Kohls for Christmas: Vivitar Camelio 7” Android Family Tablet #HolidayGiftGuide2013 #TechReview

How much Christmas shopping have you already written down? Do you have certain items you are getting certain people already thought up? If someone on your list asked for a new tablet, or you just want to get them one—and you aren’t sure which to get them.. let me help.

The Vivitar Camelio Family Tablet from Kohls is a 1GB memory, 7’ touch screen with a built in camera (front and rear facing), HD video, speaker slot for headphones, and microphone. It also has a mini sd card slot, so you can add as much storage as you wish.

The Camelio is a unique, Android tablet that allows you to customize and personalize the tablet with your favorite characters! The Camelio Tablet lets you have the option of “personality packs” that have licensed themes like Hot Wheels, Barbie, Monster High, Hello Kitty, and more.

The “personality packs” are sold separately but come with a tablet case, as well as a special code that unlocks branded content such as videos, music, books, wallpapers and widgets designed around the theme pack.

I created a profile for Aidan & one for Adisyn. It comes with a variety of apps already installed and available to each profile. There aren’t many “games” that were downloaded to the tablet but  I immediately connected via Wifi and started downloading more apps from the Google Play store.

It is lightweight yet very durable. It isn’t a tablet that is going to get broken easily. I love that my kids can easily play with it without me worrying about an accidental drop. It has a textured back that makes it easier to grasp. If we HAD gotten one of the character play packs with the rubber case, it would most likely seem almost unbreakable.

This would make the perfect “first tablet” for any age child. I love the fact that it is customizable. Even without the personality pack, each user can decide which apps/games are on their homescreen. As soon as it opens their name, all the games they play are already RIGHT there! Pretty cool.

The Camelio also has a 1.1GHz processor and 1GB of memory for running apps and games, as well as a 4GB flash hard drive that's expandable up to 32GB using SD cards for storage. This makes ANYTHING possible. Pictures, music, games/apps galore!

Most of the tablets made for kids don’t have access to the Google Play Store. There are so many free games and educational apps that make having access awesome. We didn’t have to pay anything extra to get the games/apps we downloaded. It’s an option to buy BUT it makes it unique to kids because most work with THEIR own cartridges/discs that have to be bought separately.

At least as a parent we have the option of searching for free games/ educational apps with this one. I downloaded some cute little preschool games for learning with my daughter. She absolutely LOVES them. We count flowers, learn letters and their sounds, and shapes. It makes it so worth it.

If you are worried about their access to the store, everything is parental controlled. YOU get to say if they do/don’t. If you give them access to the web you can control the websites they visit, which is also cool. There are tons of amazing websites geared to making learning fun with games now, so that makes is a great plus for having for homework!

Aidan really liked the race car/truck games that were available from the Play Store. He would stand over my shoulder saying “yeah, that one Monster Truck game mom.” It really helped having this waiting in the doctors office waiting room forever. I was able to keep them busy while we waited for 3 hours!

Alex came over and the Cut the Rope game pulled him in. Adisyn and I had been playing it and I was showing her how. When Alex came over, she asked him to play it with her and he loved it.

My kids have had fun with the camera. It has both front and rear-facing cameras. The camera doesn’t have a flash, but it makes for great daytime camera or for use inside. My kids ran around taking pictures of everything.

See a picture of our new puppies? The kids just love them! I love that it has everything they need to learn, to play, to be inspired at an affordable price. It comes with certain apps/games and more can be downloaded. It is more convenient and cheaper than buying each “game” that has to be bought for other kid tablets.

You can use this as an on-the-go book reader. I downloaded the Kindle app, which already had access to the books in my Amazon list online. So I could immediately start reading a book from my own chosen list! I have a smartphone, but if I didn’t—Facebook, Gmail, and all the social media apps are available to download for us parents!

Get it:

Vivitar Camelio Family Tablet $134.99

 

 

Jessica Renee

@BuiltNY-The Gramercy Collection Essential Tote #HolidayGiftGuide2013 #BuiltNy

Built NY, a company well known for its neoprene lunch bags and bottle totes now have a new Gramercy collection! Everything they make whether it’s a diaper bag or bottle holder, they are all made out of neoprene, which make them unique to Built NY. The fabric has been tested and are PVC, BPA, latex and vinyl-free.

