personal Archives

Get FREE Samples From PINCHme!

March 1, 2019 by Beeb 13 Comments

This is a sponsored post.

Anyone who knows me even casually probably knows how much I love freebies and samples. In fact, one of the first things I did when I got dial-up Internet access back in the ’90s was look up free sample websites! Freebie sites are a lot more sophisticated in 2019, and the samples have gotten even better. One of my favorite free sample websites today is PINCHme, which gives its members the chance to sample new products from top brands.

PINCHme is completely free to sign up for and is available to US residents – no credit card or shipping fees are required; all they ask is that you provide feedback on the products you receive. Here’s how it works: Each month, PINCHme releases a new batch of samples on “Sample Tuesday” for its members to claim. This usually happens on the second Tuesday of every month at 12 PM EST, so you’ll want to keep an eye out, because the samples are on offer while supplies last on a first-come, first-serve basis. The samples available to you are matched to your interests based on the preferences in your profile, and run the gamut from personal care and beauty items to food, pet products, baby items, cleaning products and more.

PINCHme recently sent me an example shipment of products to help me give you lovely readers an idea of what their sample boxes are like. Every member will receive different items based on their profile and what is available – sample boxes generally contain an average of 3 to 6 samples. Not everyone is guaranteed a sample box every month, but you’ll always have the chance to sign up for one-off freebies. I’ve been a member for several years, and I’ve been able to sign up for things like hair care and food samples on an individual basis along with receiving sample boxes. In addition, being a member gives you access to PINCHme Perks such as sweepstakes, partner offers and the chance to review products.

A Peek Into My PINCHme Box

Opening my sample box from PINCHme was so much fun – like opening your stocking on Christmas morning! I was so impressed by the selection of samples, which included full-size products as well as trial size. Even better, every single item was something that I will use – it really felt like a curated box of all the things I like!

Let’s take a peek at each item by category:

Health & Personal Care

Sundown Natural Multi+ Daily Immune Support: This is a full-size bottle of vitamins. I’ve been doing research on supplements recently, and this actually looks like a nice one for getting in Vitamin C during cold & flu season, so I’ll definitely be taking this.
Pacha Soap Co. Clarifying Charcoal Soap: I love getting samples of practical things I use every day, like soap!
Native Deodorant & Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Sunscreen: I loved getting sample sizes of these items, because they are 3-1-1 compliant for air travel. I flew to Washington, D.C. in January and actually went out and bought both trial sized sunscreen and deodorant so that I could fit them in my travel bag. So these will save me money next time I fly, plus I get to try new brands.
Compeed Blister Cushions: During that same trip to D.C., I spent a full day walking around Capitol Hill in high heels before boarding my flight home. By the time I got to PDX airport, my feet were in so much pain I could hardly walk. Suffice to say, these blister cushions look like something I definitely need!!

Beauty

Garnier SkinActive Glow Boost 2-in-1 Facial Mask + Scrub: This is the product I was most excited about! I’m a big exfoliant evangelist, so I always jump at the chance to try a new one – a mask and scrub 2-in-1 is genius, and this is a full size jar that I will get much use out of!
L’oréal Pure-Clay Mask: I love face masks, so this is another winner for me.
Sauce Beauty Deep Moisture Hair Mask: Deep conditioning treatments are something I do frequently for my color-treated, bleached hair, so this was yet another perfect-for-me sample.

Food

RX Nut Butter Peanut Butter: I really like the bars that this brand makes, so I’m looking forward to trying this. It’s a nice handy packet I can toss in my purse for snack emergencies, and it will also work for my keto diet. Yay!
Starbucks Plus Coffee With 2x The Caffeine: I love Starbucks, and when I have a long day of deadlines ahead of me, you better believe I’m looking for new and creative ways to get more caffeine. AMAZING!

So if you love free stuff as much as I do, you’ll want to sign up for PINCHme right now! It’s 100% free, and 100% fun!

Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

February 26, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

Ralph Breaks The Internet shelf decorations

Our friend and resident MomStart writer Jessie has an amazing talent for crafts. After the first Wreck-It Ralph movie came out, she created a huge Ralph out of Perler beads that she hung up on the wall as a decoration. So in honor of Ralph Breaks The Internet coming to Blu-ray, Jessie and I got together for a fun crafting afternoon so she could teach me her Perler skills in order to make a Fix-It Felix as a sequel to the first craft!

