Reviews — Page 4

The New Motorola Bionic – Shopping Review #MotoCalyp

When the amazing peep’s over at Collective Bias asked me to do a little research on this new Motorola Bionic phone – I was super excited to put it to the check it out, and see if it could push me to upgrade my current phone. My current phone is my very first smartphone – {how did I ever live without mobile internet, seriously??} – but already, I’m getting ready for something new and exciting. So – if you’re in the market for a new phone, or shopping for a gift this season – follow me as I learn about the Bionic by researching online and browsing in-store….

Motorola.com Research

Obviously, my first stop in researching was the Motorola website – they’re the experts, right? The site is super user friendly, and had a ton of info to give me a really good basic overview of the Bionic – it’s got a bigger touchscreen than my current phone, a longer battery life {super important for a blogger on-the-go like me!} and a super sweet 8 mega pixel camera. Since I do a ton of product reviews, having a great camera on my phone is such a helpful tool. And I hear that the Bionic takes some pretty amazing video too. It’s sounding like a really good option for me so far….

Heading to Verizon Wireless

Time to head into my local Verizon store – to get some hands-on action with this phone. I love online shopping: it’s easier, usually cheaper, and way less stressful than heading out to the stores this time of year. But there are some things that are hard to judge by online pictures alone – Like a new swimsuit or pair of skinny jeans, the only way to know if this phone is truly the right fit for me is to try it out in person.

Action Time

As I approached the front door, I could see that this place was packed!! Even so, I was greeted right away, and directed over to the Motorola Bionic quickly. The sales guy didn’t really have a ton of info to share, but that was ok, since I already knew a ton about this phone, and what I really needed was just to get it into my hands. Unfortunately, they didn’t let me take any pic’s inside the store, so I can’t show you it in use. Here’s what I thought though: It’s pretty impressive looking – really sleek, great design. Right away you notice some great differences that set it apart from other phones – the screen is really large and full, and super clear. And it is fast! The pages load about twice as fast as they do on my current phone. That is a HUGE improvement. But, the price is pretty high – without a contract it’s almost $600, and even with a 2-year agreement, it’ll run you close to $300. Since my current phone is still pretty new, it’d take some pretty impressive features to make me pay that much to switch right now. More research needed….

Next Stop – The Valley Mall

My next stop was the Verizon Wireless kiosk in the mall. I loved that it was totally quiet there {surprising this time of year} – and that meant that the guys working were able to help me without being rushed. They said that the Bionic has been one of their most popular phones, and it has had almost no complaints after purchase, which is pretty impressive to me. I used to manage that PacSun store you see behind this kiosk, and I know that people love to come back and complain about their phones. Knowing that the Bionic customers are really satisfied with their purchases is pretty impressive to me.

Motorola Bionic Review

I love this video… {Can’t see the video? Check it out on YouTube} – It explains in plain talk how the Motorola Bionic compares to other smart phones. This really helped me to realize the value of the phone, and why it might be worth the money to upgrade. The main point that stuck with me is that, while the Bionic might be a teeny bit bulkier than other phones, its speed, power, and features make it more comparable to a tablet – but it’s smaller and more portable than a tablet. That makes the Bionic a seriously awesome phone!!

Conclusion

Well, the Motorola Bionic has really impressed me. The speed, the camera and video capabilities, and the battery life are all exactly the type of upgrades that I’ve been looking for. BUT- they’re not enough to make me upgrade quite yet. But – when my contract is up this spring, this phone is at the very tip-top of my list. I really need an all-in-one gadget to have on me at all times, and this sounds like the perfect fit for me. To see my full shopping experience, check out my Google+ story too!

Are you looking for a SmartPhone?
SPECIAL DEAL on Motorola BIONIC through the #MotoCalyp campaign:
Buy Now & Get Free 2-day Shipping!!

{Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All ideas, opinions, and photos are entirely my own.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 25, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews | No Comments

Your Baby and RSV Disease – What You Need to Know

What is RSV Disease?