Drawing inspiration from the city that never sleeps, BUILT applies color and pattern to laptop sleeves, iPad cases, camera bags, lunch totes and other accessories that protect the stuff you love wherever you go.

 

Built NY are very well known for their stylish yet functional fabric choices. I was so excited waiting for the Gramercy Collection Essential Tote to get here. I was immediately infatuated with the quilted look of the tote when I seen it on the website!

I was super excited when I opened the box and seen that I got a green Gramercy Essential tote. I didn’t even know green was a choice, so I was in love because you know it’s my favorite color. The quality and versatility of the items you can store in it is amazing!

The Gramercy tote is the perfect way for me to keep all my items with me all the time. They are made of polyester and protective neoprene (the wetsuit material) so it stretches to fit notebooks, tablets, and even laptops up to 16”.

I love that I can use this for a purse OR laptop bag. These could also even be used as a diaper bag, beach bag, or alternative to plastic bags at the grocery store. I chose to use mine as a purse for the time being, because I love the way it looks.

It has a strong, great quality zip top closure. It is unique from any other tote I’ve ever seen because it has double zips. The zipper closure keeps all my items secure from falling out should I lean over or drop it.

I also like the fact that it has 2 tightly sewn pockets on one side of the interior. There are items that you don’t want to have to search for in the bigger part; keys, cell phone, or a small wallet or debit card.

I can stick whatever it is I need to have with me inside, and still have room. My wallet is always inside, a bottle of lotion, my hairbrush, my makeup bag, etc. I love how roomy it is inside, and the fact that the interior can be wiped clean with a damp washcloth.

The best part is the entire tote is machine washable. Most purses/totes or even laptop bags aren’t able to be machine washable. There is usually something on the outside or inside that will rip or tear. I love the fact that if this gets dirty (for instance setting it on the ground) I can just take my stuff out and throw it in the washer!

Comfort is a strong priority for me. I hate wearing purses/totes that have really small straps. The straps end up digging into my shoulders and hurting. The Built NY straps are super comfortable. They are just the right thickness and don’t dig into my shoulders one bit, no matter how long I wear the tote on my arm.

If you’re thinking about buying yourself a new versatile tote or you’re looking for a great holiday gift, this is it! You won’t be sorry! I am in LOVE with mine, I definitely hope they start to offer this tote in the same vibrant fabrics that they’re known for!

Get it: Gramercy Collection Essential Tote $79.99 available in black and blue.

Connect with Built NY online:

Faceook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram

 

Jessica Renee

Toy Review: LeapFrog Read With Me Scout #HolidayGiftGuide2013 #ReadWithMeScout

Reading is something that is VERY much enjoyed in our home. I LOVE to read myself and it is something that I wanted to pass on to my kids. We go to the library all the time and I let them choose their own books. We read them, re-read them, and then I try and get them to re-read the books to me.

There are times when I am super busy and have to get something VERY important done and would love to read to them but can’t. That’s where the Read With Me Scout by Leapfrog comes in. She can patiently sit down and play with him and have him read to her while I wash dishes, clean, or cook supper. I can then sit down and join her after we’ve ate supper, I’ve washed the dishes, and they’ve had their baths for school the next morning.

Adisyn absolutely adores her Leap Frog Read With Me Scout. He comes with 5 color coded books that are also numbered. The books are hardback books and very durable for small hands. (This is a HUGE plus because she tends to still sometimes slightly tear pages on accident). So them being board books make a HUGE difference.

Scout makes reading very interesting and interactive, even for a Preschooler! When you turn the switch “ON” on Scout’s collar he will say something like “pick up the blue book and pat my head when you are ready.”

He will then read the book to her, commenting on the book, and asking questions as he goes. This is awesome because it builds comprehension skills as well as helps them pay attention to what is being read to them. It amazing how much he engages her in the book and makes reading that much MORE fun.

Scout has 5 different interactive spots (cheek, both paws, head, and back) that respond to her touch. She can kiss his cheek and he will tell her that she’s his best friend, she’s friendly, and he likes her. His left paw produce songs, the right produces random responses (high five, yeah, it’s nice to see you, let’s play). His back responds “You’re my buddy, I like that, and I love you” etc.

