Rave & Review

Fitness goals made easy with AT&T {Fitbit Zip Giveaway}

It’s that time of year again when you shed your sweaters and jackets and get all ready for warmer weather and summer clothes… and then you realize that the dreaded swimsuit season is on the horizon again.  But, this year I’m going to be ready for it, thanks to a very welcome present from AT&T.

What does AT&T have to do with my fitness, you ask?  A whole lot, now that AT&T carries a range of smart fitness products that can communicate with your smartphone and help you track your fitness goals.

Why do you need a fitness product, you ask, isn’t that what diet and exercise are for?  It’s true that we all know that to lose weight you merely need to expend more energy than you consume, but the problem with that is that we habitually over-estimate our activity levels and underestimate our food intake.  It certainly makes it hard to figure out how many calories need to be cut to lose weight in a safe and effective way if you have no idea what fuel your body actually needs. 

New activity trackers from Fitbit help you figure out how many calories you’ve really burnt during the course of your day {and night} by tracking steps, miles traveled, flights of stairs conquered, and overall activity levels.  The data the Fitbit device collects automatically communicates with your computer when you have the USB pairing device plugged into your USB {I keep mine plugged in 99% of the time} so you can literally see your progress in real time on your computer.

Paired with the Fitbit dashboard where you can enter the foods you’ve consumed and activities you’ve done, you can get a better idea of if you have a calorie deficit or surplus right there in black and white {okay, it’s actually COLOR, but you get the point}.  

Ate too much lunch?  Better plan a long walk before dinner, or alternatively, go easy on the dinner to compensate.   Had a long morning running a marathon?  Maybe you need extra calories the rest of the day to refuel your body.

This is all great, but what if you’re not by a computer all day long to track your foods and fitness levels?  Well, that’s where AT&T comes in.  The Fitbit is intelligent enough to connect with your smartphone via app so you can see your dashboard and food diary with you wherever you go.  Just like with the dashboard on your computer, you can track your fitness goals, weight loss or gain, and see hour by hour how you are looking for the day and how you can best stay on track.

We’ve been using our Fitbit trackers {I have the Fitbit One, hubby has the Fitbit Ultra} for a few months now and we absolutely love them.  Straight out of the package you can use it like a smart pedometer, but once you connect it to your computer or smartphone you can add what you’ve eaten and add any physical activities {it can tell when you’ve been walking, going upstairs, or your general fitness level, but it’s not going to be able to detect if you’re carrying heavy items or pushing or pulling something} to help get an even better picture of your activity levels. 

We love our Fitbit wireless activity trackers so much that we were thrilled to find out that AT&T carries other fitness accessories that pair with our devices and smartphones, like the new Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale. 

We’ve been trying out the scale for the last two weeks using both of our trackers and would definitely recommend adding it if you are already using the Fitbit.  Just like the Fitbit itself, it pairs directly with your smartphone or desktop to track your weight automatically, which is one less step you need to remember.

Really, the hardest part is remembering to weigh myself a few times a week, which I'm habitually bad at.  But, now that I've got the Aria Smart Scale to keep me motivated and on track, even that is getting to be less and less of a problem these days.  There's just something fun about seeing pounds disappear from a scale while watching your fitness levels rise. 

For me, one of the best parts about the system is that I've learned a lot about how I gain weight and how to lose it.  And, as it turns out, healthy competition is the way to go.  Since hubby and I are connected to each other on the Fitbit dashboard we are literally competing every day for the highest activity levels.  I love that we're not going pound-to-pound in a weight loss competition but rather the goal is to just beat the other person's step total to win. 

Unfortunately for me and my {mostly} sedentary job, I have to work extra hard to keep up, but had I not been tracking it, I would never have known the difference in activity levels.  Just knowing that I've been sitting while he is standing and walking makes me get up more and keep moving, which is a great thing for both my health and my bragging rights.  You decide which is the most important. 

The Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale is available at AT&T stores as well as online for $129.99

Want to see the full range of fitness products from AT&T?  Check out their Health and Fitness accessories today or pop into a store near you!

How would you like to win a Fitbit Zip from AT&T? 

To Enter: comment on this post with why you think it's cool that AT&T carries fitness products like the Fitbit

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

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1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On June 9th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US only, 18+ 

A big thank you to AT&T for providing the ARIA scale as well as a Fitbit giveaway for readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

 

Ready, Set, GLOW! with our Glidden Disney paint makeover

When we finally moved my son to his own room, it was a big blank beige box and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do to really make it his.  Ideally, it would be something fun that really reflects who he is, but also something more mature that he can grow into so we won’t have to redecorate every few years. 

We ended up deciding on a “vintage world traveler” room and it really couldn’t fit our train/car/bus enthusiast any better.  With maps, compasses, airplanes, trains, cars, and vintage suitcases to complete the look, I thought we were done decorating… but then I was introduced to Disney paint from Glidden. 

When I heard that I was getting a chance to review these special paints {they come in glitter, metallic, and more} that are available at Walmart, I was thrilled.  And, then I heard that Glidden makes a glow in the dark paint, and I was beyond excited.  All of a sudden, I had a whole new vision for the room.