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, which can lead to extremely serious complications, specifically for preterm infants. It’s a very common, easily spread virus that almost all children catch by the time they turn 2 years old. In most babies, RSV will cause only cold and flu type symptoms, and you probably wouldn’t even be aware that it was anything other than that. But, in some babies, especially if they are born early, RSV can lead to really serious lung infections, and can require hospitalization.

Why RSV Disease is more Dangerous for Preemie Babies

Despite recent slight declines in rates of prematurity, 1,400 babies are still born prematurely in the United States every day, and 13 million babies are affected by prematurity around the world. Prematurity, defined as being born before 37 weeks completed gestation, disrupts a baby’s development in the womb, often stunting the growth of some of the body’s most critical organs. At birth, preemies often have difficulty with breathing, feeding and maintaining temperature. Because their immune systems haven’t had time to fully mature, preterm infants are more likely to develop infections, and because their lungs are underdeveloped, they are more susceptible to respiratory problems.

Why Moms Should be Aware of RSV:

The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America. That means, this is the most dangerous time of year. Since RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year, and there is no treatment for it, it is incredibly important to get educated on this disease, and learn how to protect your family.

What You Can Do:

Clearly, most preterm deliveries are unavoidable. Make sure you get the best prenatal care you can find, follow your doctors advice and directions, and make your very best effort at living as healthy as possible. Other than that – babies do what they want. Just like they do when they’re toddlers, and teenagers. :) But, there are some basic steps you can take to protect your new baby:

Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently
Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer
Avoid large crowds and people who may be sick
Never let anyone smoke near your baby
Speak with your child’s doctor if you believe he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available

Symptoms to Watch For:

Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

Persistent coughing or wheezing
Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
High fever
Extreme fatigue
Difficulty feeding

To learn more about RSV, visit www.rsvprotection.com. For more about the specialized health needs of preterm infants, visit www.preemievoices.com.

Tons of free baby stuff from the brands you know and trust. You’ll find money saving coupons for diapers and formula, welcome packages for your new baby, sample kits and starter packs – plus tons of helpful advice! Click Here to join.

{I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 23, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews | No Comments

Learn, Create, and Share Party!

We Hosted a LeapFrog Party!

When you think of toys for kids that are both educational and super fun, one of the first names that comes to just about everyone’s mind is LeapFrog, right? LeapFrog makes some of the highest quality electronic toys for kids, is always innovative with new games, app’s, and products, and always finds that perfect combination of learning and entertainment. Love LeapFrog products.

Learn, Create, and Share Party!

As a member of MomSelect, I got the super-duper amazing opportunity to try out a bunch of great new products from LeapFrog – and share them with some of my other favorite families! Abby has the LeapFrog My Pal Violet, the super cute plush dog that sings songs and plays games, and it’s one of her favorites. The boys have played with the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer before, but had never gotten to use a LeapPad – and myohmy, were they over-the-top excited to check it out!! It was definitely the most popular toy with the older boys, and they had a blast recording videos on it – and of course the videos were all just ridiculous little boy stuff, like weird dancing, wrestling matches, and gross faces. Sheesh.

Our Party

We were so, so, SO excited to open up the big box of LeapFrog products when they arrived on our front porch. And we were NOT disappointed! Check out all of the amazingly fun – and incredibly educational! – products that were in the huge package we received from LeapFrog for our party, and learn more about them. I had a really wide range of ages of kids for this party – the youngest was 15 months, and the oldest was 9, and every single one of them had fun with these toys! They all seem super durable, they are all the kind of toy that you feel good about kids playing with, and they all brought out a ton of smiles from the kids. What more can you ask for in a toy, right??

