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Looking for a Fun and Modern Gift? Check Out Modify Watches! – Review & Giveaway

Dear children of the eighties, you may have grown up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with your accessories! If you were a fan of Swatches back in the day, Modify Watches are the newest way to make your watch fit your personality and outfit for the day.

I recently received an original size Modify watch to review with both the green band, a grey band and a black pinstripe watch face. Unlike the Swatches of old, Modify watches simply snap together, no more trying to slide bands onto the watch face. The watches are extremely comfortable too.  I loved how easy it was to interchange the bands, but the watch itself felt a bit chunky for my tastes. Luckily, they also offer a mini version, which would be the way I would go if I buy another one.  I think that they would be the perfect size for me.

Below is a picture of what I was sent.  You can see the size of the watch on my wrist.

I do love that Modify Watches are unisex and can be worn by any hip guy or girl no matter the size.  Traditionally smaller sizes are meant for women and larger for men but these days fashion really just depicts what the wearer is in to.  If you are a gal that prefers the chunky style you will be equally pleased as the gal that likes the mini, like me.

When you first start placing bands in your cart, you will see simple item names like “green band” or “yellow band” but the real fun starts when you add a watch face to the cart! Modify is set up so you will see what each face will look like with each band you place in the cart and they have come up with great names for each combination. So, instead of having a green band with a white face, I was suddenly donning the “Umbrella-ella” watch. And I didn’t wear the grey band with the white face, I wore the “New Coke” watch (how’s that for another throwback?).

The high quality watches from Modify would make a great gift for men, women and teens. You can customize each gift to make sure it’s perfect for the recipient, just make sure you don’t click on the buttons to share to Facebook or Twitter if it’s a gift, that kind of ruins the surprise! Not feeling creative? Modify also has a large selection of watch and band sets, ready for you to click and ship.

FREE Shipping on any orders over $60 at Modify Watches
Visit Modify Watches on Facebook to see all the new products they’re getting ready to release!

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win one Modify Watch of their choice!  (ARV $60)

Entry is super simple via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Simply leave a comment on this post telling me which combination you would choose for your Modify Watch if you were chosen as the winner.  Then check I did this!  off on the Rafflecopter widget.  Don’t forget to do the extra entry options too for a greater chance at winning,

Good Luck!

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Tungsten Carbide Wedding Bands are Affordable and Gorgeous!

 

Ring Shopping for Your Man?

Winter is a fun time for weddings but it can also be an expensive time of year to go ring shopping when you have so many other gifts to pick up for the holidays too. So I thought that I would share with you one of the best ring options for men that is available, in my opinion. So if you are planning on ring shopping for your guy this season or in the new year, read on!

Before we got married nine years ago, Oscar had never even worn a ring. He was an automotive technician at the time so being a guy that used his hands quite a bit at work he never really wanted to wear rings. He assumed that they would get beat up from the wear and tear of his work activities.

So when we were ring hunting for him, we went with the cheapest option at the time, which was white gold. His ring was meant to be inexpensive because he had never worn rings before and it seemed like a great idea to go cheap just in case he lost it. That way we weren’t out too much money. The plan was once he was accustomed to wearing a ring and he was in a management position we would upgrade.

Well that time came about six years ago. Oscar had just been approved for an assistant manager position and he was anxious to get a new ring. His white gold band was so beat up and scratched from the previous three years that he just wasn’t happy with it. We went to our favorite jewelery store at the time and looked at all the options. There was the standard yellow/white gold, platinum, tungsten carbide wedding band or a titanium wedding ring. This is when we first came across a tungsten carbide ring. They are durable, scratch resistant and looked manly and gorgeous! Oscar immediately fell in love with one and we purchased it for a steal at $250. At that time they had just come out and were going for about $450.

To this day, four years later, Oscar still loves his ring. It looks as beautiful as the day we bought it. He gets compliments on it all of the time from customers, men and women alike, at work including from his fellow employees. Many of his coworkers liked his ring so much that they also bought a tungsten ring for themselves. The look and durability just can’t be beat. I love that his ring is so manly, it really suits his personality to a tee.

