Holiday Gift Guide- The Under $50 Gift That Locates Lost Items: Pixie!

3 Simple Steps to Find Your Things:

Attach Pixie to your iPhone
Pixie Points talk to each other, so to keep track of your things apply the first Point to your iPhone.

Attach Pixie to Your Things
Pixie Points go on anything you want to find: keys, wallet, remote … even your cat!

See Your Things
The Pixie App shows you exactly where all your things are relative to you, it even guides you with accurate turn-by-turn directions so you can find them faster!

Pixie Points talk to each other (we all need friends), so to keep track of your things you apply one Pixie Point to your iPhone and the other Points to the items you want to track. Watch how Pixie Works (button to play video)

2-in-1 Functionality: See It! Hear It!

Only Pixie allows you to see EXACTLY where your lost things are! (That’s right, we even use Pixie dust!) Pixie uses augmented reality to easily show you exactly where your lost items are! Just don’t trip over the couch on your way there. Visual guidance is great for noisy environments where you can’t hear a beep!

Precision Matters

Pixie is the only finder accurate enough to show you where your things are…down to the last inch! Our Location-of-Things Technology uses Bluetooth, but it also uses signaling, allowing the Pixie points to talk to each other. This may not sound like much, but allowing the Pixie points to talk to each other is what helps to provide accurate distance directions to your lost item. We can offer a high search range, 30 - 50 ft. indoors and up to 100 ft. outdoors.

Out of Range…No Problem

Pixie shows you where your items last were. For those who have a hard time staying in the same place, this is a great starting point for when you wander too far out of range

Find Your iPhone…Even If It's Off!

We get it, sometimes bad things happen to good people, like forgetting to charge your phone.

Pixie lets you find your phone even if its, off, out of power, or on silent!

We’ve got your back!
Pixify Your Life

Each Pixie account can keep track of up to 7 items, in addition to the one on your phone,  and includes adhesives and key chains so that you can pixify just about anything…the limit is your creativity.

My Thoughts:

As a college student, I am constantly losing my things. Whether it's my computer, my textbooks, or even my iPod, something always gets lost eventually. Nothing is more annoying than being on the run and not finding what you need. However, when I read about Pixie, I knew it must be the product that was made with me in mind!

Pixie is very user friendly. Included in my box were two Pixie attachments (but you can order more if you would like). You can choose any item that your often misplace or even your pets collar! Just take your devices out of the box and attach it to your items. Yes, it is that easy! Lastly, download the app for your mobile phone. I've attached the specs so you can see if your phone or iPad is currently compatible with Pixie's groundbreaking technology: 

Specs:

Range: Bluetooth range up to 150' outdoor and 30-50' indoor
Accuracy: within inches
Battery lifetime: 12+ months, no charging needed
Compatibility: iPhone 5s or later and iPad 4 or later
Waterproof: up to 3 ft. to IP67 standard
Dimensions: 1.4” wide x 1.8” tall x 0.13” thick

• 1 Year Warranty
• 30 Day money back guarantee
• Works with all Pixie-enabled apps.

Worry no more because Pixie has your back! Once the app is installed you are good to go. When an item goes missing that you have labeled, power up your app and the search is on. The augmented reality and Bluetooth technology allows for you to see exactly where your items are. Ranges go from 30-50 ft. indoors and up to 100 ft. outdoors. Your items can run but they certainly cannot hide from Pixie. This is truly a must have item! 

Connect with Pixie:

Website Facebook  Twitter 

Holiday Gift Guide: UE Megaboom

What is the UE Megaboom?
The UE Megaboom is a 360 degree speaker that boasts a loud and quality sound. Waterproof and light you can grab and go just about anywhere without worry. Both for Google Voice and Siri you only need to be within 100 ft of your speaker to access all your favorite music right from your phone! A 20 hour battery life and a fast micro USB charging, you don't have to be without your favorite music ever again!

