News & Reviews Archives - Page 18 of 31

Support the Cruz Family Memorial Fund

Our blogging community has seen more than our share of tragedies in the past few years, but none have hit me as hard as hearing that my friend Tiffany’s husband, Sean, passed away unexpectedly this past weekend after complications from a liver biopsy. He underwent two emergency surgeries and I was clinging to my phone … Read more

Donating to Beautiful Lengths

Mornings are not my favorite. They start with my “alarm” going off, which is still currently sleeping in the crib beside my bed, and they usually end with us all running across the field because, as usual, we are running late for school. With three kids to get moving, get dressed, and get fed and … Read more

Enjoy the moment while capturing memories with the LUMIX G7

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Panasonic. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Every year after CES the emails and messages start rolling in asking me the same question. That question: what kind of camera should I buy? Most years, I will go back and forth with the person asking whether they want a large DSLR or a compact purse camera and then ticking off features and benefits of both. Typically, it is 10-15 messages or so before I give my recommendation based on their answers.

But, this year, it’s really easy on me because the camera I recommend whether you are looking for a small, compact camera or you want a DSLR is the same camera, the Panasonic LUMIX G7. It’s just that versatile.

Taking time for me: my New Years resolution

By Leanne, editor and founderIt’s resolution time!

Do you make New Years resolutions? Every year I make a resolution that helps the family – whether it’s getting a big household project done, making room for growing kids, or taking more family trips. But, this year I’m doing something different. I’m doing something for myself. You know how on airplanes they always tell you that in the event of an emergency you should take care of your life jacket or air mask first so you can then help others? As a mom, that has never resonated with me, and I’ve always wondered how I would feel in that situation actually putting on my mask or jacket before my kiddos. I think we can all agree that we would just prefer to not ever be in a situation that required an emergency supply of air or floating in an ocean waiting for rescue, right?

But, what if you use the same line of reasoning to survive the day-to-day tasks with three kiddos in tow? Maybe doing for yourself makes sense because it gives you more that you can then give to others. These days I need to give a lot, and I’m realizing I can’t care for the kids the way I would like if I’m not taking care of myself.

Goodbye 2015, it’s been a great year

By Tyler, editor and reviewer

2015 was a great year all around. Not just for the fact that I finally made that fireplace mantle I'd promised my wife years ago, or our amazing trips together up and down the West Coast as well as our big trip to the Caribbean and then over to Georgia. No, what made this year truly amazing was that we not only added our third {and likely final member} to our little family, and we also made huge strides towards getting healthy, together.
As you get older you really start to feel your age more. As I've become much more aware of the fact that I'm no longer in my twenties, I've found myself needing to pay a little more attention to personal upkeep. This is where Jenny Craig came in.

You may remember that my wife and I did the Jenny Craig program together in late summer/early fall. But, what you may not know is that after finishing our review period with Jenny Craig, we decided to stick with it a little longer since we were both having such great success in the program.

Thankful

Being on social media all day, I feel like there are days where I go down this rabbit hole of drudgery. From sad news posted from friends to horrible national and international conflicts, every day there is something else to feel bad about.

There are days I just sit and cry thinking about things and I'm broken apart thinking of the children with nowhere to sleep, of parents grieving the loss of kids, of people living in fear, and of towns I love in chaos. Then I get sad thinking about the state of the world we will be leaving our children.

This fall has been especially hard for me as I'm in a state of uncertainty. Since 2008 I've been running this site and sharing what gadgets, gear, and places we love. But, most people don't know that through it all, this has mostly been my night gig. My day job has changed throughout the years after I left my corporate job and began to freelance, but I always has something that offered steady income and a soft place to fall.

Keep an eye on what matters most with the Samsung SmartCam HD

Do you ever wish you could see inside your home when you’re not in it? Or maybe you wish you could see upstairs in your house while hanging out downstairs? If so, you should definitely check out Samsung’s newest smart home solution, the SmartCam HD Pro.

Designed for the security conscious as well as those who need to check on kids, pets, businesses, or deliveries from afar, the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro is as versatile as they get. A 1080p Full HD camera that can be linked to your smartphone wirelessly through the Samsung app, the SmartCam allows you to see everything in striking clarity, remotely.

10 insider tips for Beaches Resort Villages & Spa Turks & Caicos with small children

After visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos two years in a row with little kids, we like to consider ourselves experts of sorts. The first year we were just figuring out the ropes and crossing our fingers that we fit everything in that we were hoping to do, but this second year, we went in with a plan of attack and made it happen. While I could go on and on about all the things you can see and do with kids at Beaches Turks & Caicos, this list is just a starting point.

Here are just some of our tips for how to make the most of the trip with young kids:

Air Angel mobile germ-fighting air sanitizer and purifier

You think about dust, allergens, and pollutants outside, but do you have any idea what quality your indoor air is? Chances are that you don't, because everyone thought I was crazy when I was testing ours. Using a simple Petri dish that we could watch bacteria grow on and multiply, we got to see just how bad indoor air can be. Then we got to see how good indoor air could be with the Air Angel™ from Air Oasis.

Truthfully, I never thought much about indoor air quality, but after seeing the results from the PTPA award-winning Air Angel™ in the before and after Petri Dish Test, I am definitely a believer. The Air Angel was only here a week and our air quality was not only noticeably better, but it was also apparent on the Petri dish. Air Oasis’s Air Angel is a small mobile germ-fighting air sanitizer and purifier. With proprietary technology developed by NASA and enhanced by Air Oasis that is used by hospitals, resorts, and professional sports teams, it’s a name that is trusted in air quality. The Air Angel was specifically created for families with children to protect from germs, viruses, aeroallergens and harmful pollutants in the air and on surfaces, which are big concerns when it comes to little ones.

Proudly made in the U.S.A., the go-anywhere Air Angel Air Sanitizer® has revolutionary, energy-efficient technology that purifies and sanitizes the air and surfaces. It can be used in rooms up to 250 square feet, including nurseries, bedrooms, playrooms, hotel rooms, cars, planes, and more.

When less isn’t more

By Leanne, editor and founder

We have all heard the adage that less is more. But what if less is sometimes just… Less. I've recently been pondering the idea that limiting certain things isn't the best method, and that has certainly rang true in the past few weeks.

As most of you know, we’ve been doing some big lifestyle changes these past few weeks in an effort to lose this baby weight and just get healthier. Even through multiple blog events, trips, and vacations, we’ve managed to lose weight each week and get closer to our goal, which is really exciting. So exciting that we were actually happy to return home and get back to our new healthy eating after our 10 day international trip where we were at the mercy of whatever foods we could find in airports, at resorts, and in brand new towns.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a great time eating new foods and indulging a bit, but we both breathed a sigh of relief when we were home and could resume our Jenny Craig foods. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. The foods we’ve been eating don’t feel like “diet foods”, they taste like real foods in the right portion sizes that help you have more energy and lose weight.