Supplies Needed:

Pattern (See below)
Perler beads in an assortment of colors
Perler pegboards
Tweezers
Parchment paper
Iron

Assembly:

To get started, you’ll need an image or pattern to use as a guide for your beaded creation. When Jessie made Wreck-It Ralph, she referenced an image of 8-bit Ralph which she used as her base to recreate in beads. Depending on your skill level and preference, you can either use an 8-bit image for reference and recreate it freehand with the beads, or follow an embroidery pattern. Since this was my first foray into the world of Perler beads, we started with a more simple project by making Fix-It Felix. To create Felix, we referenced this pattern on BraceletBook.com by Maxie – this is actually a pattern for making a friendship bracelet, but because it shows the 8-bit character on a grid, it also makes a great guide for Perler beads. To create the beaded character, you’ll want to count the number of squares on the pattern, and place your beads in corresponding spaces.

So for example, we can see that in the pattern, Felix has three black squares at the top of his head; on the next line, he has two black squares, three dark blue squares, and three more black squares. Since the image is on a grid, it makes it easy to follow along and build the character bead by bead.

Since the beads are small, tweezers make it easier to place the beads on the pegboard.

Continue placing the beads in their corresponding spots based on the grid pattern until the character is filled out.

Once you’ve filled out the entire character, you’ll want to transfer the pegbords to an ironing board. We started this project on the floor and then carefully transferred each pegboard to the ironing board, but next time I would just start the project on the ironing board at the beginning so as to not risk having to move it.

Place a piece of parchment paper over the beads and heat up your iron.

Run the iron over the parchment paper. Once the beads have melted enough to firm up and stick together, flip your creation over and repeat the process on the other side; this will help make it sturdy and stay together.

And hey presto! You’re done!

Handy tip: For best results, we recommend Perler brand beads. Jessie made this Wreck-It Ralph about 5 years ago using a combination of Perler and off-brand beads, and she’s noticed that the spots with the generic brand have warped slightly over time. Ralph has still held up nicely, but to make sure your creations are as sturdy as possible, we’d recommend opting for Perler brand beads.

Finished decorations on the shelf

These decorations are perfect to place under shelves, since it resembles the retro gameplay aesthetic of Ralph and Felix climbing up a building! We used tacks to hang Ralph on the shelf – since Felix is smaller, you can just prop him up against the wall. This craft is a lot of fun for beginners and experts alike – and it makes the perfect rainy day activity to do while watching Ralph Breaks The Internet on Blu-ray!

Pin It For Later!

Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

How to Make a Mermaid Tail: Easy Little Mermaid Craft!

February 26, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

I’ve been obsessed with The Little Mermaid since I was a child. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the film’s release – can you believe it?! So to celebrate the release of The Signature Edition of The Little Mermaid on Blu-ray, I got together with Jessie for a fun girl’s night where she taught me how to make a mermaid tail!

How to Make a Mermaid Tail: Easy Little Mermaid Craft

Supplies:

Fabric
Elastic
Thread
Kraft paper
Pen
Pins
Needle
Sewing machine
Measuring tape
Craft foam

Assembly:

To get started, you’ll want to measure your waist and buy enough fabric to wrap around yourself, plus some buffer for any mistakes; I bought two yards of fabric to make a tail for myself. You can choose any mermaid-y fabric that you like – I opted for a green crushed velvet fabric, which gave me 90s vibes that seemed fitting for a Little Mermaid costume!

Getting ready to draw the outline for the tail

Once you have your fabric, it’s time to get sewing! Roll out your kraft paper on the floor, sit down with your legs pointed, and have a friend trace a mermaid tail shape around you. We ran out of kraft paper, so we substituted kitty cat wrapping paper, which worked just as well!

Once you have your tail shape, cut it out and pin it to your fabric. To do this, you’ll want to take your entire length of fabric and fold it in half once. This way, when you pin the pattern on and cut through the fabric, you’ll end up with both sides of the tail cut out and pinned together. Make sure that you fold the fabric inside out – for example, if one side of your fabric has a pattern and the other side is blank, fold it in half so that the blank side is facing up when you pin the pattern to it. That way, once the tail is sewn and turned inside out, the pattern side of the fabric will be on the outside of the tail.

Once the pattern is pinned on, cut the tail out.

Once you have your tail cut out, remove the paper by taking out each pin and pinning it back underneath to just the fabric.

Run the sides of the tail through the sewing machine, leaving the bottom open for your feet, then turn the tail inside out. Measure a length of elastic around your waist, cut it to size, then take the top of your mermaid tail and fold it down over the elastic. Run it through the sewing machine to sew it shut and create an elastic waistband.

