May 21, 2012

Dear Santa, Please Send A Well-Groomed Man

Neatly trimmed or clean shaven, who wouldn’t like to find a well-groomed man in their stocking? Remington doesn’t have any men in stock, but they are selling the tools to help your hubby achieve his perfect look. From beard trimmers and hair cutters to nose hair clippers and eyebrow shapers, Remington offers dozens of perfect stocking stuffers for the man in your life.

Remington recently sent over their 30-piece Studio Style Professional Clipper for me to try out which includes everything a man needs to trim, clip and cut. The set includes:

- professional clipper with titanium, self-sharpening blades and an ergonomic grip

- separate detail trimmer

- ten cutting guides of different lengths including left and right ear guides

- two texturing cutting guides for instant body

- scissors, clips and combs

- a fade cutting guide

- neck liner to ensure that you can cut a perfectly straight line (by yourself!)

- neck brush and hair cutting style guide

The corded/cordless Studio Style Professional Clipper makes home haircuts and facial hair trimming a breeze and all the accessories fit conveniently in a sleek, black case for easy storage. My husband has been cutting his own hair since college and was definitely impressed with the variety of tools that the set comes with – especially the texture guide and the detail trimmer. And the fact that you can use it cordless made it much easier when he cuts our boys’ hair outside in the backyard.

Santa might not be able to bring you a man, but at least he can make sure the one you have is well-groomed.

$31.99 at Remington

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Note: Remington sent over a sample of this clipper for the review.

Top Tech Gifts from Staples for the Holiday Season

Image and video hosting by TinyPicWith roughly 12 days left til Christmas day, if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet— Staples can help! As a teacher and now the mother of a kindergartner, I depend on Staples for school supplies. I knew they had computers and phones, but never realized how many top tech items they carried until I attended the Staples Holiday event last week, hosted by Audrey McClelland of MomGenerations.com. Audrey showed us some really cool items that Staples offers like the Kindle, Flip Video Recorder, Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones and many more. I liked that you can play with interactive displays to see if the items are going to work for the person you’re buying it for. Plus, Staples offers coupons, a price-match guarantee and a rewards program.

These are our top picks for tech items offered by Staples:
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Amazon’s Kindle DX ($379.00) features a 9.7inch screen with a larger font size perfect for viewing full pages of PDF documents or reading materials like newspapers where users can see a full article on a single page in an amazingly sharp display. This can only be purchased in store, not at Staples.com.

Olympus® Stylus Tough 3000 ($199.99) is a digital camera that’s waterproof, freeze-proof and shockproof — you can literally toss it around! Exclusive for this holiday season, the red model comes with a free adventure kit, complete with a float strap and neoprene case (red available in-store and online, pink, blue and green available at Staples.com, ).

I’m a little obsessed with Flip Video cameras – because they’re so easy to use and the price isn’t out of this world. They combine pocket-size portability with a 2-inch viewing screen. At Staples, you’ll find the Flip UltraHD ($129 on sale)and pocket-sized Flip MinoHD ($179) both offering high quailty HD video.

Beats by Dr. Dre headphones features a built-in mic for hands-free talk on your music or iPhone.  You also get playback control of your iPhone or iPod (including pause, next track and volume). It’s available in two models, the Beats Solo on-ear style (black or white, $179.99 in most stores and Staples.com) and iBeats in-ear buds (black or chrome, $99.99 in most stores and Staples.com).

If you’re budget’s a little smaller, consider Omnitech’s products. Omnitech Wireless Headphones ($30 in-store only) are perfect for listening to favorite TV shows or radio stations up to 50ft away while working throughout the house and without disturbing others. Omnitech Wired Noise-Cancelling Headphones ($20) are portable and perfect for the business traveler.  But what I really liked was the Omnitech Sport MP3 Headset ($25) which lets users download MP3′s directly to their headphones and holds up to 2GB of storage. Omnitech also offers some stocking stuffers that are really cool — check out Omnitech’s Mini Speaker ($10). It plays music from any device equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack; including MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones, and gaming devices. The Speaker expands for better sound quality and it includes a built in rechargeable battery. It’s great to tote from room to room.