The ring featured at the top of this post is an exact match to the one that Oscar wears. Whether you get it on sale or not it is obvious that the price for a tungsten carbide wedding bands have gone down considerably in the last six years. Which is awesome for anyone looking to purchase one now.  I think that you can easily purchase one like my husband’s for about $200 or less depending on where you find it.

Tungsten carbide rings are so affordable and fashion forward. If you are ring shopping for a hard working man with a labor intensive job I would highly recommend purchasing one. Not to mention they are so affordable you could put the money that you save on his ring toward yours!

 

Kingston DataTraveler 109 with urDrive #Review & #Giveaway #CleverUrDrive #spon

Thank you to Kingston for sponsoring this review. Please ; click here to learn more about Kingston. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

 

 

I must admit that I’m not the most tech savvy girl.  I consider my skills to be on the average spectrum of things.  So when I heard about Kingston urDrive flash drives had to do a little research on my end to figure out exactly what they are all about and what makes them different from your average run of the mill data storage device.

I was sent the 8GB Kingston DataTraveler 109 with urDrive software USB Flash drive for review.  Research always works much better with a hands on approach in my experience, and let me say, I’m quite impressed!  Basically the urDrive is preloaded software that pops up on any PC and acts like a portable desktop.  The interface actually feels extremely similar to the program that my husband’s company uses when he wants access to the company intranet from home.  After he logs in the company desktop appears on the screen and all work done is saved to the U drive associated with his log in.  Check out this video to get a better picture -

 

Cool right?  The Kingston urDrive software allows the user to organize files, photos, videos, music and more on the go.  There are tons of great features included like a Norton PC Checkup, internet browser, an additional 6GB of storage, access to games and the urDrive Store where you can purchase and download tons of great apps and popular games like Bejeweld 3 (my favorite) and Plants vs. Zombies (hubby and the kids favorite).  I have to say though that my favorite feature included with this gem of technology is Fooz Kids!  My boys love their Fooz Kids and to be able to download the software while on vacation at grandma’s this Thanksgiving will be so awesome!  We have a premium account so once the software is downloaded once we log in it will be good to go!

I love that I can take new pictures, videos, games and Fooz Kids to grandma’s for Thanksgiving.  We will be staying with them for three days so having access to these items is priceless!  I know that the boys will love sharing the Fooz Kids site with our extended family and my mother-in-law will thank me for providing something to keep the boys busy with.

I also really like how small and compact the DataTraveler 109 is.  It can easily be attached to a lanyard or keyring plus it’s capless so you don’t have to worry about losing that either. The DataTraveler 109 is available in seven different fashionable colors.  I think that these would make some great stocking stuffers or gift for the white elephant company Christmas party – just sayin’.

 

Buy It!

You can purchase the fashion forward Kingston Technology DataTraveler 109 for $9.95.

 

Win It!

Kingston Technology is offering one lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a DataTraveler 109 urDrive USB five pack valued at $50!

 

Entry is easy!  Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.  For the mandatory entry I would like a comment on this post telling me what you like most about the urDrive software.

 

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#Gift Ideas for #Coffee Lovers

I know this sounds crazy… but even though I was born and raised in Seattle, I don’t drink coffee.  GASP!  I admit that I have a cup every now and then but in general I’m really not a fan.  The biggest problem that I encounter as a non coffee drinker is what kind of coffee related gifts to get my friends and family, besides the obvious and played out Starbucks gift card.  So I have done a little bit of research and I decided to compile a list of some gift ideas for coffee lovers for budgets big and small.

Dean’s Beans has a really cool idea for any coffee lover – design and create your own custom blend, then name it.  All for only $9.99!  What a great way to buy coffee online!  This gift is so awesome and I love personalized gifts because I think that not only does it show a lot of thought but people love receiving them.  This gift is so unique and inexpensive that you could afford a nice mug or thermos too.