Next, cut out your fin out of the remaining fabric. We just did this freehand, leaving sample room for my feet. Turn the fin inside out and run it through the sewing machine, leaving an opening at the top so that you can affix it to the tail and fit your feet through it.

Place your fin on a piece of craft foam and trace around it. Cut the shape out of the foam, then cut it down to be smaller than the fin, so that you can place it inside the fabric to help the fin keep its shape. Then, turn your fin inside out, slip the foam inside it, and sew it on to the tail. We did one side of this on the sewing machine and then finished the other side by hand.

And hey presto! Your tail is done!

When the tail is finished, you can stick your feet through the fins and pull it up to your waist, a little like putting on a giant onesie. Moving in it feels like wearing a very tight pencil skirt with very high heels – you can waddle in it if you’re extremely careful, but remember that this is meant as a fun costume to lounge and take photos in rather than walk around in. It is a mermaid tail, after all! 😉

The sky is the limit as far as fabric is concerned – Jessie picked out this amazing sparkly fabric for her mermaid tail, which she used as the template to help me make mine from. Ariel may want to be a part of our world, but we clearly want to be a part of hers with our fun mermaid tails!

Pin It For Later!

The Signature Edition of “The Little Mermaid” showcases its award-winning musical score and iconic songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” with a sing-along mode allowing you to accompany this beloved cast of characters on their journey. Never-before-seen bonus features bring legendary composer Alan Menken and some of Disney’s most recognizable leading ladies together around a piano to reminisce, sing and celebrate “The Little Mermaid.” The latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office” compares Walt and Ariel’s love of collecting treasures. Viewers will also receive an inside look at the “The Little Mermaid” cast in their original recording sessions, explore hidden treasures and fun facts from the film, and enjoy a special performance of “Part of Your World” by a cappella singing sensation DCapella. Plus, fans will have access to hours of additional classic bonus features!

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale about a beautiful mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human, “The Little Mermaid” was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (“Aladdin”). It features the voice talents of Jodi Benson (“Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3”) as Ariel, Pat Carroll (“Laverne & Shirley”) as Ursula, Samuel E. Wright (Broadway’s “The Lion King”) as Sebastian, Christopher Daniel Barnes (“The Brady Bunch Movie”) as Eric, Kenneth Mars (“Young Frankenstein”) as Triton, Buddy Hackett (“The Music Man”) as Scuttle, Jason Marin (“Back to the Future”) as Flounder and René Auberjonois (“The Patriot”) as Chef Louis. The film was originally released in theaters on Nov. 15, 1989 and is the 28th film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first in what many described as a new Disney animation renaissance.

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL

Sing-Along Mode – Sing along to the movie in this sing-along version of the film.

Alan Menken & the Leading Ladies Song – From the voice of a mermaid to the tunes of a muse, the music of Alan Menken has scored the soundtrack for some of Disney’s most iconic leading ladies. Join Alan, Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas Singing Voice), Lillias White (Calliope) and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel)as we celebrate the music of their films in honor of the one that started it all … “The Little Mermaid.” In this discussion, the ladies will share their memories of musically creating their characters with Alan, discuss what it means to be part of the Disney Princess/leading lady legacy and create new memories as they sing with Alan around a baby grand piano.

“What I Want From You…Is YOUR VOICE” – Enter the recording studio and get an inside look at the cast of “The Little Mermaid” in their original recording sessions.

Stories From Walt’s Office – Gadgets & Gizmos – Like Ariel, Walt Disney was a collector of many different things from miniatures to early mechanical characters that inspired the invention of audio-animatronics. We take a look at some the collections that Walt kept in his office in the third episode of this series.

#TreasuresUntold – Join Ruby Rose Turner and Olivia Sanabia from the Disney Channel Original Series “Coop and Cami Ask the World” as they take a deep dive to explore some hidden treasures and fun facts about Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

DCapella “Part of Your World” Music Video

Classic Bonus Features – revisit four exciting bonus features from previous releases including:
- Deleted Character: Harold The Merman
- Under The Scene: The Art Of Live Action Reference
- Howard’s Lecture
- Audio Commentary With Ron Clements, John Musker and Alan Menken

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES

“Part of Your World” – A 30-Year Retrospective – Songwriter Alan Menken and Jodi Benson, the acting and singing voice of Ariel, sing the epitome of Disney “I Want” songs “Part of Your World” and discuss its impact since it was first heard 30 years ago.

