Monday, December 3, 2012

Giveaway - Brookstone eComfort Tablet Pillow and Dustin Touchscreen Cleaner



The Brookstone eComfort Tablet Pillow is finally the answer to using an iPad® in bed. I've always enjoyed using laptops and now my iPad in bed, but there's always the problem of cold hands after holding the device too long.  The eComfort Tablet Pillow beats traditional case stands by securely holding an iPad upright on a soft surface completely hands free.  With the rotation lock feature of the iPad, I can even lie sideways in bed and enjoy an iBook.

The eComfort Tablet Pillow can hold 10" tablets as well as 7" tablets including the Kindle® Fire.  I would recommend removing the case while using the eComfort Tablet Pillow, as the X-stand tends to squish most cases.  I've switched to using a thin Smart Cover as they are easy to remove for the eComfort Tablet Pillow.



If you're an avid tablet gamer or have kids that use tablet devices, the Brookstone Dustin 2-in-1 Touchscreen Cleaning Cloth is a must have accessory.  We are constantly cleaning our screens and absolutely love this handy device.  They come two in a package, so we don't even have to fight over them.

*** If you'd like to win your own Brookstone eComfort Tablet Pillow and Dustin Touchscreen Cleaner, head to their site and answer a few easy peasy questions in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on December 16th at 12:00am and is open to residents of US and Canada. ***

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Giveaway - Acorn Crosslander Mule Shoes

Love my Acorn Crosslander Mules

It's autumn and time to put away the flip flops and put on some cozy footwear! These Acorn Crosslander Mule Shoes are the perfect companion to crisp cool days. They are extremely comfortable, well constructed and super stylish.

I bought my first pair of Acorn slippers in 1996 and have always been impressed with their comfort and quality.  Acorn has since branched out to shoes, boots, socks and more.  It's obvious from their selection that they are still committed to quality materials, super sharp casual styles and ultimate comfort.

Acorn is sponsoring a Facebook "Love You" contest with $5000 worth of prizes, plus the chance to become product testers or even "star" in an Acorn footwear ad campaign. Just create an Acorn self portrait describing "what makes you, you?" on their Facebook page application.

*** If you'd like to win your own pair of Acorn Crosslander Mule shoes, head to their site and tell me  your favorite Acorn footwear product and choice of color for the Crosslander Mule in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on November 24th at 12:01am and is open to US residents. ***

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Giveaway - Brookstone Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank


Brookstone has come back again this year with a faster, cooler Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank.  In sleek black, the Rover 2.0 is faster, and now records video as well as still photos.  As soon as I hooked it up the iPad to its wireless network, my kids once again took the controls intuitively.

Adam in the Rover 2.0

Now we can capture the true chaos that is my kids on video.



You don't need to trust super sleek product photo, it is really that cool looking, especially with the controllable headlights.

Rover 2.0

And there's no escaping the Rover's all knowing eye!

Photographing the Rover 2.0

*** If you'd like to win your own Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank, head to their site and tell me what your favorite feature is in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on November 16th at 12:01am and is open to residents of US and Canada. ***

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Giveaway - Brookstone iConvert Scanner



The Brookstone iConvert Scanner is every digital hoarder's dream!  I purchased my first digital camera in 2000, one month before my first child was born.  So all my son's and then my daughter's photos were digital, but there are so many documents and photos that aren't.  In the past, I used my printer/fax/scanner machine to scan photos but it was a tedious process.  I scanned artwork and portraits from school and other items such as birthday cards to save digitally. Now it is even easier with the iConvert Scanner.

The iConvert scanner works perfectly with my new iPad 3 as well as older iPad models. You simply plug it in and the app will automatically come up in the iTunes app store.  It comes with a power adapter but it also works from a powered USB hub with a standard USB cable (not included - it was just easier to power it this way on my desk). 

One of the really cool features of the iConvert scanner is that it will scan any size paper from a business card to a full 8.5x11" sheet.  The scan will be automatically cropped to the proper size.  Check out my cool new business card, it even has a QR code (the square barcode...  Also I crossed out the phone number - you didn't want that anyway).