Another great idea is a coffee sleeve.  My favorites are handmade sleeves created by Lorijoz.  They fit perfectly around a Starbucks coffee cup and that would be a great way to give a gift card.  You could place one inside of a cup and then put the coffee sleeve around the cup, tie a bow and your set!  Coffee sleeves are only $7.99.

Most coffee drinkers that I know love to drink it on the go so a perfect gift for them might be a Thermos Leak Proof Travel Mug.  It’s only $27 and it will surely be appreciated because I can’t think of anything worse than dribbling coffee on your outfit while your on your way to work.

For the pour over coffee lover a very chic and modern tea kettle would be the perfect addition to any kitchen.  The Hario Kettle ain’t your momma’s tea kettle.  This Japanese kettle has a bold and striking look to it so you won’t want to hide this one in the cabinet when company comes over.  For the perfect cup of pour over coffee the Hario Buono V60 Drip Kettle will set you back about $50.

Last but not least is the Tassimo Brewbot T20.  Even though I’m not a coffee drinker I love this machine!  I use it for hot cocoa and the single serve feature is awesome.  It makes coffee, tea, espresso, hot chocolate and even if you need some plain hot water for your Cup of Noodles or instant oatmeal it’s always on the ready.  I really like that I can brew individual cups of coffee for my guests and I no longer have to keep cans of grounds or filters stocked in my pantry.  Instead I just keep a box of T Discs on hand.  The Tassimo Brewbot is very user friendly and can be customized to match your kitchen.  This gift has an ARV of $130.  To read my full review click here.

Are you a coffee lover?  Have any great suggestions that didn’t make the list?  I would love to hear them!

 

 

Looking to Get in Shape This Summer? Check Out These Awesome Personal Fitness Products by Sportline – Review and Giveaway

If you are like me and looking to work on your personal fitness goals this summer Sportline has some great products that can help.  Some of the most inexpensive products can work wonders on helping you track and maintain your fitness goals.  There are two extremely easy ways to get started: increasing your water intake and counting your steps.

Hydration

Increasing your water intake is a very low risk way of losing excess weight.  For premium weight loss results its recommended that you drink water throughout the day as well as 8-16 oz just prior to eating a main meal.  Drinking water before each meal will help your stomach to feel full and will help you to consume less calories.  Especially if the water replaces a high caloric drink.

Sportline offers a very cool tech savvy water bottle to help you stay on track with your hydration needs called the Hydra Coach.  This is the word’s first and only interactive water bottle.  Simply add in your weight and it calculates a recommended personal hydration goal.  It also:

  • Tracks fluid consumption
  • Paces you to ensure that your hydration goals are met
  • Measures in metric and standard formats
  • Time Tracker displays the amount of time elapsed for the day to reinforce proper pacing
  • Displays the average amount of fluid consumed per hour
  • Easy set up and operation
  • Soft silicon mouth piece
  • Durable construction

The Hydra Coach has a suggested retail price of $29.95

The Review

I have been using the Hydra Coach for a few weeks now.  I really enjoy using it because I am completely motivated by the digital tracking.  It displays how many ounces I need to drink daily and I love that it shows the percentage of my water intake goal that has been met.  The nylon finger ring makes it easy to carry where ever I go too.

I will admit that there was a learning curve to using the mouth piece, for me anyways.  I had a habit of tilting the bottle up to get a drink but with the Hydra Coach it needs to be down because the water is measured in deliberate sips from the mouth piece which works from a straw based delivery system.  Once I adjusted my habit I didn’t have any problems using the mouth piece.

As great as I think this personal fitness tool is I think that its only fair to mention the two drawbacks of this product.  The first is that it must be hand washed in luke warm soapy water.  There are several parts that have to be washed individually to ensure sanitation.  It’s not that’s its hard to hand wash I just personally find it annoying.  I am a lazy, dishwasher loving kind of gal myself.

Perhaps the biggest warning about this product that should not be overlooked is the fact that the bottle is not BPA free.  It is made using plastic 7 and can leach BPA into the water.  Scientists are still debating about the effects of BPA but it is clear that children should not eat or drink from plastics with BPA so for that reason alone I would say this product is for adult use only.  BPA leakage happens when the plastic is heated so avoid washing this bottle in hot water.  If you are unclear about the effects of BPA than I would research the subject prior to purchasing the Hydra Coach.

