVs, and noticed the LG OLED TVs. What is OLED TV?? (That's exactly what I wanted to know!)

First of all, it is SO skinny!  The stunning design of LG OLED TV is only 0.21" (less than a quarter of an inch!) thick at its thinnest point. Secondly, the color is amazing! Picture quality is spectacular, with Infinite Contrast that ranges from the most blazing whites to the deepest blacks. And, LG's exclusive 4 Color Pixel technology delivers bright, vibrant colors. For even more specs and details, check out LGOLEDatBestBuy.com 

It really is amazing. Now I am old enough to remember when no one had cable TV. There were only three major networks, and some smaller, local channels. I had to get up to change the channel too.  But if you've looked at the latest technology in televisions, you know that the picture quality is simply amazing. Your first kiss. A baby's first steps. The majesty of a desert sunset. Some things in life defy all explanation and must be experienced to be believed. That's the case with LG's latest display technology. With deeper and richer colors, stunning contrast and ingeniously curved screens, it is unlike any technology you've ever seen, and it delivers a picture that exceeds your wildest imagination. (and you don't have to get up to change the channel!)

So I'm definitely adding this to my holiday wish list, I hope Santa thinks we've been good!


Will you have a Family Gift this holiday?

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The reviewer has been compensated for their time, in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card. As always, all opinions are my very own.

Catch It All This Spring at Best Buy #CatchItAll {sponsored}

Mention "March Madness" and for many of us, Brackets, Sweet 16 and Final Four all come to mind. The Big Dance definitely signals the start of spring. When I worked in an office, I can remember heading out to lunch with colleagues in order to catch the games on a local bar's TVs. Our only other alternative was to check new sites for score updates and game highlights.

These days, you don't have to leave your living room, office or even your desk to catch all the action! You can get scores, updates and even live stream the games right from your HDTV, Laptop, Tablet or my personal favorite, right from your smartphone.

If you asked me what my super power is, I'd say the ability to wield a smartphone. In the palm of my hand I can hold the power to keep up to date on all my favorite shows, the latest news, weather and more. I can track my family's schedules, look up a recipe for dinner tonight, and create a shopping list. From someone who remembers life before cell phones, it's pretty amazing.

Our family's go-to place to find all the latest and greatest in devices is usually our local Best Buy. They have a tremendous selection of HDTVs, Tablets, Laptops, Smartphones and more. They also carry all the top brands, whether you're a Mac or a PC.

Don't get left behind this spring. Baseball pre-season is underway with Opening Day right around the corner. And the final March Madness games hit the courts April 5th and 7th.  Best Buy helps keep you connected to the excitement with devices and connectivity that make it possible: Brought to life by the brand promise of the latest devices and services, all in one place.

How do you stay connected and catch it all?

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The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time

Video games get a lot of negative attention these days. Too much screen time can be detrimental to physical activity and other mental stimulus (like reading). But there are also benefits to the strategy and hand-eye coordination that video games teach, not to mention what playing games (even video games) as a family can do for family wellness.

The kids recently purchased the Lego Marvel SuperHeros game for our WiiU. Owen needed someone to play with, so I stepped in. I am no gamer. The kids laugh because I am typically the player pushing all the buttons and trying to figure out which one is making me jump. (then I fall off the plane anyway) But I realized that in playing this game, we were working together. Ryan came in to offer tips and encouragement, and even John had to help us get through a few levels.

It became a family game. And we were playing it a LOT. I worried about too much screen time, but the benefits we were getting seemed to outweigh the negatives. Plus with all that snow, outside, we weren't going anywhere. So I did a little research on how playing games as a family made us better  people and a better family unit.

Here are 5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time that I came up with:

1.  Opening up communication. It may not be easy to talk to your child about how they problem-solve on the playground over the dinner table. But if you are Captain America, and your child is Hulk, you can get a glimpse into their problem solving and strategy skills.

2.  Family bonding. Sometimes it's not easy to find common ground with your kids (especially when they become tweens and teens). Playing a game together can be that common ground, and give everyone a space to bond.

3.  Getting physical, improving balance and coordination. With active games like XBox Kinect and WiiU, you can walk tight ropes, dodge soccer balls and have a dance party. When you play with your kids you can all improve your skills together - watch as everyone's best scores rise with more practice.

4.  Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Some of these game require hand movements while keeping your eyes firmly on the screen. With full-body motion on some games, you can even work up a bit of sweat trying to keep it all together.