Being the resident software test engineer person as well software developer at my job, I like to test things to their fullest. So I threw a variety of things at the scanner. One of them was this note that Dova wrote on a napkin.

napkin
Dear Mom, I can't stand another minute with Adam. Please don't let him annoy me! He threw me on the couch and I hit my head on the wood. He has been bothering me so much. Love, Dova.
Yup, it scans napkins. And artwork.  Check out these cozy kittens on a rug.


Last but not least, it scans photos. Here's the artist of these creations.



The scanner is extra handy compared to the old-fashioned kind and we are always thinking of new things to scan.  The quality has been outstanding as you would expect from all Brookstone products.


*** If you'd like to win your own Brookstone iConvert Scanner, tell me what device you'd use the speaker with in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on June 24th at 12:01am and is open to residents of US and Canada. ***

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Review - Spot It by Blue Orange Games

Looking for a great family game that's hours of fun and super easy to learn?  Spot It from Blue Orange Games has taken a favorite "spot" in our family. The premise is simple. On any two cards, there is always one and only one matching symbol.  Spot it and you win. Sounds easy, but with different size images, it can sometimes take a sharp eye. Sometimes you can get on a roll with the same image, which makes the game fast and exciting.

My engineering mind marvels at the fact that only one image matches between any two cards.  With 22 different images and eight images on each card, you would think it would be impossible, but sure enough, it works every time.

Spot It is for ages 7 to adult and my 8-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son love it.  For younger kids, Blue Orange also offers Spot It Jr. for kids ages 4 and up.  Check out Spot It on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and buy it on Amazon.

Special thanks to Blue Orange Games for providing the Spot It game for review.  No other compensation was received.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Giveaway - Brookstone Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Pro for iPad


When considering a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad, have you considered the ability to remove the keyboard to type more comfortably (although not necessarily poolside in a turquoise bikini as shown above)?  How about premium supple leather (in my favorite leather color)?

The Brookstone Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Pro is the must have accessory for the everyday user to the executive looking for the very best in iPad accessories.  The keyboard has excellent tactile feedback and is super easy to pair to your iPad or even a smartphone through the wireless Bluetooth connection.

With the iPad and the keyboard, you can do some serious work editing documents, writing emails and even blog posts (you can bet this one was written using it!).  With the keyboard, your iPad screen is no longer half-filled with the graphic keyboard which makes creating content much easier and rewarding.

The leather case extremely high quality and stylish.  The iPad sleeve and bezel fit well and all the iPad controls are readily available.  But you know what?  You can use the volume controls right on the keyboard, as well music controls, brightness, home screen and locking the screen.

The iPad is secure in the leather case and well protected against accidental drops.  The removable keyboard is held in place magnetically and the integrated stand hold the iPad at the perfect angle.  All together, the combination of the iPad, case and keyboard is a bit heavy and bulky, but it's a small concession to make considering the huge jump in productivity.

I absolutely love my Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard! It makes my iPad as useful as a laptop with a keyboard.  The Bluetooth Keyboard Pro is available from Brookstone online or in stores for $149.  You can also check out the Bluetooth Keyboard with Tech-Grip Case and the original Bluetooth iPad Keyboard Case for $99 each.

*** If you'd like to win your own Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard Pro, tell me what device you'd use the keyboard with in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on May 16th at 12:01am and is open to residents of US and Canada. ***


Monday, April 16, 2012

Review - Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits



On May 8th, Kidz Bop will be releasing their Ultimate Hits CD featuring the most popular releases from their hugely successful line of Kidz Bob CDs, "sung by kids for kids". As I heard about it,
I Gotta Feeling May 8th is going to be Dynamite! We’re going to Party In The USA with the release of KIDZ BOP Ultimate Hits! The California Gurls will be dancing to all 13 hits this Fire Burning summer! You don’t need to be a Billionaire to get a copy, its only $13.98! 
As well as these hits, the Ultimate Hits CD contains, Tik TokBreak Your HeartHey Soul Sister, DG Got us Falling in Love, You Belong with Me, Single Ladies and Fireflies. The songs are excellently produced and even contain kid-friendly lyrics (I want to be a Billionaire, so very bad).

My 8-year-old daughter immediately began singing along with the songs.  She knew all but two of them already and within two playings, she was singing along with those catchy tunes as well.  She gives it a two huge thumbs up and a huge smile!