Steps to Success!

As mentioned earlier, walking is a great way to improve your overall health.  Pedometers are a great tool that can calculate how many steps you take per day and can aid you in setting a steps per day goal.  Generally speaking someone that has an average of 5500 steps is most likely living a sedentary lifestyle – which sadly I fit the bill there.  More than 8500 steps per day is considered active and a common recommended goal is to try to reach 10,000 steps per day.  For weight loss you may want to set a goal of 12,000 steps per day.

There are lots of pedometers out there, some only track steps and others track steps, calories, time and more.  There are several pedometers offered at Sportline that can help you reach your step per day goal.  Some have MP3 players, talk to you or have a safety light attached.  Below are two of the more basic options available that I think are simple and cost effective.

340 Step and Distance Pedometer

This pedometer is great because it allows you to track your steps and distance using Advanced Pendulum Technology for accuracy.  It has an adjustable stride length from 1-5 feet.  This pedometer has all the basic essentials to get you counting your steps to better health.

Suggested Retail Price is $17.99

Qlip Any-Wear Pedometer

This pedometer accurately measures steps whether clipped to your person or placed in your pocket thanks to the Infiniti Motion Sensor that powers it.  It tracks steps, distance, time, speed and calories.  It has all the bells and whistles to make it easy to keep track of several aspects of your walking routine.  It tells time too!


Suggested retail price is $34.99



The Review

I have been using the Qlip Any-Wear Pedometer and I love it!  It is something that I have started wearing or keeping in my pocket so that I can get an idea of how many steps I take in an average day.  I plan on using it to track my steps and set goals for increasing my steps.  I want to take my sedentary lifestyle to active and this is an easy way to get started on setting some reachable goals.  I really like that it tracks calories too because that was important to me as well.

I will admit that it was a bit difficult at first to program it because I had a hard time figuring out what my stride was.  There was tip in very small italics in the manual but it was too vague for me to understand so I had to look it up on the internet to make sure that I was calculating it correctly.  This is an important piece of information that I felt should be clearly labeled in the manual under the table of contents and wasn’t.  If you calculate the stride incorrectly it will calculate the amount of steps that you take incorrectly too.

The only minor critique that I have about the Qlip Any-Wear Pedometer is that even though the pedometer says that you can keep it in your pocket in the manual it says it may not accurately read unless it is clipped in a vertical position and affixed in a place that is close to the body.  Absolutely no loose clothing.  Personally, this works for me because I keep it on my hip attached to my pants.  But if you are planning on keeping it in your pocket you may not get as accurate results as you like.

If you are looking for products that will help you maintain or achieve your personal fitness goals check out what Sportline has to offer.  Beyond water bottles and pedometers you can find a great selection of heart rate monitors and fitness gear too.  Included in the fitness gear section is tons of safety gear so that when you are out at night you can be sure that you will be seen – which is extremely important if you plan to walk at night.

Win It!


One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win a 340 Step and Distance Pedometer, featured above.



How to enter: Visit Sportline.com and comment back on this post telling me one of their fitness products that you could see yourself using to maintain your personal fitness goals.  Giveaway open to US only.

Get Extra Entries!

  • Get TWO Extra entries for becoming a Facebook Fan of Pretty Pink Momma and Sportline
  • Get ONE Extra entry for following Pretty Pink Momma with Google Friend Connect, if you all ready follow just put that in one of your two comments
  • Get FOUR Extra entries if you Subscribe to Pretty Pink Momma via email or a reader, leave four comments – you must activate your email subscription for these entries to count.
  • Get THREE Extra entries if you Follow PrettyPinkMomma and SportlineRocks on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Leave the tweet url in one of your three comments. Please copy and paste this into your tweet:
  • Get ONE extra entry per day for tweeting, – leave the tweet url in your comment for each extra tweet

 

Good Luck to all that enter! This giveaway is open until Sunday July 3rd, 2011. One winner will be chosen using the Truly Random Number Generator. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Great Gift Ideas for Dad from Oneida – Review

Father’s Day is almost upon us and Oneida has some great gift ideas for Dad.  I know that tons of fathers will be out enjoying the day by firing up the BBQ for their family and kicking back with an ice cold beer.  Oneida has some great gift ideas that are perfect for dad to enjoy in the moment this Father’s Day and each one after.