Our Thoughts:
I was impressed with this speaker the moment I opened it! The hard case it came in offered unparalleled protection and I don't know that I would store the Megaboom without it. Sleek and round, the case offers storage for everything you need from the speaker itself to the charging adapters, and isn't bulky or cumbersome.

I was leery though, of the sound quality of the speaker, given that most of the wireless ones I've encountered in the past weren't all they said they were. I was never so wrong! We set this up outside and walked about 200 yards out and was able to still hear this little power house clearly. Even on the loudest setting, which is loud, the bass isn't distorted and there's not a single sound to make you think the speaker won't hold up to the test.

The app is super easy to use, and has multi-functions. You can add people for a block party (they can play their music as well), and the only thing they need is the app to connect, or connect two Megabooms together for an even more incredible sound experience. We have never had more fun as a family listening to music or our projection screen outside than we have since this has entered our lives.

I haven't been brave enough to drop it in the water, but I am sure it will stand up to the test! It has been dropped, and hasn't had a single issue. I am really happy with the quality and the sound this light weight speaker offers. At $299.99 you want your investment to work properly and for the long haul. I have no doubt that this is the one that will take you that far and then some! I am a life long fan now, and will definitely buy one to replace this one, IF it should ever need it.

If you're intersted in learning more about Logitech's Ultimate Ears Megaboom speaker follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube and visit their website Here to purchasing instructions and specs.

Review and Giveaway: AfterShokz Trekz Titanium Bone Conduction Headphones.

Lightweight, Durable and Wireless; AfterShokz Announces Trekz Titanium™ Bone Conduction Headphones

AfterShokz, the award-winning headphone brand known for its patented bone conduction technology, announces its new sport headphone, Trekz Titanium™.

Designed to ensure the ultimate level of awareness and comfort—without compromising on premium sound—Trekz Titanium™ are wireless, open ear sport headphones made to ensure safety, perfect for runners, cyclists, hikers and more. Trekz Titanium™ with PremiumPitch+™ delivers exceptional sound quality with AfterShokz’ patented technology, delivering dynamic range and truly powerful bass.

“This is a big step for AfterShokz, entering into a new design and dimension for bone conduction,” says Bruce Borenstein, CEO of AfterShokz. “Trekz Titanium™ is a response to the feedback that we received from customers and addresses the concerns that users have with bone conduction headphones. We’ve fine tuned the design for comfort and optimized the technology to produce premium sound.”

Trekz Titanium™ uses bone conduction technology to transmit audio waves to the inner ears through the skull, bypassing the eardrums completely. Place them on your cheekbones, just in front of your ears. This leaves your ear canals open, allowing you to remain alert and aware of ambient sounds while you enjoy your music. Bluetooth® connectivity gives you the ability to be free of wires and make and receive phone calls.

Trekz Titanium™ Features:

●     OpenFit™ - promising uncompromised situational awareness and extended comfort in a revolutionary open ear design. That means you can tune in to your music or a call without tuning out the world around you — vital for staying safe and alert as you move through the day.

●     PremiumPitch+™ Sound - Bone conduction audio has earned its bad reputation due to a blend of natural sound leakage and weak bass. PremiumPitch+™ technology optimizes the sound and includes additional features like LeakSlayer™ technology, which ensures music is directed exactly where it should be.

●     Titanium Frame: The backbone of the industrial design is a premium titanium frame, an element chosen not only for its strength and durability, but also for its infinite flexibility, which will deliver maximum comfort, portability and the very best sound.

●     Sweat Resistant: Built to power through daily sweat sessions and wicked weather. IP55 rated to repel sweat, moisture and dust.

●     Six Hours of Music and Calls: A single charge will reliably deliver six hours of music play and talk time. You can charge fully in 1.5 hours, but a quick 15-minute charge provides enough boost to get you through a long workout or marathon call.

●     Noise Canceling Mics: Precisely placed dual noise canceling microphones exclude surrounding noise, effectively enhancing speech.

●     Voice Prompts: Audrey Says™ seamlessly guide you through power, pair, play and talk, and everything in between.