I called in Kerri, AKA The Maven of Social Media, and we went on a mission to find the Glidden Disney Ready Set GLOW paint together at a local Walmart.  At first, we thought the paint was gone and we were ready to try another store, but we searched all the rows of paint cans one by one and found one way in the back that was just hidden on the shelf.  SCORE! 

Then, because I had a brilliant idea of some décor I wanted to add to his room, we went into the toy section and found some Toy Story figures and goodies that would make his room amazing.  And, how could these not look amazing in a little boy's room? 
Once we were through shopping, I couldn’t wait to get started.  I called in my niece for the afternoon and we made a plan of how we could make the room transformation.  Really, there was no question what we were planning to do as soon as she saw the supplies: we were making a Buzz Lightyear themed room.   

You see, I have always wanted a glow in the dark galaxy on my ceiling and I knew this was the perfect chance to make it a reality.  Add in a Disney twist that my son would love, and I knew this was the perfect theme for our little guy that would also grow with him. 

When you think glow in the dark stars, what do you think?  Stickers?  When I was young, I had the awful stick-on glow in the dark stars I’m sure you’re familiar with, but they never really satisfied my desire for a pseudo night sky that I could watch while I drifted off to sleep.  I knew that with a little bit of work I would be able to create that beautiful night sky I always dreamed of and make my son’s room arguably the coolest in the house. 

But, being that his room is full of real maps, nautical charts, and vintage treasures, I wasn’t content to just splash some glow in the dark paint up on the ceiling and call it good.  Nope, I wanted it to be as astronomically correct as possible.  In fact, I wanted it to be something that the kiddos could learn from and have his room be the way I will teach them all the constellations we can see outside at night. 

As daunting of a task as I thought it might be to create a night sky as accurately as possible with paint, I was bound and determined to make it happen.  We started by using an iPhone app that shows your position in relation to the stars so that when you turn the phone you can see precisely where the constellations are in the night sky. 

By using the app and a night sky field guide, we were able to mark the major constellations we wanted to feature using tiny bits of tape so that we could see them as we painted around them.  Once the star groupings were as we wanted, we started filling in the major stars around them pretty liberally.  Using dabs of paint that ranged between that of a pencil eraser all the way to ones the size of the tip of a ball point pen, we designated the brightest stars in the sky and fainter ones. 

Tip: It helps to periodically turn the lights off while you’re painting with glow in the dark paint so you can really get a feel for the room, but since we were painting in the early afternoon, we still had way too much light coming through the window to see the tiny stars we were painting.  To compensate, we threw some darkening shades up for the time being and then we could see a little bit better.  If we had been able to, it might have been better to do the painting at night instead when you can really see what you’re doing. 

After we finished with the fainter stars in the sky, we were ready to peel the tape and make much larger dabs to designate the constellations properly {we used an asterisk design to designate these stars and make them more prominent than the other non-constellation formations}.  Tip: We found the process of peeling tape and painting was easiest if you only peel half of the tape off and make your paint mark, otherwise your eyes kind of go cross-eyed trying to find the exact spot the tape used to be.  

Once the constellations were finished, the room was complete.  Since the paint was only on the ceiling and out of reach and since the paint has no fumes, we were able to put our son down to bed as soon as the room was finished.  And, his reaction when he saw his galaxy was priceless. 

Almost as good was his reaction when he saw his new friends who had come to stay in his room as part of his “Buzz and Woody Movie” room makeover.  I even painted him a little surprise in a constellation-esque message.  The message is a little hard to capture on film as it’s really meant to be viewed with the naked eye, but hopefully it translates well.

Can you read what it says? 

Points if you guessed “to infinity and beyond”, which is Buzz’s catch phrase in the movie.  I thought this would be a good message to my son that literally says the sky is the limit in the goals in which he sets for himself.  And, if the message from mom isn’t “cool” in a decade or two, it’s tiny enough that a small poster {or map} would hide it nicely and it won’t be too embarrassing at sleepovers. 

But, for the next few years, I think it ties in nicely with his new Toy Story decorations.  We're really just missing a Buzz Lightyear figure {all of our local stores were out of Buzz} and our Toy Story room will be complete.  Oh, and, amazing, if I do say so myself.   

Since we were so proud of the Ready Set GLOW makeover, we decided to have some friends over to see the room reveal.  It really is amazing how we took a plain blue room and made it something truly special with a tiny bit of paint in just over an hour, and I was excited to show it off with some Buzz and Woody themed games, prizes and giveaways.

We set up a prize and favors station by the food.

A bounce station with the words "to infinity and beyond" written in chalk on the trampoline surface.

A bubble station.

And, most importantly, a glow station {we used a window-less closet I had painted with stars since it was still so light outside.  This way guests could get a real feel for what the room looks like in pitch black}. 

In the glow station the kids had glow sticks and glow masks we picked up during our Walmart trip that they played with under the cover of the starry sky.  Obviously, the glow station was the coolest.  The three younger girls didn't want to leave the closet all afternoon and they kept runnning in and out with the Toy Story characters.

We had such an overwhelming reaction to the room makeover that we’re now planning on painting even more ceilings with the Ready Set GLOW paint over the next few months.  Since my daughter is super jealous of her brother’s galaxy, we’re going to start in her room next and then move on to our niece’s and nephew’s rooms and then help our friends and neighbors do it in their son’s room as well.  And, one lucky guest at our party got to go home with a Walmart gift card so they could buy some Glidden Disney paint and try it out for themselves! 