Dad will need the proper tools to prepare a feast for the family this summer so why not offer him up some awesome Oneida gifts to get the job done.  Featured above are some great options like locking tongs, cutting board/knife set and a salt and pepper grinder set.  Lets not forget to toast Dad with some beautiful pilsner glasses!

The master chef in Dad will definitely appreciate the quality and style that Oneida brings to the table.  Dad will surely appreciate receiving a thoughtful gift from a trusted name brand.

This 3 Piece Salt and Pepper Grinder Set features a chrome plated body with coordinating black and white heads. The coordinating stand carries on the contemporary aesthetic of this set with black and metallic coloring. The top caps lift for filling and the pepper grinder is adjustable from fine to coarse.

On Sale for only $19.99 which is 50% off!
  • Set Includes: 1 Salt Grinder, 1 Pepper Grinder and Stand
  • Hand washing recommended
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

My husband was really excited to receive a brand new Salt and Pepper Grinder Set from Oneida.  We have been using some less than awesome ones for the past few years and he hates them.  We love this grinder set because it can be filled with both coarse salt and pepper kernels.  Usually grinders are only for pepper.  I love that it comes with a stand too.  It just looks great on the counter that the grinders have an actual home then just setting separately, plus it makes it very handy for transport to the table.  We also really love that you can set the grinder from fine to coarse depending upon your need.

Go ahead and splurge on Dad this year!  The sale prices for these Dad inspired gifts are awesome.  Your Dad will think that spent a chunk of change but in reality you will have stayed within your budget.  Personally I think that those are the best kinds of gifts to give when you are able to give an expensive gift but you know that you got a screaming deal on it!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention that in addition to celebrating Father’s Day, Oneida is hosting a sweepstakes on Facebook called Dine in Style where they are offering a chance to win Oneida product weekly through June 30th. So check it out and you could be a lucky winner!

Enjoy and have a safe and happy Father’s Day this year!

Need Great Gift Ideas? Check Out Red Envelope, They Have Tons of Father’s Day Gifts – Review & Giveaway

I love personalized things, but what I love even more is giving a personalized gift.  There is just a warm and fuzzy fantastic feeling that washes over your body when you receive a gift that someone has taken the time to personalize just for you.  I love making people warm and fuzzy – its just who I am.

There is another great reason for giving personalized gifts though.  They make a perfect gift for that hard to buy person on your list.  You know who I am talking about, that person that has everything.  Well, even if they do I bet they don’t have one personalized!

This can be a common problem when it comes to Father’s Day too.  So if your in a rut and can’t think of a great gift idea for Dad you really should see what Red Envelope has to offer.  They have tons of Great Gifts For Dad to choose from.  Below are some of my favorites!

beer loving dad – beer holster + wallet bottle opener

#1 Dad tie

family handprint frame

personalized grill master cutting board

See what I mean?  And this is just a small handful of the Father’s Day Fun that they have in store for you at Red Envelope!  I think that you could find a gift for any Dad no matter how unique and how hard to shop for they are if you check out Red Envelope.

Love the gifts but not sure what Dad will think?  Check out the customer rating for the gift before buying it.  Each item has a customer rating as wells as reviews.  You can read them beforehand and see how it worked out for other people and read their thoughts and opinions on the quality of the gift.  This is one of my favorite features!

For all the latest updates you can catch Red Envelope on Facebook.

The Review

Of course I couldn’t recommend that you shop there until I tried them out for myself first!  I chose to review a Jewelry Portfolio.  Last year when all of our luggage was stolen so was my travel jewelry case – along with a ton of my best jewelry!  We have a lot of trips coming up this summer and I desperately needed somewhere to secure store my jewelry when traviling.