Special thanks to Kidz Bop for providing a review copy of the CD.  No other compensation was received.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Giveaway - Disney On Ice Presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey



Disney On Ice is back in town for April vacation in Massachusetts! Our plans to visit Walt Disney World in April were squashed when DirectAir went under, but we are still planning to enjoy the Disney's magic locally. The last Disney On Ice show we attended was spectacular in every sense, and everyone is looking forward to this latest installment.  Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey runs from Thursday, April 19 to Sunday April 22 at the DCU Center in Worcester.  Here's the show description:
Make imagination your destination! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a journey into the magical worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch. Discover Ariel and Sebastian’s enchanting undersea kingdom; visit the Pride Lands with Simba and Nala; soar through starry skies with Peter Pan and his sassy fairy friend Tinker Bell; and say “aloha” to fun with Lilo and Stitch. You'll be captivated by the music, beauty and laughter in a journey so magical, you’ll never want to go home.
We cannot wait until school vacation for this event!  Check out the YouTube video and ticket information.

*** If you'd like to win a family four pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey on April 19 at 7pm, tell me your favorite Disney character in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on April 9th at 12:01 am and is open to anyone who can attend the Worcester show. ***


April 11, 2012 - If you didn't win tickets and are still interested in attending, check out these offers for the Friday and Saturday night performances (4/20 and 4/21):

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Giveaway - Brookstone Big Blue Live Wireless Bluetooth Speaker



If there's one thing that is inconvenient about the iPhone, it is getting quality sound without having to plug it in or dock it.  As a musician, I routinely dock my iPhone in Bose SoundDocks around my home when I am learning fiddle pieces or for accompaniment.  I am serious about my sound!  But what about the times where I just want to listen to music casually?  I either have to don the earbuds, plug in speakers or deal with the tinny speakers on the phone itself.

Thankfully, Brookstone has come through with the answer to my problems!  The Big Blue Live Wireless Bluetooth Speaker packs a great sound in a small package.  It plays music in your library as well as from apps like Pandora.  In fact, my son especially loves to listen to music while playing Bejeweled so he came time the explosions to the music. Whenever we hang out in my bedroom, my kids always ask to listen to "Big Blue".  The sound is surprisingly full range, with big bass.  It is not as clear as high end speakers, but perfectly fine for casual listening.

Big Blue Live is truly wireless in that it has a rechargeable battery so you can easily take your sound with you for about 4 hours.  It was easy to pair to my iPhone (very similar to pairing a Bluetooth headset) and syncs up quickly when turned on. There are controls for volume as well as skipping tracks and fast forward/reverse.  It even has a built-in microphone so you can use it as a wireless speakerphone.

*** If you'd like to win your own Brookstone Big Blue Live Wireless Speaker, tell me what device you'd use the speaker with in Rafflecopter below (click read more if necessary) and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on March 4th at 12:01am and is open to residents of US and Canada. ***

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Giveaway - Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream in Boston



Looking for a spectacular entertainment during February school vacation?  Get ready to watch Rapunzel's ride of a lifetime as Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream featuring characters from Tangled.  The show is runs from Friday, February 17 to Sunday February 26 at TD Garden in Boston.  Here's the show description:
Get tangled up in the newest thrilling show to hit the ice, Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream. Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths! Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss. And fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime! Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to your hometown!
We cannot wait to start our school vacation with this event!  Check out the YouTube video and ticket information.

*** If you'd like to win a family four pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream on February 17 at 7pm, tell me your favorite Disney character in Rafflecopter below and check out the easy ways to earn more entries. The giveaway ends on February 3rd at 12:01am and is open to anyone who can attend the Boston show. ***

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Review - Tribe Hummus



February is American Heart Health Month and a great time to think about eating healthier.  Tribe Hummus offers a way to lower the risk of heart disease with all natural ingredients and none of the bad stuff like artificial flavors, preservatives, hydrogenates oils or high-fructose corn syrup.

And hummus doesn't have to be boring, Tribe Hummus offers flavors like Spicy Red Pepper and Olive Tapenade.  We tried the Zesty Spice and Garlic and were thrilled with the flavor.  Living in Massachusetts, we also like to support local companies and was happy to learn that Tribe Hummus is based in Taunton, MA.

So if one of your New Year's resolution is to eat healthier, or if you are concerned about heart disease, Tribe Hummus is a tasty way to address both.

Special thanks to Tribe Hummus for providing samples for review.  No other compensation was given.