Trekz Titanium™ is now available at an Indiegogo at a price of $99 (MSRP $129).

About AfterShokz

AfterShokz brings patented bone conduction technology, initially developed for military special operations and law enforcement by Voxtech in 2001, to sport, mobile and Bluetooth® headphones designed and priced for everyday use. Through a suite of proprietary audio technologies and the only completely open ear design, AfterShokz headphones deliver premium stereo sound and a promise of safety and comfort that is second to none. Since its inception in 2011, the company has been committed to innovating unconventionally and making situational awareness a priority. Learn more about how the brand inspires users to #beopen and #hearitall at aftershokz.com. 

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love music and listen to it often throughout the day. If I am doing chores, working out, taking a walk, or working, etc, I enjoy having my favorite tunes nearby. With the AfterShokz Trekz Titanium headphones, it allows me to listen to my favorite music without completely disconnecting from my surroundings.

As you can see from my picture, Trekz Titanium do not go directly in the ear, but on the side. Despite this fact, the sound quality is amazing! It is pure, seamless, and it includes powerful bass. You can feel the bass pumping as it plays, which is so cool. I was very impressed! The ability to make calls, the lasting power, and the durability were all huge pluses, as well as the headphones being sweat proof. Perfect for those that love to rock out as they workout, or may find themselves in harsh weather.  

Besides the sound quality, I was impressed by the overall make of the headphones. They are stretchable, move easily, and yet stay attached to your head while you are wearing them. The people around me could hardly hear any music unless it was very loud. I could hear my surroundings, however. That really blew my mind. Trekz Titanium is powered by Bluetooth technology, so they are easy to pair with a mobile device. You can also adjust the sound on the right side, as well as turn them on or off on the left. 

The only issue that I have found with them is that due to the sinus pressure I feel from having severe allergies, I cannot wear these for extended periods of time. However, wearing them throughout a daily task is something I truly enjoy! My family has also been using them as well. I will certainly continue to use Trekz Titanium and would highly recommend them! 

Connect with AfterShokz:

Twitter Facebook  Google+ Youtube Pinterest  Instagram  Website

The Giveaway: 

One lucky winner is going to receive their very own, Trekz Titanium Bone Conduction Headphones! To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will start on 8/8/16 and end on 8/28/16. It is open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize! 

Entry-Form

Product Review: Puro Sound Labs' Healthy Ears Headphones

Listening to music on headphones can be dangerous, as lots of people damage their hearing from listening to music too loudly for too long. Teenagers are especially at risk for this, as they're the most likely to do this. Puro Sound Labs has two different models people can use to make listening to music safer: a head set, and ear buds. 

Overall, these are good products, although I find the headset to be better than the earbuds. The earbuds didn't get as much volume, but they were decent. They were also pretty comfortable, and stayed in place nicely for the most part. The headset was my favorite because it is able to be used either with bluetooth technology, or by plugging it in, something that I really like. Not everything has the bluetooth technology, so it's a good option for people who want to be able to use them both ways. 

The headset also got a decent range, as it was able to work in a different room. I wouldn't go much farther than that, though, especially if there's a closed door between them.

My Friend Cayla Interactive Doll Review

Genesis Toys - #1 Innovator In Tech Toys
Funded in 2013 under the mission: To entertain children around the world and become a memorable part of their childhood, Genesis has connected with like-minded individuals to establish itself as a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative hi-tech children’s entertainment products. With it’s wildly successful international launch of its award-winning doll, MY FRIEND CAYLA, in 2014; Genesis is now focused on introducing its cutting-edge technologies to U.S. consumers later this year. 

My Friend Cayla Will Be At Major Retailers Starting in August!
One of the top ten hottest Christmas toys last year in the E.U. will be making its domestic appearance this Summer at Wal-Mart, Target, Kohls, BJ's, Kmart and more.

Cayla is not just a traditional 18 Inch doll - she has a Bluetooth powered, secured search engine that makes her interactive - she is the smartest friend you will have. 