  • lined with LusterLoc™ faux suede to prevent your jewelry from tarnishing
  • 10 3/4″ x 6 1/2″ x1 1/4″H
  • polished-nickel pull tab may be engraved with up to three initials
  • created by Wolf Designs
  • I love this jewelry portfolio!  It is soft both inside and out and it has tons of compartments that will keep your goods safe and sound.  I also really like that it has snaps to secure the jewelry and holes to secure earring posts.  It is a bit on the large side but it will still fit into most medium sized purses and definitely into a tote.

    I love that the clasp can be personalized too.  I think I just like stamping my initials on stuff!  I tried to take a picture of the clasp that I had personalized with my initals, KAO, but it was tough because the flash kept reflecting off of it. This ending up being the best picture I got but you can definitely see how nice it looks.

    I also have to say that it came beautifully boxed and I felt like it was Christmas as I was opening up the package!  This would also make a great gift for dad too if he happen to need a place to store watches and cuff links when traveling. The style is very unisex and would work well for both men and women alike.

    Win It!

    Red Envelope is offering one super lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a $50 gift code to use towards the purchase of any item available at Red Envelope.  The gift code expires 12/31/2011.

    How to Enter:  Visit the Red Envelope Facebook Page and “like” them.  Please don’t leave any comments on the site like “Pretty Pink Momma sent me”, its not necessary and looks spammy.  Once you have “liked” Red Envelope simply comment on this post telling me that you did.
     
    Giveaway open to US and Canada only.

    Congratulations Jamie @ I Am A Money Magnet!
    Get Extra Entries!

    • Get TWO Extra entries for becoming a Facebook Fan of Pretty Pink Momma
    • Get ONE Extra entry for following Pretty Pink Momma with Google Friend Connect, if you all ready follow just put that in one of your two comments
    • Get FOUR Extra entries if you Subscribe to Pretty Pink Momma posts via email or a reader, leave four comments – you must activate your email subscription for these entries to count.
    • Get THREE Extra entries if you Follow PrettyPinkMomma on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Leave the tweet url in one of your three comments. Please copy and paste this into your tweet:
    • Get ONE extra entry per day for tweeting, – leave the tweet url in your comment for each extra tweet

    Good Luck to all that enter! This giveaway is open until Sunday June 12th, 2011. One winner will be chosen using the Truly Random Number Generator widget located in the footer. The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

    Kimberly
    *I received this product for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place Please refer to my disclosure policy or email me if you have any questions.*

    mydlink DCS-932L Wireless N Network Camera is the Perfect Gift for Dad but Mom Will LOVE it Too!

    If you are looking for a gift that will knock Dad’s socks off this Father’s Day – look no further, I have found an amazing gift that you both will LOVE.  Sometimes when Dad is away at work he misses out on some great kid moments.  Now Dad can check in whenever his heart desires as long as he has a mydlink enabled wireless N camera and an internet connection.

    About D-Link – taken from press release

    D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, storage, IP Surveillance, and cloud-based network management. 

    NEW – The DCS-932L Wireless N Day/Night Home Network Camera

    Suggested Retail Price is $149.99

    The mydlink-enabled Wireless N Network Camera (DCS-932L) comes with everything you need to quickly add a surveillance camera to your home or small office network. It works right out of the box. Simply connect the cables, plug in the camera, run the short installation wizard and setup is complete. To view what the camera is seeing, simply log on to mydlink.com, choose your device, and start viewing – there is no need to configure your router to open up ports or remember hard-to-memorize Internet addresses.