What we loved:

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet – This is recommended for ages 4-9, but even Abby loves it. We like to use it at bedtime, so we can turn out the lights, snuggle up in some blankets, and check out her favorite ebooks. She just adores it. And like I mentioned, this bad boy has a built-in digital camera, video camera, and touchscreen. This post isn’t even long enough to explain to you how cool this thing is – I was seriously blown away.
LeapFrog TAG Reading System – I’ve been wanting to get one of these for the kids since last Christmas – and I was delighted to see that it totally exceeded my expectations! This is also recommended for ages 4-8. All of the kids thought that this was really cool – our little Kindergartner guy gets totally involved with it. He’s learning to read, and this gives him a ton of confidence! You can change the settings to either sound out the letters, or read the words – he loves trying to read it himself, and using the reader to see if he got it right. My older little guy is 8, and is a pretty advanced reader, so this didn’t hold his attention as much. But for any kiddo who’s in the beginning to mid stages of learning to read, this is amazing.
LeapFrog Tag World Map – This is my favorite! I think that this is just so cool… The kids use the Tag reader to discover the world and bring it to life. There are SO many different levels of play and learning with this – Abby love, love, LOVES looking for the animals to touch with the reader, so she can hear the sounds they make. She giggles and claps at the tiger and jaguar – so great to watch. The kids can learn the names of the countries, find kids in the other lands to tell them info like how to say Hello, learn about foods, music, and so much more. All of the kids were completely intrigued by this. It doesn’t come with a reader – you have to get that separately. But it is an amazing addition if you have the Tag reader already!

What do you think?

What is your families favorite LeapFrog product? Are you planning any LeapFrog purchases for the holidays? If so, make sure to sign up to get their email updates – LeapFrog.com – so you can get sales info and great coupons. Right now they’ve got an awesome special deal – Free Shipping on all orders over $60 bucks! Leave me some comments with your feedback on other LeapFrog toys – I’d love to get some additional books and games for the kids this Christmas, and want to hear your suggestions!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 17, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews | 1 Comment

{How to} Become a Super Mom on Wheels

Are you a Busy Mom?

“Busy Mom” – isn’t that pretty redundant? I mean seriously, is there any other kind of mom? Are there moms out there who aren’t busy? Are there really moms out there who complete full to-do lists each day, who’s kids always wear clean, matching socks, who have never fed their children Ramen Noodles for dinner?{If you’re a totally un-busy mom, please – and I mean PLEASE! – share your tips with the rest of us. The comment section welcomes your words of wisdom. Seriously.} Ahem, back to the rest of us…. Get prepared for an amazing solution that will help you complete twice the work in half the time. Ready? Keep reading…

Busy Mom Solution!

Ok, this may not be a solution for everyone. Or for every day. And probably not everywhere. But – how about getting a pair of Heelys? I know what you’re thinking – “Are Heelys those shoes I see the kids at the mall zooming around on? Are those the shoes my kids have been just begging for, because all the “cool” kids have them? Are you kidding me?” – Yes, yes, and not at all. Heelys + You = Super Mom on Wheels. Yep. Don’t call me crazy – keep reading!

How Heelys can help you be more productive:

Late getting the kids ready in the morning? No problem! You’ve got your Heelys on – skate through the house, swoop through the kitchen grabbing backpacks and lunch bags as you gracefully zoom back to the front door and kiss them goodbye as they head to the bus stop. Done.
Need groceries? With your Heelys, you can skate through the store so fast, you’ll feel like you’re on Supermarket Sweep! {Don’t make me feel old – someone else remembers this right? “Hey, the next time you’re at the checkout counter and you hear the beep, think of all the fun you can have on, Supermarket Sweep!”} Those people looking at you weird while you roll at top speed through the grocery store? Jealous. Done.
It’s dinner time, the babies crying in the living room, the timer on the oven is going off, laundry needs to go into the dryer, the table needs to be set – you know, the regular daily tasks of us Super Moms. This USED to stress you out. Not anymore. Now you’re a Super Mom on WHEELS. One quick swoop through the house with your shoes of speed – Done!

Ready to learn more?