Want to try out one of the many Disney Glidden Paints?  They have many themes available that are adorable if you are starting from scratch decorating as well as adding supplemental paints like we did to make a room really stand out!  Find out more at DisneyPaint.com

Compensation and products for review were provided by Glidden.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Glidden.

Spy Tec Inventio HD 720P video recording sunglasses {Review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

Even from a young age, I was obsessed with spy technology.  I used to stay up at night thinking of how cool it would be if cameras could fit in the palm of your hand, if fingerprint scanners could lock your valuables or if Hollywood’s technology would ever be a reality.  Unfortunately, I was clearly born a few decades too soon, because it’s only now that technology is catching up with my imagination.

For instance these, which are the ultimate in spy high-tech gear.  Forget cameras that fit in your palm, the Spy Tec Inventio HD is a camera you wear on the bridge of your nose.  You can bet we were thrilled when we heard we would get to test these babies out this spring to see if my childhood dreams really had come true.

While I’m past the age of dreaming of espionage and covert operations, I still think these are pretty darn awesome for all sorts of applications.  From recording fast moving sports and action shots hands-free, to capturing your perspective on the world, the Spy Tec glasses offer an unobtrusive way to record just about anything.

While I could go on and on about how fun it would be to pop these on and go for a bike ride or hike, my favorite thing about the glasses has nothing to do with sports or spying – it has to do with kids.  We all know kids freeze up as soon as you pull out your camera and start filming, so I love that the Spy Tec glasses are so discreet that they have no idea when you’re filming and when you’re not.  This means you’re more likely to catch that amazing trick they do, the funny pronunciation, or simply them just being them. 

We also like to let our kids wear the glasses to film and let them record the world as they see it.  Instead of worrying about what buttons they will press or whether they will drop the video camera on its lens, we can put the Spy Tec glasses right on the kids {use the included sunglasses neck strap if you are worried they might fall off} and let them make art all by themselves. 

Sure, they are tiny and great for kids, but I bet you’re wondering what kind of quality a “spy camera” could possibly be.  The answer is that it’s better than what you might think.  While some fast-moving  shots may produce videos that shake the entire time or be completely unwatchable, normal movements like walking or turning your head produce nice clear shots just like a regular video camera.  

And, at 720P, the videos are a nice clear HD quality image, which makes it perfect for YouTube, watching on your TV, or making high quality videos.  While it’s not IMAX quality, or DSLR quality, it does better than most point-and-shoot video cams we’ve tried, and is far more portable and unobtrusive. 

This was a big issue for me as I’m constantly feeling very removed from the action when I’m behind my camera, and then am stuck holding it all day long, even when I’m done filming.  With the Spy Tec glasses I can simply wear them like normal sunglasses {which I always have with me} and hit record when something exciting happens.  Then, when the sun goes down and I don’t need sunglasses, I merely pop them into their included case.

The sound quality is also decent and does a good job of picking up voices and environment sounds.  Naturally, your voice will be the loudest sound if you speak at all, due to the proximity to the microphone, so you really don’t need to speak loud at all to be heard.

Of course, every technology has its drawbacks, and the fact that this video cam fits on your face means it doesn’t have many bells and whistles built into the camera itself.  No LCD screen, no menu, and no special effects, but none of these things would be worth sacrificing how small the glasses are, so I say it’s well worth it. 

Some things did take a little getting used to, like the fact that you have to take them off your face to see if they are recording, the way that the angle of the lens is a bit above where your eye is looking so you need to compensate a bit while filming up close, that you can’t really “compose” your image the way you can with a traditional video camera and the fact that you can’t see what you recorded until you connect it to your computer. 

You also need to take into account that some fast-moving  shots may produce videos that shake the entire time or be completely unwatchable, depending on camera movement.  Even walking or turning your head too fast can produce dizzying videos if you're not fully aware of your movements, so I have to remind myself to move more slowly while wearing them.

But, the biggest issue we found with not having an LCD screen or menu option is that you don’t know when you are out of memory or out of battery.  We had a whole day of thinking we were recording only to find that my daughter had used all the memory taking videos of what we can only imagine is the inside of her purse.  As for the battery, we found that thankfully it lasts about 2 hours of recording before needing to be charged, so we just charge it up when we’ve been filming a lot and we actually haven’t had it run down on us yet. 

Speaking of recording all day long, I love that the Inventio-HD automagically separates long videos into 1.2GB {which is approximately 15 minutes} increments for you.  Having smaller chunks of footage makes it much easier to find specific moments you've shot later as well as for editing purposes if you're making compilations.  While making our video I was very grateful to have smaller clips to work with instead of 1-2 hours videos to wade through. 

The Spy Tec Inventio HD sunglasses come with nice polarized lenses straight out of the package, but I love that you can also buy replacement lenses, mirrored lenses or even clear lenses for $12 apiece.  Depending on what you are filming or what activities you have in store, having different lens options is a big plus to me, especially since changing out the lenses makes it possible to film indoors as well. 