If you need more recommendations, check out the Staples Interactive Holiday Tech Guide or on Staples’ Facebook Page.

Disclosure: I received a gift card and the mini speaker for attending the Staples Holiday Event. All opinions expressed are my own.

#NFL #Football Fans: Junk Food Vintage Ts for Moms & Dads

This post is a part hint for hubby and a part lament for the fact that they don’t have a t-shirt in his size… but I’m just loving Junk Food’s line of t-shirts for men and women on your favorite NFL team.

Aren’t these so great?  Each design has a vintage look and I love both the men’s and women’s designs.  Of course I had to feature a Philadelphia Eagles tee but for the rest of you silly non-Eagles fans, rest-assured they have all your favorite NFL teams.

$26.99+ depending on men’s or women’s.  Free shipping on Amazon.

Powermat Wireless Charging: Get Rid of the Charger Clutter

I seem to have a lot of mobile devices to keep charged in my home. Keeping all the chargers straight and neat is challenging – Powermat Wireless Charging is a much better way to charge and get rid of all those chargers!

We recently tested out several of their products. The Home and Office Mat ($99) is excellent – you can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously. All you do is plug in the mat and place Powermat receiver cases on your favorite gear and then place them on the mat to charge. Powermat offers receiver cases that work on iphone 3G ($69.99),  ipod touch ($39.99), as well as many more. If you have a device that isn’t supported by a Powermat Reciever case, use the included Powercube Universal Receiver, with comes with a 8 mini and micro USB tips included (other tips sold separately).

Adjustable sound and light indications give feedback that charging is occurring   – while a small magnetic pull ensures perfect alignment and optimal charging efficiency. I would recommend keeping this out of your bedroom if you plan to charge a device late at night (my husband hates the sound). We also liked the Powermat 2x ($59.99) that charges 2 devices at the same time.

If you are frequent traveler, you may prefer the Portable Mat ($99), which folds up and charges up to 3 devices simultaneously. Comes with  a travel case with magnetic closure and a Powercube Universal Receiver with 8 tips.

All Powermat devices come with a power adapter that comes will work with a wide range of voltages (100-240VAC). The adapter also meets Energy Star level 5 efficiency requirements.

Thank you to Powermat for providing product samples.

Wrapsol Ultra Provides Drop and Scratch Protection for Your Mobile Device

Love your mobile device, but need some protection for it?  Wrapsol’s Ultra is a line of adhesive films that provides both drop and scratch protection for portable and mobile devices. You can get versions that will protect iPhones and iPod touches, Blackberries, Motorola (including the Droid) and Sony PSP and several other devices. Wrapsol Ultra is twice as strong as other scratch-proofing films and goes on in about a minute.

It protects the entire device front to back, with a strong, flexible film and also provides shock protection. It actually evolved from automobile paint and bumper protection.

I found it really easy to put on — it uses a dry process (no fooling around with wet materials). Align the film, tack it down, smooth it on. An air bubble-releasing adhesive that is unique to Wrapsol ultra ensures the smoothest application possible. And if you have some air bubbles, don’t worry — they will work themselves out in a few days.

For every Wrapsol scratch-proof protection system sold, the company makes a donation to Cool Earth, a non-profit organization that helps protect endangered rainforests world-wide. Wrapsol products come in recycled, reusable and 100% recyclable packaging and start at $24.99.

Shop wrapsol.com

Geek Dad Father’s Day Gift: Mimobot Star Wars Flash Drive (plus one to giveaway!)

I can’t think of any Dad I know who wouldn’t laugh and appreciate this gift: a Mimobot Star Wars USB Flash Memory Drive.  Mimoco makes character designer flash drive – they have Star Wars, Hello Kitty and more.

These are just awesome.  Pick from Darth Vader, C3po, a Storm Trooper, Obi-Wan or more for your all your flash drive needs.  Each unit stores 2GB worth of files and is compatible with both Mac and Windows.

They sell for $39.95 on Mimcoco.com.  Order today to get it in time for Father’s Day, or order it for a late present.  Heck, order this for a stocking stuffer – it’s the perfect size and too funny!  Guaranteed to make him smile – I know it made me smile.