Of course you are! You’re so ready to buy these – you’ve got a credit card in hand, reading this post on your smartphone as you run to the car {you have to run, you don’t have wheels yet} eagerly waiting for me to tell you where to drive to and buy 2 pairs of these amazing Busy Mom Solution shoes. Then, you stop in amazement, as I tell you that you can buy these right from HOME. Yes, it’s true. You can purchase Heelys from their website, from Amazon, or other major retailers. These Heelys folks, they’re pretty amazing.

Super Sweet Deal on Heelys

Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special!! Between Nov 25-Nov 28, Buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. Or buy a Nano, and get a pair of shoes for $25, and get free ground shipping on all orders!

Wanna Race?

You know I’m always here to share my favorite Busy Mom Solutions with you guys – and clearly, this is a perfect way to be transformed from a regular, super-busy, Super Mom – to an incredibly awesome Super Mom on Wheels! Use this power wisely, and obey those signs that say “No skating inside the store.” Using the all purpose explanation, “Because I’m the mommy – THAT’S why,” may not go over well with mall security. And don’t forget to read their other safety tips too – Heelys Safety Playbook. And if I see you zooming through your grocery shopping in half the time, just like me, I’m going to challenge you to a race in the frozen foods aisle. Just sayin’.

Connect with Heelys:

“Like” them on Facebook.
Follow them on Twitter.
Subscribe to their channel on YouTube.

{Disclaimer: Those amazing folks at Heelys gave me this sweet pair of Heelys to try out, so that I could share my real-life, totally honest, experience. And I love being a Super Mom on Wheels now. You will too. Get ’em. I’ll race you.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 16, 2011 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Reviews | 1 Comment

Share it Forward – #givingback

With your help, the o.b. Brand hopes to donate $25,000 to Huru International, a non-profit organization that provides sanitary protection to adolescent girls in developing countries. Why is this important? Watch the video, and keep reading, and you’ll learn why this is, sadly, a major issue for way too many young girls….

The lack of affordable sanitary protection can have devastating lifelong consequences for adolescent girls in developing countries. Unable to afford sanitary protection, countless girls resort to dangerous alternatives, such as finding and recycling used pads, or improvising their own from unsafe materials. Many more simply avoid school for the duration of their periods, missing as much as an entire month each school year. This creates insurmountable gaps in their education, which leads many young girls to abandon school altogether, and increases their vulnerability to poverty and disease, including HIV infection.

A basic necessity for us, an unaffordable luxury item for others

We take so many things for granted… Can you imagine being a teenage girl, and not having access to these types of products? I hear it often asked, “Why help those in other countries? We have Americans struggling that need help here!” And that’s true. There are many girls in the US that come from incredibly poor families, whose parents struggle to provide basic necessities. BUT – in those types of worst-case scenarios, most teenage girls can find help at school, at a friends home, or from other resources. In some developing countries, there are no other options. And the results can be devastating.

What YOU can do to help!

O.b. is raising money to support Huru International, and YOU have the power to help! It is incredibly simple, and your very simple action can make a world of difference in the lives of these girls. All you have to do to help is visit the o.b. Facebook page, and click the o.b. Outreach tab. Scroll to your state in the drop down menu box, then click the big share button to make YOUR donation, and share it on your own Facebook wall! The post that shares will let everyone know that you just helped make a donation, and encourage them to do so too. Now, how easy is that, right? How can you NOT help?

Visit o.b. on Facebook today to Share it Forward!!

Want to know more about Huru International?

“Since its inception in 2008, Huru International has developed a cost-effective solution to this often-overlooked crisis. Through the production of Huru Kits, the organization aims to provide girls with the resources and knowledge they need, including sanitary protection, to complete their education and safeguard their health.”

What is a Huru Kit?

Huru Kits are provided to at-risk girls completely free of charge. Each Huru Kit comes packaged in a drawstring bag that doubles as a backpack, and includes:

Eight reusable sanitary pads
Three pairs of underwear
Detergent-grade soap to wash the sanitary pads
A re-sealable, waterproof bag to safely store used sanitary pads
Educational insert focused on proper Huru® pad care and usage, and
Life-saving HIV/AIDS prevention information

What is the o.b. Brand’s goal with the Share It Forward program?