Here's the rundown on the Spy Tec Inventio HD video recording sunglasses:

• 720P HD video and audio recording 
• 16-bit digital audio recording 
• Cables included to connect to computer or TV
• Battery life of 2 hours
• 8GB of Class 10 internal memory
• Compatible with PC and Mac computers
• Includes 1 year warranty
• Bonus carrying case, cleaning cloth, and neck strap included

If you’re looking for an easy way to record everything from a helicopter ride to a walk through your favorite spot, from action shots to catching your grandma sweetly singing a lullaby while rocking your baby, the Spy Tec glasses are a great purchase.  They retail for $129.95 and can be purchased at SpyTecInc.com

Want to see the Spy Tec Inventio HD sunglasses in action?  Check out our video showing our favorite uses. 

A big thank you to Spy Tec for providing the Inventio HD sunglasses to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.

Lysol Power & Free handles tough messes without all the fumes {Giveaway}

Please don’t just randomly stop by my house. You see, for the past few years I’ve had my house professionally “styled” by my little ones, typically with a line of toy cars down the middle of the floor and a ring of baby dolls and their gear around the couch, the toy chest, and anywhere my daughter wanders.

But, don’t mistake the mess for a dirty house, because we are constantly cleaning each day. My husband and I despise the stickiness and dirt that active and adventurous kiddos tend to bring into a house, so even though it’s not always as tidy as it could be, you can bet our surfaces are clean.

With two kids running around, playing on, and often eating on those surfaces, keeping things clean is more important than ever before. Because this is a good example of what happens as soon as I turn around for a second. Yes, they are eating pretzels off the floor. Because they are dogs and those are dog bones, obviously.

Thank goodness our surfaces are even cleaner now thanks to the arrival of Lysol Power & Free multi-surface cleaner. Lysol Power & Free was developed with the addition of hydrogen peroxide to help cut through grease and grime without the awful fumes that come from using bleach or other harsh cleaners. This means you don’t need gloves, masks, and other safety gear to use it, which I love.

The bottle said it was perfect for kitchen surfaces, which is perfect because our kitchen sees a lot of action each day. With all the cooking, baking, crafting, and eating that happens in the kitchen, it’s really no wonder that most of my cleaning is done in there.

But, I’m also really picky about my kitchen cleaners because I have dark granite countertops and gas stove that camouflages spills yet shows the residue that certain cleaners leave on the surface. There’s nothing worse than spending a bunch of time cleaning your entire kitchen only to end up with smears and streaks all over the counters and stove when you’re finished, so I was curious as to how the Power & Free would do.

It turns out it’s actually pretty amazing for my dark surfaces and doesn’t leave any residue behind on the granite or cooking surface. I literally just spray until wet and then wipe down the surface, no need to rinse it off or to follow up with a granite polisher as I’ve been doing with the other countertop cleaners I’ve tried. I’m all for saving a step or two during cleaning, so you can bet that made me a fan immediately.

The LYSOL® Power & Free™ Multi-Purpose Cleaner is a powerful cleaner without the harshness of bleach, and can be used on many surfaces throughout the home. The hydrogen peroxide formula releases thousands of micro bubbles that penetrate to dissolve grease and soap scum.

This specially formulated cleaner kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria when used as directed and comes in two scents: Citrus Sparkle Zest and Oxygen Splash. I received the citrus sparkle zest and I love how fresh and light it smells - and I especially love that I can clean right up to when guests arrive and they won't smell that unmistakable smell of bleach that gives away the fact that I was cleaning up until the moment they arrived.

Lysol® Power & Free uses the cleaning power of a hydrogen peroxide formula for a powerful clean with no bleach harshness! This helps ensure you don’t have to make sacrifices while cleaning, such as opening all the windows or ushering the kids and pets out of the room. Lysol® Power & Free will help you break free from your ordinary cleaning routine- it’s a powerful clean that’s family friendly! Find out more at Lysol's Facebook page.

What do you love about a clean home? One luck reader will win a bottle of Lysol® Power & Free Multi Purpose cleaner to try in their own home! Comment below to be entered to win!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Lysol. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules

Harlem Globetrotters Summer Basketball Clinics for Kids {$10 off Discount Code}

We love the Harlem Globetrotters.  We've seen them the past three years in a row now and we always have so much fun.  You know those events where everyone is in a good mood and people go out of their way to be helpful?  Yeah, that's what it's like at a Globetrotters game.  

As excited as we are for the 2014 tour, this year we are thrilled because the Harlem Globetrotter Clinics for kids ages 6-14 is coming to Seattle.  These clinics will come to select US cities and take kids behind the curtain to see the Globetrotters’ electrifying skills and tricks, while also having fun staying active. 

Each participant receives: • A free ticket voucher {valued up to $40} to see the Globetrotters during their 2014 World Tour • Autographs and photos with the stars! • A certificate of completion that includes your child's very own personalized Harlem Globetrotter nickname. Pretty cool, right?  Sounds like a bargain for $59! 

Want to find out if there's a clinic near you?  Check this link to see where you can find them.  Keep in mind that the clinics are only in select cities but the 2014 tour will include 200 cities.  

Are you thinking about attending a Globetrotters Skills Clinic?  I have a special promo Code for you to save $10 on registration!  Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration or mention it when calling 1-800-641-HOOP (4667) before 5/31/13 to claim your discount.

A big thank you to US Family for sharing their coupon code.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours, we just love the Globetrotters!