Our Thoughts

Every girl loves to play with dolls, and when my niece got a similar looking doll (no features, just a doll), my daughter really wanted one. I was excited to get Cayla for her because she is interactive as well as pretty!

The first thing I noticed when I received Cayla was how easy it was to open the box and packaging. Unlike many toys these days, it did not take a chainsaw in order to open up. Keep that in mind when Christmas rolls around and your kid wants to get the toy out as soon as possible, this one does the trick.

The clothing on the doll is well made and does not just fall off the body. I'm thankful I do not have any pieces to lose with this one. So far, zero items have been removed off of her, which is a feat with children. For the kids who love to dress the doll up and not keep it in original clothing, it is easy to get them off and on, and Cayla is built in a fashion that she can wear most "big" doll clothing so there is lots of fun to be had there with dress-up time.

I love the hair on Cayla, as does my daughter who already has fashioned it in a gazillion different styles. It doesn't just fall out like some cheaper doll products. Cayla also comes with her own brush and mirror!

Now for the best part of Cayla, she is completely interactive! My daughter was just excited to get a beautiful doll and the extra fun she gets is the icing on the cake. With the app my daughter can sit and play games while Cayla interacts with her, and it's voice recognition software easily identifies her. It wasn't hard to set up at all. You do need to buy batteries ( 3 AAA) for Cayla, but they're easy to insert in the back plate.

She loves asking her questions and getting a response back, it really does make her feel like she has a best buddy she can take along with her wherever she goes. Having just started school, she's doing basic math so she is over the moon she can ask Cayla math questions and get answers!

Buy yours here and don't forget to check Cayla out on Facebook and Twitter!

Reviewed by Jackie

Review: Cricut Explore Air Cutting Machine

Go from inspiration to creation with Cricut Explore Air (and Cricut Design Space), the most advanced electronic cutting machine for DIY enthusiasts. This system features embedded Bluetooth technology for wireless cutting. Use your desktop computer, laptop, or iPad with the new Cricut Design Space iPad® app. Cricut Explore Air is a design-and-cut system for making amazing, affordable DIY and craft projects. It’s our easiest way ever to turn an idea into a finished project!

   

Make more, every day
Cricut Explore Air allows you to create DIY crafts and projects from wedding invitations to DIY home décor to scrapbooking: there are so many ways you can create with Cricut Explore Air.  You'll be amazed at how often you can use this incredible tool.

Make party invitations, decorations, and favors. Create seasonal home décor or personalize wedding gifts. Add embellishments to your favorite photo memories. Turn ordinary items into beautiful, personalized pieces that let you say, "I made it!" 

Featuring Cut Smart™ technology, the Smart Set™ dial for easy material settings, and the ability to upload your own designs into Cricut Design Space, Cricut Explore Air is our easiest and most innovative design-and-cut system yet. Use Cricut Explore Air with Cricut Design Space™, the free cloud-based software, to make your ideas a reality.

What materials can I cut?

Cut any image on over 60 different materials, including paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather and more! See a full list of materials.

No settings required

Say goodbye to complicated materials settings. Now you can get the perfect cut on nearly any material—just turn the Smart Set^™ dial. You can even create custom settings for different materials. Cricut Explore Air can cut paper, vinyl, cardstock, fabric, wood, leather, and much more.

Design here, there, and everywhere
The easy-to-use Cricut Design Space^™ software system gives you access to all of your images and projects from any compatible computer or iPad^®. It’s cloud-based, so your projects are always synced across all your devices.