Giveaway: One lucky Mommies with Style winner will win a Mimobot!  They can pick from the following list.  Leave a comment and let me know which one you’d like if you win!  One winner will be selected after June 23rd.

·         Darth Vader

·         Stormtrooper

·         Hello Kitty Apple

·         Marvin the Pirate

·         Golden Panda

Father’s Day: 3 Weeks Left ’til Dad’s Day, here are some gift ideas

Looking for some ideas for Dad on Father’s Day?  Whether you’re looking for your own Dad, your hubby or your Grandfather, here are some more gift ideas for that special Dad in your life:

If he loves to read:  An e-reader such as a Barnes & Noble Nook ($259) or Amazon Kindle ($259).  My sister and I got one for our Dad as an early Father’s Day gift and he was thrilled. 

It’s a great gift for a Dad who travels – no more schlepping heavy books or having to find a bookstore when he finishes the one he’s reading – e-readers like the Nook & the Kindle are the wave of the future.  Download books from anywhere and keep life simple with one of these.

For the new Dad:  DadGear makes Diaper Bags ($90) & Messenger Bags ($80) for Dad that don’t look frilly, girly, or frankly, like a “typical” diaper bag. 

While these bags are designed for function, they are also designed with the masculine folk in mind and some of the backpacks and bags are pretty hip looking. 

Use coupon code ClassyMWS to receive 15% off your order of anything on the site.

If he’s looking to decorate his home bar:  These personalized signs from Red Envelope are not only fun-looking but sure to provoke a few admiring stares from friends. 

My personal favorite is the “Man Cave” one but have it personlized however you like – with his name, the bar name ($49.95)

Use coupon code DD623 to receive 15% off your order at Red Envelope.

Since he won’t stop to ask for directions:  Amazon is having a crazy sale on GPS units at the moment.  50% off some great Garmin models

So what are you getting for the special Dad in your life?  Leave a comment if you have some good ideas!  I’ll be posting more ideas over the next few weeks.

Jawbone ICON bluetooth earpiece: A review & a giveaway

Noise.  I have a crazy amount of it in my daily life.  From screaming kids, cats meowing for food, cartoons blaring in the background to the phone ringing every 10 minutes, I have a whole heck of a lot of commotion going on around me at any given moment.

So I recently tried out the latest product(the ICON) from Jawbone, makers of the infamous bluetooth headset.  It’s a wonderful little product.  Because not only is it just awesome to use Bluetooth and be hands free when I have a million other things going on, but it reduces all external noise to the person at the other end of the phone.  It’s amazing.   I’ve tested it with various people in my life and they have all told me the same thing – they can barely hear what’s going on around me, no matter how noisy.

So while I can still hear all the nonsense in the background, at least my mother/friend/business contact can not.  It’s so worthwhile. 

It’s easy to use and pairs wonderfully with any bluetooth enabled device.  Took me all of 20 seconds to do with my iPhone.  Jawbone has a ton of various products available on Amazon – if you aren’t looking for the latest and new model, check out some of the older models – there are several available at discounted prices on Amazon. 

This would make a wonderful gift for Dad for Father’s Day!

Giveaway:  I have one additional Jawbone Icon (the latest model, released just in January 2010) to giveaway to one lucky Mommies with Style reader!  To enter, simply subscribe to our weekly newsletter.   You’ll receive features from the Mommies with Style blog, exclusive coupon codes and more from us.  To gain additional entries, you can tweet about it on Twitter.  (Please @mommieswstyle so I know you have done so!)

This contest will end June 9, 2010.  One lucky winner will be chosen from our newsletter subscriber base and the additional tweets we receive from this contest.

Jabra Mobile Solutions for Moms and Dads: Get Bluetooth Savvy!

I finally got Bluetooth-savvy, with Jabra‘s help. Jabra held a Mobile Moms & Dads Blogger Event and I was really impressed with the quality and ease of use of their Bluetooth devices.