Our week as the cool kids {KIA Soul review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

Like everyone under the age of 20, my daughter loves the KIA Soul.  The dancing hamsters, the toasters, the “you can go with this or you can go with that” commercials, and most of all, the car itself.

Have no idea what I’m talking about?  This YouTube video should help you out:

Now that you’re up to speed on why the Soul is awesome, it’s not going to be a surprise that we were thrilled to test one out through STI - The Drive Experience Company.  Since we had recently checked out the KIA Sportage, I was a bit worried that the cars would be so similar that there wouldn’t be much new to write about, but I was proved wrong within minutes of borrowing the “Alien Green” KIA Soul.

From the boxy design of the Soul to the color-changing speakers that can change with the beat of the music, there’s really nothing quite like the Soul.  Yes, it does have many of the luxuries that won us over in both the Optima and Sportage, but it also has a very different vibe than either of the luxury KIA vehicles we’ve tested.

Here’s what we learned from our week of being cool:

Daddy-O Likes

• Mid-level height – Easy to get in and out of and also to load things {kids included} into.
• Boxy design – Although the Soul is a smaller car, the boxy shape and big sunroof makes it feel very open and roomy.  
• Eco-Mode – It still amazes me that even in their non-hybrid models the eco-mode button really changes the feel and performance of the car, and really does improve your mileage.
• Rocking stereo – Loud and clear, just how I like it. On top of that it will play just about anything you can throw at it including AM/FM, Satellite, CDs, iPod integration and Bluetooth streaming audio.
• Back up camera – This is still one of my favorite features of all the KIAs we tested, especially as we’re acclimating to new cars and taking them to places unknown.
• Fun Factor – There really is just something cool and fun about the Soul. Kia really managed to pack a lot of personality and style into what is normally considered just a basic transportation type of car.

Mama Likes

• Keyless entry and ignition – Yes, I’m still raving about this.  If I could change one thing about every car I have ever owned, it would be to add keyless entry and ignition.  I would happily keep my car keys zipped in the pocket of my purse and never take them out again, which would save us roughly 15 minutes every morning that is spent searching random places for my car keys. 
• High-tech envy – Our road trips are usually more plugged in than I would like, but having on-call schedules and a job that never ends means that our phones need do more than accept calls these days.  For this reason, I love that I can easily hook my phone up to the Bluetooth so that calls can be made and accepted right from the control screen or steering wheel.   
• GPS – When we set out on a road trip, it’s a given that we will end up exploring a bit off the beaten path, so I love the built-in GPS on the control panel that can help guide us back to the main path to find food, water, and shelter, as needed. 
• Heated seats – I love heated seats.  I was sold on this alone.
• Big, but not too big – I like sitting up higher when driving, but I really don’t want to drive a huge truck or SUV, so I love that the Soul is big without being unmanageable in a parking lot or narrow roads. 

Kiddos Like

• Teenagers love it – I don’t know if it was the hamsters that did it, or if tweens and teens love the Soul because it’s so different, but whatever the reason is, KIA has totally nailed the teen market with the Soul.  Our tween/teen nieces, neighbors, and friends all came out to see the Soul and it was by far the biggest response we’ve gotten in a test drive car.  And, it's hard to not think you're cool when all the hip teens are dying to ride in your car.
• Good visibility – Again, both kiddos loved being up higher in the KIA Soul and how they could see everything easily on our roadtrip.  This was especially important when we were surrounded by a group of deer grazing in the median of the beach front road we were cruising down and the kiddos had a gorgeous view of the action just like we did. 
• Big rear windows – Not only do these allow for the great views, but they open big as well, something the kiddos have just decided is the coolest thing ever. 
• Dance parties – Car dance parties will never be the same now that they have experienced car speakers that change color – either by mood lighting or to the beat of the song.

Gripes

Although the KIA Soul is a fun little city car that does well over smoothly paved roads, it doesn’t handle poorly maintained pavement well, perhaps due to the short wheel base.  On our KIA Soul road trip we were often faced with potholed beach roads that the Soul’s suspension and stability control system didn’t quite know how to handle.  Whereas the Sportage gave a smooth ride through just about everything, the Soul is much more jittery in comparison.  

But, with the Soul’s very reasonable price tag, this might be something that I could eventually see past.  With their base model starting $14,400, it really is an amazing deal for the price.  Even the fully loaded model that we tried out was still around $23,000, which is a great price point for their demographic markets. 

During our test drive a comment was made by a stranger about how “dialed in” we looked in our Soul with our integrated phones, the fancy control panel, and the fact that I was taking electronic notes from the comfort of the passenger seat.  I thought that summed up the test drive perfectly as I had found it was hard to not feel hip and cool in a “dialed in” Soul that got so much attention everywhere we went.

Interested in driving experiences?  Check out the STI Facebook page to keep up on all their events near you.
A big thank you to STI The Drive Experience Company for letting us borrow the KIA Sportage for the week to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.

Memory making season is here – get ready with Best Buy

Five years and two kids ago, I took about half the photos I do now.  Granted, as someone with a photography degree under her belt I still took a ton of pictures, but there are really only so many photos you need of yourself and your husband or the sunset from your deck.  But, once I had kids it was if I was seeing the world all over again and there were a million reasons to bring out the camera each day.