O.b. hopes that this Share it Forward campaign can raise $25,000 in donations, which would equal 1,000 young girls in developing nations receiving one of these kits totally free – 1,000 young girls that now have a huge helping hand towards success. O.b. is committed to a MINIMUM donation of $10,000 – every single person who shares this message on Facebook equals an additional dollar, up to a total of $25,000. So EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. COUNTS. Thank you to all of you for helping to do your easy peasy part to help other girls around the world!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of o.b. and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 14, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews | No Comments

Wikets – Rec it for Sweet Rewards!

Thank you to Wikets for introducing me to this iPhone/iPad app. You can download Wikets from the App Store here – Wikets App – available Nov. 7.

The Simply Rewarding Way to Share Your Best Recommendations!

So, you know how you’re always on the look out for the coolest new things – like the yummiest restaurant, the hottest music, or the best deal on amazing shoes? And you know how when you find that great stuff, your first thought is to share it with your friends? If right now you’re like “I totally know what you’re talking about Meagan!!” – then guess what? You’re in luck. There’s an app for that. A cool one.

Introducing my new BFF – The Wikets App!!

The brand new Wikets app was released just a few days ago, and is available to download for your iPhone and iPad. It’s totally free, totally awesome, and I’m totally going to tell you all about it! Keep reading to learn why I think it will rock your socks –

Top 5 Reasons why Wikets is amazing:

1. It’s FREE: That’s my favorite price.
2. It’s fun: Who doesn’t love sharing cool stuff with their friends, and earning cool rewards, right?
3. It’s helpful: When you have the Wikets App, you can browse around by location, and see restaurants, clubs, coffee shops, and more, that people have recommended. Want to try somewhere new for dinner? Type in Mexican Restaurant, search locally – and find a brand new spot that one of your girlfriends has “rec’d” on the site!
4. It’s Rewarding: On Wikets, you add places, products, and services that you love – that’s called a “rec” – and the more active you are, the more points you earn! Plus, while you’re browsing on Wikets, if you see a super cool rec that you love, you can go directly to purchase it – which rewards you with even more points. Those points can then be redeemed for free gift cards to your favorite stores!
5. It’s Social: Get your friends to join {be sure to share my code, SunshineSippy, so they get BONUS points for joining – see more on this below!} – so you can all get started sharing great stuff, and you can find new favorite places and products that they share.

How it Works:

Grab the Wikets App today, for your iPhone or iPad – and use my fan exclusive bonus code – SunshineSippy!

Once you’ve got the app, you start by answering a few questions from them, to get your first rec’s added – things like your favorite song and favorite restaurant. {You can see a few of my favorites in the pic!} Then you can add other favorites – anything from one of their partners, which include big favorites like iTunes, Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, and more. If you can pull a location up on Yelp or Foursquare, you can rec it. And if it has a barcode, you can rec that too! So it’s super easy to find tons of favorites to add.

It’s a Social App!

The whole point of this app {well, of course besides earning sweet freebies!} is to share your rec’s with your friends and followers – the more people sharing, the more useful the app is for everyone. It’s kind of like how when you check out a cool new club, you want to share it on Facebook, so all of your friends will know about it too – well now, you can rec it on Wikets, earn points, help other users learn about it, then share it directly to your Facebook page too!

How to Find Cool Stuff

On Wikets, you have a little bar on the bottom of the screen – you can just browse new rec’s, check out local stuff, see what your friends have rec’d, and more. So it’s always easy to stay updated on what’s new and awesome. Love it, right?

Get Started Today!

Get the Wikets App from the App Store Today!

Regular users get 200 points for signing up. But you, and anyone you want to share my unique promo code with, will get an EXTRA BONUS 200 points!! {Promo Code: SunshineSippy}You’ll also earn double points when you start too! There are tons of rewards to choose from, but an example is – 2500 points = $25 Amazon Gift Card. Adds up super quick, trust me!