Classic Bonus Features – Over 3 additional hours of previously released classic bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Easter Eggs, Music Videos and more!

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

Giveaway: Celebrate Little Moments With Entenmann’s Little Bites Churro Muffins!

February 15, 2019 by Beeb 92 Comments

The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® Little Bites® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s® Little Bites®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.

Life moves so quickly that it can be hard to stop and smell the roses. So sometimes, it’s nice to have a hard stop that forces you to slow down. We had just that last week when snow and ice came to our area – the roads were bad enough for school to be cancelled, and several of my own appointments ended up having to be rescheduled due to the weather. Even now that the snow has melted, it is still far from balmy weather around here. So what better way to spend a chilly day than by staying cozy and warm inside with an impromptu tea party?

Sharing smiles and Little Bites

Of course, no tea party or indoor picnic would be complete without some tasty treats. But you don’t have to spend a bunch of time in the kitchen – you can get that moist, just-baked taste with Little Bites muffins! You already know that we here at the MomStart family have been big fans of Little Bites for ages now, so we were super excited to try their latest taste sensation: Churro!

Limited-Edition Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Churro Muffins are the newest flavor in the Seasonal Favorites® line. They’re so new, that the cashier at Walmart noticed them as I was checking out and asked me what they were like! Featuring real cinnamon and sugar for that classic churro taste, these sweet muffins have a delicious taste that was a big hit with everyone around here. And just like all your other favorite Little Bites flavors, Little Bites Churro Muffins contain absolutely no trans fat or high fructose corn syrup. Their handy pre-portioned pouches contain 180 calories and make an effortless snack to have on hand – giving you more time to focus on those little moments with your little ones!

Little Bites Churro Muffins are only in stores for a limited time, so hurry and pick up a box today before they’re gone! For more information on these and other tasty treats, be sure to visit LittleBites.com.

Enter to Win:

To help you celebrate your own “Little moments”, we’re hosting a special giveaway: One lucky person will win a $25 virtual Visa gift card and (3) coupons for $5.00 off the purchase of Entenmann’s Little Bites!

To Enter:

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. While Entenmann’s is providing the coupons and gift card, MomStart is responsible for hosting and administering the giveaway, which ends on February 20th, 2019 at 11:00 PM PST. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18+ – sorry, no P.O. boxes. Please see the Rafflecopter widget for full details; and click here to read our giveaway rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valen-Tech Gift Guide

February 11, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Product samples provided; this page contains our Amazon Associates link.

Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is this Thursday, February 14th – so show the special someone on your list how much you care with an amazing “Valen-Tech” gift for your Valentine! To help you knock it out of the park with your last-minute shopping, we’ve compiled some of our favorite tech products for 2019 that you and your sweetie are sure to love:

Gadgets For Guys

PureGear AutoGrip

The last thing your Valentine needs while driving is to fumble around with their phones and cables when looking at maps and directions.

The PureGear AutoGrip allows for simple placement of the phone into a dock that closes automatically. There are no charging cables to attach and, with the adjustable support base, no repositioning needed.

Available as a car vent mount and a dash mount, the AutoGrip features support arms that close automatically when the wireless charging pad senses the Qi-enabled phone.

Buy Now - $59.99

UNIVERSAL: All-In-One Travel Charger

Life should be about the journey, not reaching your destination before you need a charge. UNIVERSAL is your all-in-one charger no matter where life takes you. Use the built-in 6700mAh powerbank or included US, EU, UK and AU travel adapters to plug in and charge anywhere with USB-A, USB Type-C, or wireless charging for for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy.

Buy Now - $84.95

TITAN M: Dual Layer Flexible Steel Charging Cord

We've all seen it - the frayed cables, cords tied in knots, and the happy puppy (or rabbit!) chewing on our charger. TITAN solves all of that and more with it's industrial-grade cable that is wrapped in not one, but two layers of flexible, high-strength steel. The MicroUSB and USB connectors on TITAN are permanently sealed with a one-piece housing fused directly over the electronics and metal cabling. Meet the last charge cable you will ever need. No broken hearts OR broken cords!

Buy Now - $24.95

datAshur® PRO

iStorage, the award winning and trusted global leader of PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted data storage devices, has received the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 Level 3 accreditation for its datAshur® PRO, the PIN authenticated hardware encrypted USB 3.0 flash drive. Globally recognised, the certification demonstrates how the datAshur® Pro has passed stringent and rigorous testing procedures, meeting the highest standard set for encryption algorithms and data protection, with the FIPS cryptography standard program considered a benchmark in US government data security.