Like this gem from Easter a million years 3 years ago.  I know everyone says it, but they just grow up so fast.

But, in addition to million reasons to pull out the camera, there were also a million reasons to get a new camera altogether.  Although I had awesome film SLR cameras and a so-so point and shoot, my kids also came along during the digital revolution when film processing labs were harder to find than swimsuits in December {Trust me, I know.  I’ve been the poor schlep looking for both…at the same time}.  Add in the fact that my cameras were awful in low light and flash and fast movement seemed to ruin all my pictures, and it won’t come as any surprise that the first thing I asked for was a new digital SLR to celebrate becoming a mom.

I know I’m not alone in this, because one of the first thing friends and family ask as soon as they become parents is for advice on getting a new camera.  So, what do I tell them?  I tell them not to risk all those precious firsts of a new baby, graduation memories, or that family vacation to a smartphone.  While incredibly convenient at times, they certainly aren’t the quality you can get from a dedicated camera and with memories that valuable you don’t want to compromise.

So, with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations and weddings on the horizon, now is the time to upgrade your camera and get one that is worthy of all those memories.  Thank goodness Best Buy is here to help.  With a low price guarantee and a huge selection of cameras you can try right in the store {that last one is important if you’re picky like I am}, you can make sure you’re getting your perfect camera at the perfect price and even get free shipping to your home.  From DSLR camera to point and shoots, camcorders, and cameras with zoom lenses, low light capabilities, and even wi-fi, there’s a camera for everyone.   

AND, to make their low price guarantee even better, they also have an amazing trade-in program that buys back old cameras and pays in gift cards just like their cell phone buy-back program I was raving about a few months ago.  So, collect all the cameras that you aren’t using or have outgrown and bring them in for instant store credit on the camera you really want.  Isn’t that awesome? 

Then, once you have your amazing camera and files and files of gorgeous pictures of the cutest kids/pets/husband/etc, you can spring for a digital photo frame from Best Buy that can display them all in one place for a whole lot cheaper than printing them all and framing them.  And, now you can get that frame at 25% off, which makes it even more economical in the long run, and something that would make a great present for mom {hint, hint}, dad, or the newest grad.

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

Blue Nile Leaf Chandelier Earrings {Giveaway & Discount Code}

Oh, Mother’s Day, how I love you.  Not because I get presents {although I do love the things the kiddos pick out for me each year}, but because the stores I love have discounts for stuff I adore. 

For instance, Seattle's own Blue Nile jewelry.  Or rather, Blue Nile jewelry for 10% off using the coupon code MOMGIFT13.  You’re welcome for that.

It’s no secret that I have an immense love of jewelry.  I’ve been saving jewelry for my daughter since before she was even born and I was absolutely thrilled when I realized that I had passed this love of jewelry down to my daughter via genetics.  I was prepared to do subtle brain washing if need be and was happy to find it simply wasn’t necessary – my baby loves jewels. 

So, now that she’s older and can be trusted with nicer things, I’m dreaming of mother/daughter necklaces, rings and bracelets and I can’t help but get excited for all the fun with jewels in our future.  Maybe this is why I lost a few hours last week to BlueNile.com, searching out matching sets, ring guards {my anniversary is just around the corner}, and by shopping for my daughter’s newest obsession: earrings.

I should note that the kid doesn’t even have her ears pierced, she simply likes to pick out earrings for me to wear so she can admire them {cue the collective “awwww”}.  I knew right when I saw the Blue Nile Chandelier Leaf Earrings that they were going to be a big hit, and I was absolutely correct.

Her eyes lit up and she didn’t hesitate a moment before announcing that I needed them.  And, if you could have seen her face when the earrings arrived in their luxe blue box and I put them on the first time, you would have thought that it was her birthday, not just a random Saturday in May. 

Her excitement aside, the earrings are pretty amazing.  The earrings feature 7 leaf-like shapes out of sterling silver and are dainty and feminine but still fun and funky at the same time.  I personally love how lightweight they are, and the fact that they are designed to be flexible and move with you, which makes them catch light well and really sparkle, but without being blinding or too over-the-top. 

In fact, I wore them to two parties this weekend and both times got numerous compliments on them. The general consensus was that they were amazing and perfect for casual or fancy occasions, and everyone was shocked at the fact that they were not only gorgeous, but they were also reasonably priced, making it a Mother's Day present you could even pick up for yourself.  I mean, hey, you're worth it!

To buy: You can purchase the Blue Nile Sterling Silver Leaf Chandelier Earrings for $30 right now on sale, as well as using the 10% off code MOMGIFT13 for even more savings.

How would you like to win a pair of Blue Nile Leaf Chandelier Earrings for yourself?

To Enter: comment on this post with your favorite Mother's Day memory

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Blue Nile 10% off coupon and giveaway {http://bit.ly/11dZEtH} with extra credit if you tag Rave & Review

1 Extra Entry {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, follow on Pinterest, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @BlueNileDiamond on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On May 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to all, 18+ 

Mother's Day Gift Idea - LG Optimus G Pro from AT&T {Giveaway}

Just like so one will forget when they first heard the term “smartphone”, no one will ever be able to forget the first time they heard the term “phablet” {you know, a phone and tablet in one}.  My first time was in reference to my NOKIA 920 Windows Phone from AT&T, which I was assured was a “phablet” based on size alone. 