5.  Using our brains. Gone are the days where a video game is simply pushing a button repeatedly. Many games include strategy, logic and reasoning skills. While this a great thing for our kids, let's not lose sight of the fact that using our brains, can help keep us sharp as we age.

Do you play video games with your kids? What's your favorite right now? How do you think they benefit your family?

catch you soon -

Getting a Grip on Tech {Review}

I don't know about your family, but it seems to me, that we are always on the move these days. At some point during the day, I am running around the house saying "get your coat, grab a hat, take any gadgets you want in the car." This is particularly relevant to my youngest, who spends a lot of time with me in the car carting his older brother around to various events.

I let him keep amused with bringing an iTouch or a DS . . .but I always cringe when he wants to bring the iPad . . .they are slippery little things. So I was delighted when a bright red Gripcase landed on my front step for review.

It was super easy to slip the iPad 2 into the flexible case. . .although I admit, the first time I put it in backwards, but quickly realized my mistake when the buttons didn't match up with the spaces. If you exercise more patience than I did and look at it first, you won't have any problems - it's really easy.

I love the way it looks - the bright red color makes it easy to spot, and those handles all around are fantastic for carrying it and keeping a good grip on it. My teenager thought it looked a little "dorky", but had to admit it was easy to hold onto, carry and hand back and forth with his brother.

You can see more about the sizes and colors that the Gripcase comes in on their website. You can also read about their wonderful BOGO program. With this program, when you buy a Gripcase, they will donate one to a school of your choice. Gripcase is also pretty active on social media, if you're looking for a fun brand to interact with. You can find them on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

We we are giving the Gripcase two thumbs up (six, if you count all three of us).

catch you soon -

Disclosure - Gripcase.com provided a case to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own and those of my family.

Let Best Buy be Your Holiday Destination for Great Tech at Great Prices {sponsored}

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

This time of year, everyone is looking for the "perfect" gift. But what does the perfect gift look like? Does it involve the latest and greatest gadget? If so, then Best Buy is the authority and destination for all your technology and appliance product gifting needs this holiday.

Technology is evolving quickly and becoming increasingly complex - Best Buy is here to help make it easy for you to choose the products and services that work best for you. We hit up our local Best Buy on an almost weekly basis to check out what's new.

Worried about roaming around the aisles and not finding what you're looking for? At Best Buy the Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents are passionate, highly trained, knowledgeable and impartial so they can help ensure you get the perfect gifts for your family and friends…and yourself

We all know Best Buy is a great source for the top technology, but did you also know that Best Buy offers the world's newest technology, best assortment and service in home theater. I'd LOVE to have a home theater. And let's not forget appliances. Best Buy is better positioned than ever to bring the latest small appliances and special deals to you. In fact, I just saw a spiffy looking vacuum in there this week. So be sure to check out the Best Buy Gift Center for your Holiday Gifts!

Best Buy has put together two great offers for my scraps readers (effective 12/1/13 - 1/18/14):

Bring powerful sound wherever life takes you with UE compact wireless speakers. I am pretty sure my tween would love to have these under the tree this year. If you have a music lover on your list, enjoy 10% off Headphones and Portable Speakers (excludes Beats, Bose and Sony products)  to redeem coupon at bestbuy.com, enter code bloggers10off at checkout.

Does someone on your list want to step up their healthy living routine in 2014?  Or are you planning to bring joy with the latest tech toys? Then this 15% off Health & Fitness products and Fisher Price & Mattel Toys is a great choice. To redeem coupon at bestbuy.com, enter code bloggers15off at checkout.


No time to browse around the store? No worries, shop online and then take advantage of Best Buy's Free Store Pick-Up. Of course, you'll have to wrap it yourself, but talk about easy! And for those really impossible people to buy for, the Best Buy Gift Card route of let them get what they want is the perfect choice!

What's on your list this holiday season?

catch you soon -

 

 

How-To Choose the Right Video Games for Your Family

If your family is into gaming, there's a lot more to consider than what's popular and what's the right console for your needs. Choosing the right video games for your family is an important decision.

We aren't huge gamers around here, the boys started with LeapPads when they were toddlers, moved onto DSs when they hit school-age, and are now immersed in the WiiU, PSP and 3DS. I remember when my family got our very fist game, the Odyssey from Sears, and then eventually upgraded to an Atari and finally a Nintendo. Some of my favorite games growing up were Ka-Boom, Stampede and Pac-Man.

John and I purchased a Nintendo before the kids were born, and we may have called out sick one day to play Super Mario Brothers. It's a game I still enjoy playing with the boys on our WiiU.