Machine Features & Details

• Smart Set™ dial for material selection
• Dual carriage heads
• Integrated storage compartments
• Cricut Design Space™ software
• 50+ free project ideas
• 100+ free images
• Compatible with PC/Mac

For more information:Watch the Video: http://us.cricut.com/home/learn/machines/explore-family

Visit Cricut on:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube

Our Thoughts
I was really, really, ridiculously excited to accept this review pitch. Drool may or may not have been involved. ;-) I've been eyeballing cutting machines for a few years now, but wasn't sure which system to invest money in.  The original Cricut cutting machine involved buying cartridges, and I wanted something I where I could somehow use my own designs.  Enter the Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore Air.  On a basic level, the Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore Air are the same machine except the Explore Air has Bluetooth embedded in it, whereas the Explore you can purchase a Bluetooth adapter separately.  Cricut generously sent me an Explore cutting machine with the Bluetooth adapter so I could enjoy the same benefits as the Explore Air. 

I gotta say, this thing is AWESOME.  Not even kidding!  The first thing I did was read up on how to use it by way of the super helpful FAQ's.  Then I jumped into Cricut Design Space and started designing a gift for my mom.  Now, having Bluetooth is fantastic for me, since my PC is in our office - no real room to use the cutting machine in there, and my craft area is on the other side of the house - a little too far away to go wireless from my PC. This is where the new iPad app came in very handy! Once I had designs ready to go, I just logged in on the iPad right from my craft area and wirelessly told the machine to cut the design I picked. 

Machine in cutting stage - so easy to do right from the iPad!

While blue painter's tape is recommended over masking tape, I used masking tape because at the time, I didn't have any painter's tape on hand.  I also tried following an online tutorial that said the machine would cut fabric ironed to freezer paper - I followed the directions to a "T" but it was a big fail - use Heat 'n Bond Ultra instead - it works great!

The finished project with letters seamlessly cut out.

Next up was making a few new wood signs for my shop.  Many people recommended cutting contact paper to make their designs, so I tried two different ways - used it for the letters (paint over the contact paper letters stuck in place), and also cutting/weeding out the design, then painting it in.

Contact paper letters stuck to the wood.

Cutting the letters out of contact paper, then applying the letters to the wood is by far the easiest.  I really like how that one turned out, except I wanted to "antique" the sign, and realized that if the lettering is going to be "antiqued", the background needs to have it done before the letters are applied as once you paint over them you will have resulting indented letters when the contact paper letters are removed.

Contact paper background with the design weeded out.

Cutting the background using contact paper, then weeding out the design was easy to do, too, but this design was fairly labor intense.  But look how fine of lines the Cricut can cut! Beautiful! Doing it this way required touchup paint once the background was removed, but I could "antique" the sign as a whole rather than doing it in stages - so both ways have their advantages - and not really disadvantages - just doing things in different steps than I was used to.

The above two projects painted - you can see how clean & neat the cut design is!

The first two projects I used the information already in the Cricut Design Space because you can choose to use your system fonts.  The third project was a design I created in Photoshop, then uploaded the design into Cricut Design Space to be cut out.  The machine itself has dial settings that are very easy to use.  For cutting fabric, I just selected "fabric", and for the contact paper I selected "vinyl".  There are even "in-between" settings for materials that are thicker/thinner than what the setting is designed for.

Now, Cricut Design Space is fairly easy and intuitive to use - it has editable layers just like Photoshop does.  I did have some how-to questions that were able to be answered by way of the FAQ's.  There are also many pre-designed projects to choose from - if you have the materials you want to use on hand, you can go right to "Make it now"!

The only disadvantage I can think of, some of the designs created in Cricut Design Space you may not be able to send to the cutting mat "as is" if you're using the iPad app.  If the fonts used are not on the iPad, it will revert to an iPad compatible font.  You can still cut it as designed if you are plugged into your PC rather than using the iPad app.  There are iPad apps you can buy to prevent this issue though.  Right now there isn't a way to send it to the cutting mat from your iPhone, but that might be coming in the future - Cricut does listen to their customers!

Cricut machines & accessories can be purchased online and in select stores, and I've already purchased extra blades and the deep-cut blades and housing in case I want to cut thicker materials like leather or balsa wood.  Next up is finding a 12" x 24" cutting mat - which I may end up purchasing online since all the stores seem to be sold out of them!