Well, it turns out that my phone is not a phablet, but it is actually a real thing, and I think that’s really awesome.  I really love having a phone on the bigger side as I do a lot of picture viewing and video watching on my phone, so to me, bigger is better and I’d love to get a phablet some day.  I don’t want to carry around a full-size tablet with me each day in addition to my phone, so a phablet is a compromise that offers a bigger screen and all the bells a whistles of a tablet and only one gadget to pay for on your cell phone plan.  


Just in time for Mother’s Day, AT&T is set to release the new LG Optimus G Pro that would be the perfect phablet for mom.  Whether she’s the sentimental type who will swoon over the grandkids picture on the big screen, the adventurous type who will make good use of the dual recording feature, or the snap-happy traveler that needs a phone that takes stellar pictures, the LG Optimus G Pro is the perfect solution.

Seriously, just look at all these features:

- Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor with 2 GB RAM
- Expansive 5.5" 1080p Full HD IPS Screen (400 ppi resolution)
- Long-Lasting 3,140 mAh Battery
- Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
- Advanced 13 MP Full HD Camera with Dual Recording
- 2.1 MP Full HD Front-Facing Camera for Dual Recording and Video Conferencing
- Visually and Audibly Collaborate in Real Time with VuTalk
- QSlide 2.0 for Advanced and Convenient Multitasking
- Audio Zoom for amplifying sound while using Live Zooming
- QuickRemote for Universal Remote Control
- Pocketable Ergonomic Design with Narrow Bezel
- Internal Storage: 32 GB total, support for up to 64 GB of expandable memory
- Bluetooth® Version 4.0

About the AT&T network: The LG Optimus G Pro runs on AT&T 4G LTE, currently covers nearly 200 million people; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014.  In a report by independent testing organization RootMetrics, AT&T's 4G LTE network was called “blazing fast."  The report found AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE.


Although the Optimus G Pro from AT&T doesn’t come out until the 10th, you can pre-order the device beginning May 3 at www.att.com/optimusgpro for $199 {or, even cheaper if you have a new-ish phone you can trade in}.  And, to sweeten the deal even more, anyone who pre-orders will receive a free Quick Cover black folio case while supplies last.  How awesome is that? 

Be sure and make your mom a personalized e-card by clicking on the image below.  My daughter adores all the "it's not complicated" commericals with the kids, so I'm going to have her make me a card tonight {with a little help from daddy-o}.

And, want to make Mom extra super-duper happy this Mother’s Day?  Sign the pledge to not text and drive at #itcanwait.  Have you signed it?

How would you like to win a LG Optimus G Pro smartphone from AT&T? 

To Enter: comment on this post with why you {or your mom} would love this phone

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome #ATTseattle smartphone giveaway {bit.ly/ZDjB6N } with extra credit if you tag Rave & Review

1 Extra Entry {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, follow on Pinterest, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet using the #ATTseattle hashtag letting me know why you love the LG Optimus G Pro for yourself - or your mom

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @ATT on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On May 12th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US  only, 18+ 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

80 JD Northwest said...Facebook posted and tagged. https://www.facebook.com/john.carroz/posts/10201142672679569

A big thank you to AT&T for providing a giveaway for readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Our Week of Adventure {KIA Sportage Review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

After having so much fun trying out the KIA Optima last fall, we jumped at the chance to try out the KIA Sportage CUV {compact utility vehicle} earlier this month through STI - The Drive Experience Company.  Since we don’t have an SUV or CUV in our family, we were all very excited to try out something new and exciting and see what we’ve been missing out on.  And, as it turns out, what we’ve been missing is adventure. 

There’s something about a fancy new car that makes you look for reasons to drive, and we found plenty of places to drive our loaner Sportage.  From short road trips to all-day adventures, the KIA Sportage was the perfect solution for hauling all of us – and our gear – while still having enough pep to make driving fun. 

Since the Sportage is the smaller of the two SUVs that KIA offers {hence the CUV title}, we were originally concerned that space would be an issue with all our gear, carseats, and strollers we need to haul around.  But, we were very surprised of the roomy-ness of the interior, especially the back seat.  While the back storage wasn’t huge, it still fit everything that we normally have in our trunk and more, while still having the option of packing the back seat, if necessary. 

While I’m not anti-SUV by any means, I have been driving compact cars almost exclusively for 8 years now and I was initially worried that driving an SUV – even if it was on the smaller side – would be a tradeoff in terms of power and handling.  But, what I found was that although the Sportage has a raised drive height, it still has a very car-like handling that I love.

Something that really surprised me about the driving experience was how much you can fine tune the feel and performance of the Sportage.  By turning the Eco-Mode on or off and either using the automatic or manual settings on the transmission the Sportage really felt like different cars at different times, making it perfect for whatever terrain we were on.