    Features

    • Easily View and Manage Your Camera from mydlink.com
    • Compact design with night vision that lets you view 24/7
    • Wireless Connectivity
    • Ready to Use in 3 Simple Steps
    • Works with the mydlink iPhone or Android app for on-the go viewing
    • Adjustable image size and quality
    • Time stamp and text overlay
    • Built-in microphone 
    • *info taken from the D-Link website

    The Review

     

    Photobucket

    I have had the pleasure of reviewing D-Link Systems DCS-932L mydlink-Enabled Wireless N Day/Night Home Network Camera for the last few weeks.  It has been awesome to be able to use this cool device.  This is one that mom will love just as much as dad – which I think are the best Father’s Day gifts in my opinion! I am the first one to admit that I am not the most tech savvy.  So I was a bit worried when I had to figure out how to get the camera set up.  Luckily it was pretty easy and I had my camera up and running in about ten minutes.

    I think that the hardest part was trying to figure out just where to put the camera so it had the best vantage point.  I love the idea of screwing it to a wall or the ceiling but since I plan on moving it from room to room at times I wanted it to be more mobile than affixed to something.  If I had more than one though I would be definitely utilizing that feature.  After much deliberation I found a perfect spot in my dining area that overlooks the spot that the boys play the most.

    It was so cool to see the live feed in action for the first time.  Right away I decided to download the mydlink apps to my iPod touch and my droid phone.  The photo above is of the live feed streaming on my iPod while using the mydlink app.  On the iPod the live feed looked perfect, no lag time or anything.  On my droid phone there was a delay – like I was watching the feed two minutes in the past.  So for me, the experience was way better on my iPod but unless I have access to a wireless network the app won’t work, where as my droid phone always works.  The delay isn’t always there so I’m pretty sure that it has to do with the speed of my cell phone and not the app itself.

    Either way I totally love having the app on both devices, as well as having access to the live feed.  When I am in my room watching TV or blogging and I hear the boys getting rowdy down the hall, or even if I just want to spy because things are too quiet, I don’t have to get up I just need to use my dlink app or open a new tab on my laptop and sign on.  It’s awesome!

    Another great feature is that you can take a picture of the live feed, so if you see something that you want a picture of its available at the touch of a button.  I like that it has the night vision on it too.  My house is pretty bright but I like to keep the shutters closed for the most part.  The camera is so sensitive to the light in my house that most of my feed is seen using the night vision.  When I open the shutters and let more light in it gets live feed in color.  I also am really happy that I can hear what is going on in the feed as well as see it. 

    Below is a great video that explains way better than I ever could just how the camera works – check it out!

    This Would Be Great To Use For:

    • Working parents can view the kids from work
    • Mom and Dad to view a newborn baby in their room – day or night
    • Mom and Dad to check on the nanny or babysitter
    • Relatives over seas in the military can view what their family is doing
    • Security monitoring
    • Pet owners can use it to check on their animals





    For more information visit www.dlink.com, www.dlink.ca or connect with D-Link on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dlink) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/dlink).

    Kimberly  
    *I received this product for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place Please refer to my disclosure policy or email me if you have any questions.*

    Shop For Unique Gifts Crafted By Artists Across the Globe at NOVICA

    I am always on the look out for new and amazing places to shop.  I love to be the one amongst my friends that finds that one of kind gift from a unique and interesting place.  Not only do I shop for others but for myself as well.  Being able to own a one of a kind item that is made in limited quantities adds a value that simply can’t be compared.  You can imagine how I felt when I learned of an awesome fair trade artisan website called NOVICA.

    About NOVICA

    NOVICA works with National Geographic and gives talented artisans around the world a place where they can express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. They have thousands of jewelry pieces, corporate gifts, green gifts and home decor available to choose from on their website.

    NOVICA wants you to know about the artist you’re buying from. They want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.  Each item offered on the website is coupled with a picture and bio of the artist as well as links to other items offered by the same artist on the NOVICA site.

    Fair Trade and Compensation of Artisans

    NOVICA doesn’t charge the artists for listing their items on the website.  The artisans are fully independent and they are free to raise or lower their prices, even remove the item, if they see fit.  This process allows both the buyer and the artisan to cut out the middleman between them which is a benefit for both parties involved.