The 5 colorfully illustrated board books teach:
    1) Rhyming—helps children learn about the sounds of language and build phonological awareness,
    2) Learn-about—learn about the world through reading and recognize how print carries meaning,
    3) Narrative—learn about how stories are put together, with characters, settings, and a sequence of events,
    4) Pattern—learn with rhymes, refrains and repetition to predict what comes next, and
    5) Concept—explore concepts like colors to label and classify new information.

Adisyn love to carry Scout wherever we go, no matter where it is. To the post office, the Doctor, and even to the grocery store. She even wanted to pack him in her backpack to take to school. She loved showing all our friends and family how much of a big girl she was by trying to read along with Scout.

Scout was a tremendous help to me on Friday. I had a doctor appointment for 11 because I ‘d been having severe migraines and felt “stuffy” for a few days. I thought I had allergies, so I made the appointment. We went in (Adisyn doesn’t have school on Fridays) and sat there until 2:30. It was ridiculous, but at least we had Scout to keep her entertained, occupied, and from flipping out from sitting there all day.

He teaches comprehension, early vocabulary and book and print basics. The more words a child sees, the more words they will eventually be able to use. The more a child is read to, the more they will LOVE to read. They will definitely love interacting not only with their book, but having a buddy that talks!

This is the perfect holiday gift for any child ages 2-5.

Get YOURS: Read With Me Scout by Leapfrog $34.99 $29.99

Stylish Southern Mama received the product free as part of a promotional program with LeapFrog and MomSelect.

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Aqua Zinger Stainless Steel Water Bottle #HolidayGiftGuide2013

I have to admit that I definitely need to drink more water, but it can be a problem because my taste buds require flavor. I can drink a bottle or so of regular water, but that isn’t the required daily amount. I was always adding something extra to my water like crystal light or Mio,or drinking Fruit2o. Although they made drinking water easier, they have artificial sweeteners and chemicals inside.



So, when I stumbled upon the Aqua Zinger and  asked to review it and they said yes, I was excited. Add some zing to your water with this reusable stainless steel Aqua Zinger water bottle from Zing Anything.



The Aqua Zinger gives us a fun new way to drink our necessary amount of water without adding chemicals and artificial sweeteners just to add some flavor. The Aqua Zinger is a stainless steel water bottle that naturally infuses your water with delicious fruits, vegetables, or herbs.

There is a compartment at the bottom of the Aqua Zinger that has more than enough room for whatever recipe concoction you want to add to it. Strawberries, Watermelon chunks, berries, cantaloupe, limes, oranges, mint, etc..



There are metal grinders in this compartment that grind and mash up the ingredients you put inside. You twist the body of the Aqua Zinger so that it begins grinding up your recipe, but I go ahead and grind the bottom a couple of times before adding it to the body so I know that everything is grinded up really well.



The best thing about the Aqua Zinger is that it allows you to have naturally fresh, good for you vitamin infused water on the go. You can add oranges, lemons, and limes without having to peel the pulp from it. You just add them and the mesh compartment you see in the picture above keeps the pulp from being added to your water.

You add the bottom to the body and then add your water and spin! The bottle itself holds 20 oz. of water. You can add a second bottle of water before you have to change out the ingredients in the bottom.

The stainless steel/BPA free plastic construction makes it a breeze to clean. It also gives the bottle durability and strength that other water bottles don’t have. When you’re cleaning it, be careful of the spikes (grinders) in the bottom they are sharp. I haven’t had a problem with them, but it’s just something to be aware of. I love the Aqua Zinger and all the possibilities of flavored water.


It’s awesome to be able to throw together random fruits, veggies, and herbs and have great tasting water on the go! It even fits inside any standard size cup holder, making it easy to take with you in the car!

FEATURES:

• vacuum insulated, double wall stainless steel keeps your drinks cold or hot
• finger hole provided for easy carrying
• wide mouth top allows for easy filling and ice cubes, if needed
• cushioned base through a soft rubber base pad to prevent slippage
• Imported bottles with America-Made BPA/EA-free Triton plastics from Eastman.
• food grade safe 18/8 stainless steel (no metallic aftertaste)
• large ingredient cup allows for maximized flavor
• easy to clean
• reusable
• hot and cold liquid safe
• carbonated water friendly
• 20oz Bottle*

This would make an amazing Christmas gift for someone who loves flavored water, and would love to be able to make their own recipes!