I've always been strict about content.  I buy only E games and only recently have allowed games for kids 10+. Games these days are so much more realistic than that square (ball) and stick that I played as a kid. With that realism comes a lot of confusion for parents. There's a lot to consider when purchasing or downloading a game for your kids to play. I did so much research before I let my kids play Minecraft, and I'm really glad I did.

Recently, I was a guest at the Activision Family Game Summit, and there was some great discussion around the ESRB. Not familiar with the ESRB?  The Entertainment Software Rating Board assigns ratings and content information for video games and apps. You may have noticed their black boxes on a recent game purchase, and if you haven't noticed it, you're going to want to start looking.

These boxes can tell you the following helpful information:

• Rating Categories: Such as C, E, E10+, T, M and A
• Content Description: Such as "comic mischief" or "mild lyrics"
• Interactive Elements: Such as "Shares Info", "Shares Location" and/or "Users Interact"

Virtually all boxed games have ESRB Rating Summaries, which can be found on the box, online at ESRB.org or on the ESRB mobile app. So know what you're buying before you buy it, Educating yourself can really help in choosing appropriate games for your kids.

This is your first step in finding age-appropriate and content-appropriate games for your family to enjoy. Many of them can even be played as a family and can bring a whole-new light to family game night!

But there's a second step, Parental Controls. Game consoles, handhelds and even most operating systems offer parental control settings that let you restrict access. Step-by-step guides can be found in the device's manual or online at ESRB.org/parents. Don't be shy - get informed. In fact, it's a great idea to talk to your kids about what kinds of games they are interested in. Opening up the lines of communications allows you to tell them what your expectations are and what your family rules are.

While many of these games can provide hours of entertainment and even teach your kids some things, they can also be harmful when not used properly or safely. If you're looking for more information on choosing a game console and games, my friend, Leticia (TechSavvyMama) recently published an article that may help.

What's your current favorite video game?

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Disclosure - I received a care package for attending the summit. I was not compensated for my time or this post and this was NOT a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my very own.

Review: LeapFrog MyRobot Friend

We have a lot of options for game playing around here. We are regulars at trading in games at GameStop. But Apps for the iPad tend to stick around a little longer. Even though they stick around, and get more play than a game console game, the kids are always looking for new Apps to download. So off we go to search for a $.99 game, that many times, leaves us spending way more.

When we got the chance to check out the MyRobot Friend App from LeapFrog, the kids were very excited.

First of all, the Avatar is appealing. I realize that may seem insignificant, but as a parent, I can tell you that many times, that is how my kids shop for Apps - similar to looking for a book, you check out the cover. The App retails for $3.99, which is quite reasonable, and the BEST PART - there are NO In-App Purchases. That is music to a parent's ears! No accidental purchases or complaining and whining because they want the add-ons, which end up turning your $.99 game into a $5 or more purchase.

When you start the game, you get to select a character and add your name. There's a great little intro, that seems more like a story than instructions.

You can move onto levels, and you can win coins and prizes along the way. If you make a mistake, it gives you instructions AND encouragement to try it again.

My 6 year old took to the various modules very quickly. He had trouble with the In Reverse game, so we started it again, and with me sitting next to him, he caught on very quickly and started earning ribbons.  Needless to say he was very proud of himself. I love the graphics and the way the game is set up.

When I play a game, winning "special" items, is a big draw for me to continue playing. In MyRobot Friend, your child can unlock new outfits and accessories, without spending any additional money for add-ons or to purchase "coins".

MyRobot Friend from LeapFrog is a colorful, fun game that my kids are thoroughly enjoying. And just wait until you get to the Dance Party!! There are multiple "players" or identities that you can choose to play with, so everyone can get in on the fun.

Here's a little video about the game, so you can get a feel for it before you download:



Looks fun right? My kids are in love - I have even caught the 12 year old playing, but don't tell him I told you! MyRobot Friend brings fun and learning together, something that LeapFrog is so well known for and does so very well. I'll save you the search and you can purchase and download MyRobot Friend from LeapFrog.

catch you soon -

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective but content and opinions expressed here are all my own. To learn more about the app, visit here #CleverRobotFriend #spon

Texting Gloves-Fashion Accessory or Fashion Necessity?

Do you text, tweet or update your Facebook Status? In the cold? Do you have a pair of texting gloves?

There are almost as many styles as there are phones. There are pretty ones, and functional ones, and crazy ones, and hand-knit ones. . .the list is endless.  So how do you go about choosing the right pair? And for that matter are they even necessary?

For me, they are a necessity.  I love to post a picture to Instagram from the Bus Stop or on the run. And I'm always texting.