Here’s what we learned from our week of adventure:

Daddy-O Likes

• Leg room – Being a tall guy, I dread having to sit in back seats, but the Sportage passes my personal “can I sit behind myself?” test with flying colors.  Which means not only am I comfortable in any seat, I don’t have to feel bad for anyone behind me, either.
• Room for both car seats – Not only do our two car seats fit in the back seat, but we could also drop down the center armrest between them which gave the kids access to the two cup holders within {a treat they both agree has become a necessity.}  
• The quick turbo engine – Our Sportage came with the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine which has 260HP and 269 ft. lbs. of torque.  Put the transmission into manual mode and this thing felt like a little race car, able to carve corners and merge onto the freeway with ease.  
• Eco-Mode – Switching to Eco-Mode garnered an indicated 4-5mpg gain during some of our longer freeway jaunts while at the same time making the Sportage feel like a comfy Sunday cruiser as it seemed to take the edge off of the throttle inputs.  This was the perfect attitude for cruising the back roads, enjoying the scenery while sipping fuel.
• Cooling seats – I have a tendency to hop in the car with my jacket still on while everyone else has only a T-shirt.  The option to pump cool air through my seat with the heat on for everyone else may be the single most meaningful advance in family harmony ever.  I can only imagine how great it feels once it really gets hot out.
• Steering wheel controls – The ability to control your phone, radio volume and station, and cruise control is very helpful when you jump into a new car.  And apparently something you get used to quickly, as I found myself searching for those same non-existent buttons in my own car a week later. 
• Super-bright lights – That pretty much sums it up, but for those of you looking for more description, we are talking about curb to curb daylight leading the way ahead of you all night long.  These things are awesome. 
• Back up camera – This is another feature that I could really get used to.  Since I prefer to back into parking spots whenever possible, it was nice knowing I wasn’t going to crash someone else’s car into someone else’s car {AKA the pinnacle of automotive embarrassment}.  This was especially handy when we stuffed the back luggage area to the roof, blocking out the rear window completely, and I still felt confident with just my side mirrors and the backup cam. 
• Smart lane change blinker – No driving like grandpa because your blinker automatically turns off after 3 blinks when changing lanes.  That’s right, simply tap the blinker lever gently, in either direction, and you get three blinks from your lights instead of one. 
• Bluetooth integration – An amazingly simple pairing process gets you phone calls and audio streaming directly from your phone, whether it is in your pocket or on the center console.  On top off that, the audio quality on the other end is so good that when my wife called me from the car I honestly had no idea I was on the car’s speakerphone until the kiddos chimed in from the back seat {which of course they loved as well.}

Mama Likes

• Heated and cooled seats – Heated seats are great for colder weather because they warm you up quick without the stuffy heat you sometimes get from blasting the car’s heater, but they are also good for lower back pain I sometimes get while driving, and for cruising around at night with the sunroof open.  But, since the warmer weather is approaching, I also love that they added cooling seats as well, which would be amazing through the summer months. 
• Dual climate control – He’s hot, I’m cold.  But, we both can ride together without bundling or burning up with dual climate control.
• Keyless entry and ignition – Hands down, the coolest new car feature, ever.  As long as you have the Sportage key on you {in your pocket, purse, jacket, etc} the car interior lights turn on as soon as you get close to the car, and then you can unlock the doors just by pushing the small buttons on the exterior door handles.  Once inside the car, simply put your foot on the brake, push the start button and you’re off, never having to dig for your keywhile wrangling your kids and all the various stuff that comes along with them.  I literally never took it out of my purse while I was test driving, which is pretty awesome. 
• Dashboard control screen – As much as I love having buttons and knobs for certain things, I also really like a good sized touch screen that can add even more functionality to your journey, especially when you’re out exploring and you *may* need a little assistance with directions, finding coffee, or good tunes along the way.   
• Drives small – Coming from a compact sedan, the worry was that it would take an initial adjustment period, for me especially, but what I found was that it didn’t feel like we were driving a huge vehicle at all, just a taller version of what we are used to.  
• Trunk under tray storage – While the main area of the trunk is pretty good sized, it does taper in at the top to allow for the sporty proportions of the Sportage, which means you are a bit limited on space.  A smart way they added storage is a nice divided compartment underneath the floor of the trunk above the spare tire.  For us, this was a great place to store our first aid and roadside emergency supplies, change of clothes or other small items we carry but don’t get at frequently.  Plus, it’s a great place to hide valuables when you’re parking the car for any amount of time.

Kiddos Like

• Panoramic sun roof – Can’t beat a sunroof for the parents AND one for the kiddos.  Whether it was sunny or sprinkling, having almost your entire roof letting in light makes it feel so open and roomy that they don’t even mind that their sunroof doesn’t open.
• Good visibility – What fun is driving around if you can’t see anything?  Both kiddos loved that being up higher afforded them a much better advantage point for sight-seeing along our journeys.
• Cup holders for them  – Whether they were holding sippy cups, toys or treats, the cup holders are always the first thing the kiddos take ownership of when test driving, and the thing they miss the most when we return to the reality of our compact sedan.   
• Folding mirrors – While very practical and useful feature when parking in cramped spots, this also is apparently the coolest feature ever to a 4 year old.

As you can imagine, the whole family was a little upset to hand back the keys to the KIA Sportage and say goodbye to the red CUV we had all grown to love.  It’s now become the standard by which SUVs are evaluated, and has made our car a far less appealing road trip mobile.  While we save up money for our own Sportage someday, we have our week of adventure to remember forever.

Interested in driving experiences?  Check out the STI Facebook page to keep up on all their events near you.

A big thank you to STI The Drive Experience Company for letting us borrow the KIA Sportage for the week to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.