Get Yours!  Aqua Zinger  $25.95

Connect with Zing Anything online:
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Find a ton of interesting recipes to make!


Jessica Renee

Book Review: The Crocheter’s Companion Revised and Updated by Nancy Brown; Interweave Publishing /F+W Media #HolidayGiftGuide2013

Explore a guidebook with over 65,000 copies sold! Get more stitches, over 70 new illustrations, and step-by-step techniques in this new edition of The Crocheter's Companion.

This indispensable resource includes all of the essentials, plus a few exciting extras you've been longing for: more tools, stitches, and techniques, as well as updated yarn information, complete abbreviations and symbols, and additional information on reading stitch diagrams. Also, due to popular demand, the section on Tunisian crochet has been expanded.
Still in its handy pocket-sized, spiral-bound format, the updated edition covers all the basics (and then some!). Thread and hook charts, stitch instructions with clear illustrations, and lots of helpful hints from one of crochet's most experienced authors will inspire beginners and serious crocheters alike. With impeccable illustrations, an easy-to-understand format, and the most updated information available, The Crocheter's Companion will soon become the only crochet resource you'll need.

The Crocheter’s Companion is a pocket sized spiral bound reference book that every crocheter needs in their project bag. The spiral bound design allows the book to lie flat while working on a project, which I love. Usually I have to add paper weights on both sides of the pages to keep the book on the page.

This book is definitely packed with all the essential information that every crocheter needs, whether beginner or advanced. It has clear illustrations and detailed easy to follow instructions, so that even someone who has never picked up a crochet stick before can manage to follow along.

Step-by-step instructions on all the crochet stitches from basic to advanced. Beginning the foundation chain, chainless foundations, & single crochet and taking it up a notch to double crochet, treble crochet, extended double and treble crochet, and ending with the slip stitch.

I know how to crochet but not at an advanced level. I can make stitches and figure out how to put them together to actually make something out of it. I can make totes, bookmarks, tech cases and stuff. I haven’t managed to learn how to make clothes or anything that requires measuring anybody yet. This book has really take crochet to another level for me.

It has taught me so many interesting advanced techniques and finishes that I’d been trying to learn. Most books are just patterns or teaches the essentials but don’t go in depth to the more advanced stitches.

This shows how to make buttonholes, how to block, add edging, and working with seams. How to add in the decorative touches that really make crochet amazing such as cords, braids, buttons, pompoms, fringes, etc.

If you can manage to teach yourself the most essential stitches and use that- you’ll be crocheting up a storm in no time. That’s how I taught myself. I’d take it one stitch at a time, and just kept practicing! Before you know it, you’ll be putting patterns together in no time.

This book shows you how to work rows of stitches, in rounds, joining in new yarn, and how to shape pieces. This book explains in detailed instruction and illustration on how to do each stitch. This is the next step to learning the essential beginning stitches.

Then it takes it up another notch with the more advances stitches (which are just combining several beginner stitches). These would include shell stitch, popcorn stitch, cluster stitch, picot stitch..etc. Then it adds the different ways to crochet; bead crochet, aran crochet, filet crochet, multicolored crochet..etc.

It also adds in Tunisian crochet, which I’d never tried to master before. This is also called afghan crochet which is a blend of crochet and knitting. Then the end consists of troubleshooting and helpful hints. This helps with any problems you may run into or questions you may run into.

I love this book! I am glad that I have gotten the chance to add this to my collection! This would make an amazing gift for someone wanting to learn crochet, someone who knows how but would like to learn more, or someone who’d like a reference book!

About the Author:

Nancy Brown is the author of the original edition of The Crocheter's Companion, and her work has been featured in Interweave Knits, Scarf Style, and Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns(all Interweave). A crocheter for almost 40 years, Nancy served as executive vice president of the Crochet Guild of America and was the West Coast representative for Skacel Collection Inc. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Interweave/F+W Media, Inc; $19.95

* Amazon:

* Barnes & Noble:

* Interweave:

 

-Jessica