I tried to use a Bluetooth headset months ago. I couldn’t really figure out how to work it properly and never had it in my ear when someone called me in my car (which I spend a lot of short bursts of time in). Finally, I just went back to using the speaker phone on my mobile. Which wasn’t very ideal — I still had to fumble in my purse when someone called me.

So when I saw the Jabra CRUISER ($60-$70), which is a Bluetooth in-car speakerphone, I knew this would be my favorite product to test. I drive a ’95 Camry and now with the CRUISER,  all I have to do is hit a button on it and I can speak to anyone (even if my phone is buried in my purse). Set up was easy, but I found if I didn’t use it for a few days, I had to connect it to my smartphone again (which took about 30 seconds). Features include dual microphones for clearer audio, voice announcements  (for some phones, it will tell you who’s calling by accessing your address book or announcing the incoming phone number). It also features up to 10 hours talk time and 13 days standby time.  You can use two Bluetooth devices simultaneously — so you could pair your mobile and your spouse’s mobile at the same time. Just clip it to your car’s visor – no installation necessary.  Another benefit – the Jabra CRUISER is also equipped with an FM Transmitter, A2DP and AVRCP, which allows you to stream music from your phone to your car or home stereo.
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iTrip Fm Transmitter for iPod/iPhone by Griffin Technology

Image and video hosting by TinyPicWant to play your music from iPod Touch or iPhone while you’re driving?  iTrip for the iPod and iPhone from Griffin Technology ($49.99) lets you do just that!
With the newest version of the iTrip, download the free app from iTunes, plug the fm transmitter into the bottom of your iPod or iPhone, then use the Smartscan “button” to find a frequency to play your tunes while driving!

Features include:
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-SmartSound button, which adjusts signal strength for the clearest sound possible
-Three user-programmable presets to remember favorite frequencies, which can be recalled with a touch of a button.
-Controls let you play, pause, skip forward and skip back.
-The illuminated screen scrolls song info on the iTrip (even when your iPhone or iPod is sleeping).

Bottom Line: The iTrip is great, but it took me a couple of times before I could use it properly and find the best frequencies to use to play my tunes. But after I had set it up and learned how to work it, I loved being able to play my iPod Touch’s music in my car! It’s a winner!!

Reviewer received a sample product for review purposes.

Grow tomatoes with the Topsy Turvy upside-down planter

Here’s another great product that goes along with the Earth Day & Week theme – the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter from Felknor Ventures.

Hubby has quite the green thumb.  Every year he and my boys work on the vegetable garden and it produces tons of wonderful home-grown vegetables for us to eat throughout the summer and fall.   This past Christmas, my Mom got my husband the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter, and he broke it out and got it all set up last weekend. 

This planter makes it easy for even someone like me (totally unskilled in the ways of Gardening) to produce a healthy and hearty tomato plant.  The way it works is that this planter hangs your tomato plant upside down.  Gravity does the rest – all the water and nutrients from the roots easily fall down into the fruit – producing tons of tomatoes.  Having the plant hung also eliminates issues with fungus, digging and weeding and worm damage as it’s all hung up in the air. 

We’ve hung it off of our deck (close to the house to hopefully keep the deer away) and I’m excited to see how it does this year.  You can get the Topsy Turvy Planter at various retailers – I found it on sale on Amazon for $12.55.

Backpacks for the whole family; 20% off coupon code – Cow Animal Daysack

On our recent trip, we each had our own individual backpacks that we carried when we went out for the day. Even my 2.5-year old son has his own! His was the most adorable, toddler-sized backpack I have ever seen – the Cow Animal Daysack by LittleLife. It’s perfect for traveling because your child can have their own drink, snacks and a small toy inside. He loved wearing his Cow Daysack everywhere!

It has padded shoulder straps and a chest strap to stay comfortably on, name and an address label inside the pack and a top grab handle for the pack for when you need to carry it. In addition, there is a removable safety strap if you would like to be able to have your child within arms reach at all times. The Animal Daysack also has a weatherproof hood that stows away in a zippered top pocket; open it out and your child can complete the transformation from little person to little cow! It is so cute and my son loved wearing his cow hood. Besides the cow, the Daysacks are also available in a turtle, ladybug and bumblebee, and are appropriate for ages approximately six months to three years old. My son really enjoyed toting around his own stuff and I am sure yours will too.