    The Review

    I was really excited to pick something out to review from this site because its filled with so many different options to choose from.  In fact, there were so many things that I wanted it took me a few days to narrow it down and finally choose.  These were my top picks:

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    There were literally thousands of items to look at so I tried to narrow it down to my favorite categories or something that I have been searching for specifically.  I looked at handbags because I could always use a new purse.  I checked out the hammocks because I have always secretly wanted one in my backyard.  I just love the lazy look of them and, well, I love being lazy so it seemed like a great idea.  Then I was thinking to myself that if I was a super nice wifey I would get my husband a new leather toiletry bag that I found in the corporate gift section.  He has really wanted one since his was stolen last summer during our auto theft debacle. In the end though, my heart sang when I saw this silver choker. 

    This stunning choker is called Whirlwind and was created by an artisan in Thailand. When I saw it I knew that I just had to have it.  NOVICA made it really easy for me to evaluate the necklace closely and decide that it was the one for me.  The necklace had multiple pictures, close up shots, measurements, the artist bio, other items created by the artist and more.  I hate those sites that only have one picture of the item and a brief description.  It always seems like such a gamble when you make a purchase that you can’t completely envision in your head.  That would never happen at NOVICA because they provide so much information for each and every item they offer that its near impossible to make an ill informed decision.

    In addition most items come beautifully wrapped or boxed.  My choker was no exception.  Here is a picture of the beautiful way it was presented to me when I opened the package:

    This gorgeous jewelry box is made of handmade mulberry bark paper that has been made in Thailand for more than 700 years.  I thought that this was so cool and its a green way to send this beautiful necklace to its new owner.  So, not only will I treasure the necklace but the box it was sent in!

    All in all I have had a wonderful experience shopping with NOVICA.  There are many more gifts that I plan on purchasing in the near future.  I think that hammock is calling my name…

    There is still time to purchase a gift for mom this Mother’s Day too.  I know at NOVICA you can find a unique gift that mom would never expect but thoroughly treasure. 

    Kimberly

    fair trade corporate gifts
    Novica Live
    microfinance

    *I received this product for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place.  Please refer to my disclosure policy or email me if you have any questions.*

    My Favorite Place for Personalized Gifts – Things Remembered!

    One of my favorite places to shop for personalized gifts is Things Remembered.  I LOVE that store!  Luckily for me we have a great one in our mall, they carry tons of great gifts and some items that are only given to a select few stores.  Over the years I have bought personalized photo albums, jewelry boxes, Christmas ornaments, keychains, money clips, bookmarks and more.  My personal favorite was the pocket watch that I gave to my dad as a thank you gift at the rehearsal dinner for my wedding.  He was so touched by the gesture and he still adores his pocket watch nearly 9 years later. 

    Needless to say I was thrilled to be able to select and review a gift for Things Remembered this holiday season.  Out of all the options available I chose to review the Silver Playing Card Set.  Typically I think most would consider this to be a gift most often chosen for men.  In my case, I will be giving it to my grandmother.  She loves to play solitaire with her friends down at the senior center and she has been an avid card player for decades.  Which is why this seemed like the perfect gift!  I also chose to have it engraved with my grandmother’s initials, just to add that personal touch.  When I received it I couldn’t wait to check it out – here’s what it looks like:

    I love how great it turned out, I couldn’t be happier and I know that my grandmother is going to love it.  The brilliant silver plated case is decorated with a weave texturing on the lid and lots of engravable space for a name, initials or a message. Inside fitted comfortably in the lined black velvety interior you’ll find two decks of durable, silver plastic cards.  I can’t wait for my grandma to see it, I am only sad that I won’t be able to see the look on her face when she opens her gift this year.

    Buy It!

    You can buy this Silver Playing Card Set for $30 from Things Remembered.  There are still 13 days left for guaranteed shipping by Christmas too!  Also, if you spend more than $100 at ThingsRemembered.com you will receive free shipping


    Don’t forget to check out the amazing selection of gifts offered this holiday season.  You can’t go wrong with a personalized gift and at Things Remembered they have something for everyone.

    Kimberly
    *I received this product for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place Please refer to my disclosure policy or email me if you have any questions.*