Another really cool thing about this machine is it can WRITE, too!  Cricut recommends using their markers rather than another brand as the marker cases are specifically designed to work with the housing within the cutting machine.  This means you can not only have the machine cut your design, but write on it too!  If you're like me and don't have the neatest handwriting, or want to write in a specific font, the machine will do it for you!! They have several marker colors available.

The Cricut Explore is so easy to use, that the hardest part for me in making what I want - is simply the agonizing process of waiting for the paint to dry!  Haha!! Considering I used to spend hours cutting out intricate details by hand . . . count me as a HUGE fan!!  As of yesterday I now have a nice big pile of wood cut and a whole bunch of gorgeous fabrics - I am super excited to get started!  So many ideas . . . and they can all be done with Cricut!

TCL Pulse - A new kind of alarm clock

Amplifyze TCL Pulse (www.TCLPulse.com) – a dream come true solution for those who consistently sleep through traditional alarms (teenagers, college students, heavy sleepers, those with hearing loss.) This sleek, chic Bluetooth enabled combination alarm/timer can be programmed with your iPhone once you’ve downloaded the free accompanying intuitive app from the App Store. It offers a choice of vibration (keep it under your pillow), loud sound, or both, and can be programmed for multiple users.

If you want to set your wake up call or a reminder timer from afar, while you’re thinking about it, you can, once the Pulse (a compact device that fits in the palm of the hand) is paired and programmed! The TCL Pulse offers wireless alerting using Bluetooth Smart 4.0 transmission, the latest BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) solution.

Connect with TCL Pulse

Website - Facebook - Twitter

My Thoughts

This is a cool little device. TCL sent me the pink one to use. This little device sinks to your phone with blue tooth technology. In order to use it, you have to download their free app. You can then choose to have the device vibrate only to wake you, audio, or both. I'm not a new mom anymore, but this would have been great to have when I had babies. My husband could've placed this under his pillow and only woken himself up.

It's thin enough too that  you could keep it in your pocket with several alarms through out the day for things you might need to remember. You won't bother anyone else in the office with sounds.

I liked you could choose an alarm sound you wanted, the volume, and how fast you wanted the sound to be. Such as the multiple beep one, you could have slow beeps or rapid beeps.

A great product. A perfect stocking stuffer or gift for someone who has trouble waking. If this is placed under your pillow, the vibration under your head is easily felt and definitely wakes you.

Holiday Gift Guide - The Rockee Toothbrush

“Have you brushed your teeth?” is asked daily by parents everywhere. Getting kids to brush their teeth is often met with resistance, but it is important to establish a solid teeth-brushing regimen with children. Dentists have suggested that selecting a toothbrush that looks like a cartoon character will make brush-time more fun. The Rockee toothbrush from Violife was created with both parents and kids in mind. Kids will look forward to brushing their teeth and parents will look forward to not having to ask.

Available in a variety of cute animals and bright colors, the Rockee is designed to always stand upright – it rocks, wobbles and spins, but never tips over. With the unique rocking design, parents will no longer have to deal with messy, toothpaste covered counter tops or replacing toothbrushes that are dropped on the floor. Great for kids of all ages, the Rockee features an oval brush head with soft bristles and a comfortable, ergonomically designed handle that fits easily into small hands. Since it always stands upright, the Rockee dries easily and kids won’t have to remember to put away their toothbrush in a holder. 

Connect with Violife

My Thoughts

Sometimes toddlers need a little encouragement when it's time to brush their teeth. The Rockee Toothbrush is the perfect way to give it to them. These adorable brushes come in cute animal designs kids will love. The head is just the right size for little mouths, and it even comes with two replacement heads so you get plenty of use out of the base. The bristles are soft but functional. The base also stands on its own when you put it down, so it never falls over which is a great feature. My son was always dropping his brush on the floor, but that isn't a problem anymore.

My son loves this toothbrush. Every since we got our Rockee, he's been much more cooperative about brushing. His teeth are shinier already! If you're looking for a stocking stuffer that will really get put to good use, the Rockee would be a great choice!