Use coupon code MWSMMX until September 31, 2010 to save 20% off any regularly priced item on the site. Please note the pricing on the site is in Canadian dollars.

My husband and I shared the Shaun White Backpack from Burton. It is an awesome, laptop backpack that has more storage and compartments than I have ever seen in a backpack! In addition to the nicely padded laptop compartment, it also features an Easy-Access, Side-Entry zipper, which is an added bonus when quickly stowing the laptop in a tight space like an airplane. My husband is always anally organized, so he especially appreciated that this pack had a plethora of pockets and compartments.

There are a handful of easy to access, exterior pockets, great for PDA’s, cell phones, MP3 players, and even snacks. Additionally, there are a myriad of interior pockets, great for storing cords, power packs, office supplies, etc. Once we saw the backpack arrive, and knew how easily it would keep us organized on the go, it was a no brainer to quickly unpack our existing backpack, and replace it with the Shaun White backpack. While Shaun himself is a champ on the half-pipe, at the very least, you will travel like champs with his backpack! It’s currently on sale for a great price!

Verizon Palm Pre Plus Post #6 – Phone Quality

Image and video hosting by TinyPicWe talk about smartphones and what they can do with internet, apps and social media –but what about the actual phone quality?

The Palm Pre Plus that I am testing is running on the Verizon Network. I rarely ever get a dropped call and I’m very happy with the phone quality.

To put a number in, use the touch screen, to search for a name in your contacts, use the slide-out keyboard.  To hit the speaker phone, hit the icon that will come up on the left-hand bottom of the screen. I mentioned in my second post how much I liked the following function:  when you take the phone from your ear to hang up, the screen lights up and you can touch the screen to end your call. But one of the coolest feature is that if you do a search for a phone number on the web (or if it’s hyper-linked in an email),  just touch the link — it will automatically dial the number. And yes, the 1 + area code is included.

Usage time is 330 minutes with standard battery. Standby time is 350 minutes with standard battery. In my opinion, it feels like the battery gets drained very quickly (but isn’t that  a common smartphone issue?) Which is why I’ll be buying an auto charger, since  between preschool and afterschool activities, I practically live in my car!

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Disclosure: I am taking part in the Verizon Palm® Pre™ Plus Mommy Blogger Program and will be testing out the phone for rest of this month on Mommies With Style.


Verizon Palm Pre Plus Post #2: Review

I picked up the Palm® Pre Plus last week at the Verizon Store and was really wowed. I am taking part in the  Verizon Palm® Pre™ Plus Mommy Blogger Program and will be testing out the phone for the next month for Mommies With Style. While the phone is Image and video hosting by TinyPicterrific, I admit I’m little overwhelmed.

They’re called smartphones for a reason — and I was so excited I was able to turn my phone on and automatically see my missed calls, email, twitter and Facebook notifications at the bottom of my screen. It makes this SAHM feel in touch with the world!  I love the touchscreen and also like that it also has a slide out keyboard. It also features multiple calendar syncing and a 3 mega-pixel camera with a flash.

Phone: I was impressed with the quality of the sound. It was much better than my basic Motorola Flip Phone model. The speakerphone can be accessed right from the touchscreen. In future posts, I will test it out with a bluetooth headset.

Use the touchscreen to select your contacts and to dial numbers. The cool thing is when you take the phone from your ear to hang up, the screen lights up and you can touch the screen to end your call. The phone locks when it’s not in use, so when you get a call, slide your finger up the touchscreen to unlock and answer.
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I’m a Verizon Palm Pre Plus Mommy Blogger!

Image and video hosting by TinyPicI’m very excited to announce that I have been chosen as a Verizon Palm® Pre™ Plus Mommy Blogger. I’ll be testing out the new Verizon Palm Pre Plus and blogging/vlogging about my experiences with it from now until the end of March.