After you’ve installed the app, get started recommending products and places, adding to your wishlist, re-recing, etc.
Share with your friends! This app is much more fun when more people use it. Since it’s brand new, your friends will appreciate being introduced to it, so you can all be the first to start earning.

Get the new Wikets App today!! Use my code – SunshineSippy – to get BONUS points when joining, and share it with your friends too!!!

Don’t know how to add an app? Learn How to Download an App to your iPhone!

Check out Wikets:

Follow them on Twitter.
Check them out on Facebook.
Visit their website.

Thank you to Wikets for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about the app. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. #CleverWikets #spon

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 14, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Freebies, Shopping | 2 Comments

Baby Safety Is Not Just Cribs and Car Seats…

“There’s only one pretty baby in the world, and every mother has it….” – Unknown.

So true, right? Every mother believes that her perfect tiny baby is the most amazing baby in the world…. and they’re right. Because every baby IS amazing. And every mother wants to find the best products for their little ones. When you think of safety in regards to baby products, most of you probably think about car seats, cribs, toys, and baby gates – but it’s important to think about safety when buying personal care products for baby too. So many lotions, soaps, and shampoos have yucky ingredients that have the potential to be harmful. Dr. Sears Family Essentials line of Baby Care products are made from 100% all natural ingredients, so you can feel good using them!

Why use natural baby products?

Many synthetic ingredients are found in cosmetics, and even in over the counter baby products. These products don’t cause immediate visible signs of toxicity, but can affect the health of the baby negatively over time through repeated use. Some of these can lead to rashes, respiratory distress, even long term health consequences. {Read more here.}

Why Dr. Sears?

I was already a huge fan of Dr. Sears, and his books The Portable Pediatrician: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Health, and The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two are my most-used reference books when I have baby questions. The Portable Pediatrician gives me so many great solutions when Abby’s not feeling well. I seriously do not know what I would do without them. When I learned about their new line of Baby Products, of course I was really excited to try them out, since I have so much trust in Dr. Sears. I love that the products are made from really safe natural ingredients, I love that they’re affordable and easy to find, and I’m totally in love with the quality – which is the most important part, right? Plus, Abby LOVES them!

What I love most:

The lotion: The Dr. Sears Family Essentials Baby Lotion in Citrus smells so yummy! The first time I used it, Abby wanted to eat it – she scooped a dab off of her tummy and licked her finger. Evidently it tastes as good as it smells, because she wanted more, lol. Although I don’t recommend this as a snack, since it’s made with natural ingredients, at least it’s safe and non-toxic. This can be used every day, and will keep baby’s delicate skin soft, and protected. Available for $6.99.

The baby wash: The Dr. Sears Baby Wash & Shampoo in Citrus is such a great idea – why don’t more baby wash products come in a pump container? It is so much easier to use one hand to pump a bit out, so I can keep the other hand on baby – and I really like that it’s a wash and shampoo in one. And it smells just as good as the lotion! It’s also a tear-free formula, of course – and washes away with no residue. You can get the big bottle of Baby Wash & Shampoo for only $5.99.

The diaper Cream: We tried a new line of diapers, and they just did not keep Abby dry at night, at all. After just a couple of days, she ended up with a pretty bad diaper rash, poor baby. The Dr. Sears Healthy Baby Bottom really helped soothe her, and I swear it cleared up the rash faster than any products I’ve used before. We now use this every day, and haven’t had any troubles with diaper rash since we’ve started with it. You can pick up a package of the Healthy Baby Bottom cream for $6.99.

Get FREE Shipping on all Dr. Sears online orders over $60! Stock up on great baby products, helpful books, kids vitamins, and super-yummy, nutritious kids snacks! {Watch for a review of some of the amazing snacks and beverages coming soon!}

What do you think?

Have you used Dr. Sears Family Essentials line of baby products in your family? What did you think of them – and which ones are your favorite? If you haven’t tried them yet, are you excited to try them?? Share some comments!