The Palm Pre Plus is wonderful for moms (and dads) on the go! It features multiple calendar syncing, a notification panel right on the main screen that will let me know if I missed a call, or have a voicemail or text message. I’ll also be able to add my two email accounts, surf the web AND check my Facebook and Twitter (I’m Nancy_Horn on Twitter).  I spent a lot of time ferrying my four year old to school and to OT and PT — so having a second to check my email/FB/Twitter while I’m waiting for him will be terrific! The Palm Pre Plus also has a great 3 megapixel camera with a flash built in –think of all the great pics I can upload to Mommies With Style!
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Click here to see a demo of the Palm Pre Plus. There are a lot more terrific features on this phone — stay tuned for more info!

Verizon supplied me with the new Palm Pre Plus and are paying for 1 month of service, including internet access. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hearts a-plenty: Valentine Gift Recommendations from Mommies with Style

fcmFor him: My husband tells me a good pen not only looks the part, but feels the part. And he’ll look like a stud in the boardroom wtih a Faber-Castell Mondoro Pen. With a barrel made of polished precious resin and the cap and ends created of polished and chrome-plated metal, this masculine pen is a gift to write home about (and he will. With a pen.)

For the techie: The ridiculous amount of wires gathering around our charging station was overwhelming my kitchen, so it was a huge relief to get to test the Powermat, a mat that allows many electronics to charge wirelessly. The pad comes with attachements for cell phones (check yours on the list before buying), ipods, Nintendo DS’ and more. But if you want to lay your electronic device flat on the pad, you’ll need to buy additional attachments that will allow them to charge without a wire. Its a bit of an investment, but so worth it if the wires are making you batty. And for the traveling techie, Powermat released a travel item that folds up and takes up much less space. (By-the-way, you’ll still need to plug the mats in to an outlet.)makeover

For your tween: If she has a DS, then run, run, run to the store and grab her one of the Style Lab games by Ubisoft. It is just so fun to apply and reapply make up with Makeover and to create jewelry in their Jewelry Design game. If she’d prefer a game a little less Diva, try out Ubisoft’s Imagine series which includes games like Zookeeper and Soccer Captain.

wigglyFor your 5ish-year-old: While my 6-year-old still hasn’t lost a tooth, he’ll be prepared to lose one because he’s getting a pillow from The Wiggly Tooth Factory. Its an adorable mini-pillow-sized tooth with a pocket, available in fun fabrics with a so cute face. Someday (and likely, his dentist predicts, close to his 7th birthday) he’ll hide his tooth in the pocket to be replaced by a magical toothfairy (who already has a stack of golden dollars, hidden away.) Anyway, I know its a little close to Valentine’s Day, but this one is so cute that I had to mention it. So order now. Because even if you don’t gift on Valentine’s Day, you just never know when you’re going to need a Tooth Fairy Pillow, and you don’t want to be without!

shoppere2-red-openFor your Mother-in-Law: We gave my MIL a Reisenthel Shopper e2 bag for Christmas this year (and kept another for us.) She just melted over this bag. Its perfect for the weekend traveler, the shopper and, well, the bag lady. This bag expands, bottoms up, allowing for you to fill your bag more than you planned. Which you know your Mother-in-Law is likely to do.

yuboFor your Preschooler: My 4-year-old grabbed the Yubo lunchbox as soon as he saw it. He loves pretend-play and the box looks like a little piece of fancy luggage. So when he opened it and realized he could fit a sandwich and two snacks inside, he was in heaven. (It comes with containers). Plus, it comes with a freezer pack made to fit inside perfectly. All the pieces fit perfectly inside and the lid slides right on. The bonus feature: you can change the look with interchangable faceplates.

cal-babyFor baby: California Baby’s I Love You! Collection offers massage oil, spritzer and bubble bath made with all-natural, organic aromatherapeutic products specially blended to encourage relaxation and relieve tension. Baby will love the attention. And afterhours you and hubby may want to borrow it.

 We wish you all special time with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day!

Thanks to California Baby, Yubo, Reisenthel, Wiggly Tooth Factory, Ubisoft, Faber-Castell, Powermat and their agents for providing samples for Mommies with Style.