The device incorporates a super-speed USB 3.0 interface and capacities ranging from 4GB to 64GB. Features include an on-board keypad for authentication, which gives the flash drive ultimate protection against software and hardware-based keyloggers. In addition, it incorporates a boot delay feature which means users can boot any operating system directly from the drive!

The drive incorporates the highly respected military grade XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encryption, a read-only (write protect) feature, a user configurable timeout lock and brute force hack detection and protection. All of this means the datAshur® PRO is ideally positioned to secure data from unauthorised access, even when lost or stolen. It is ideal for those looking to store data whether at at home or on the go – and can also be laser etched with your loved one’s name on the case should you wanted to include a loving message!

Buy Now - From $51 USD

IQbuds BOOST from Nuheara

IQbuds BOOST from Nuheara are sleek Bluetooth earbuds that help people with mild hearing loss (1 out of 6 Americans) hear perfectly under any conditions: a restaurant, a concert, even a romantic movie night out.

They cost thousands less than a hearing aid and deliver "20/20 hearing" (20Hz-20Khz) without the need to visit an audiologist. Nuheara's EarID software personalizes the IQbuds to the user's individual hearing profile: https://www.nuheara.com/earid-hearing-personalization/.

In addition to amplifying and sharpening incoming sounds, they also deliver brilliant audio. They're perfect for hip adults who could use a little help with their hearing, but either don't want or aren't ready for a traditional hearing aid. And for couples who argue over the TV volume, Nuheara provides a perfect solution!

Buy Now - $499

FosPower’s IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

IPX7 Waterproof rated: can be fully submerged in water for up to 1 meter for 30 minutes

True wireless stereo mode delivers great quality stereo sound when pairing two speakers together.

The ability to float on top of water and expels water after being submerged, ensuring clear audio after it takes a dip.

10 hours of playtime.

A Micro-SD card slot: plug in a micro-SD card to listen to your ideal set of music.

Non-slip padding helps prevent the speaker from sliding.

Great for both indoor or outdoor activities: fishing, hiking, ice fishing, biking, BBQ, and beach trips

Each speaker is individually hand tested to ensure quality and durability are met.

FosPower products come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Buy Now - $19.99

Kaspersky Internet Security

Give your loved ones the gift of online safety this Valentine’s Day. Kaspersky Internet Security is an award-winning security solution that delivers premium protection for every aspect of you and your family’s digital life. It protects against online threats, including malware, ransomware and phishing, across PC, Mac and Android devices. Its Safe Money technology keeps your online shopping and banking activities secure by allowing you to open websites in a protected mode when entering payment details and verifying that websites are secure to prevent attackers from stealing personal information. The Secure Connection VPN helps protect your data when on the go by encrypting all network traffic when devices are connected to public Wi-Fi. The solution also includes Parental Control capabilities, allowing parents to monitor their children’s device usage and limit their ability to view inappropriate websites.

Buy Now - $39.99

Mixcder E7 Active Noise Canceling Technology Bluetooth Headphones

Introducing the Mixcder E7 Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Over the Ear Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones with deep bass and built-in microphone: Delivering on its mission to create premium noise canceling headphones at an affordable price for everyone, the Mixcder E7 employs Active Noise Canceling (ANC) Technology for totally immersive sound, priced at only $59.99. Mixcder’s ANC Technology continuously detects and reacts to outside noises, analyzing sound waves and blocking out ambient sound by creating inverse waves for a totally immersive experience for beautiful music and sound.

Buy Now - $59.99

Leviluna Levitating Moon Lamp

Give your loved on the Moon, literally, with this Levitating Moon Lamp. Made with 3D Printing Technology, this Levitating Moon Light has a seamless design and an authentic look. Once activated, this unique moon gift will glow, rise up, hover and rotate over its wooden base. You and your crush won't be able to take your eyes off of it.

Buy Now - $139.99

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart is the ideal gift to keep your loved one’s breath fresh, clean and date-ready. Not only is the brush available in various colors—ranging from matte black to rose gold—but also, Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 comes with Philips Sonicare TongueCare+, a powerful, breath-freshening solution that is specially designed to deep clean your tongue and keep breath fresh for longer.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart—the latest smart power toothbrush from the brand—uses Bluetooth® wireless technology and RFID (radio frequency identification) to provide personalized coaching with the Philips Sonicare app for better technique and 100% coverage. It comes with a chic glass tumbler that charges the brush, and a portable charging case so you can take the brush everywhere.

Buy Now - $293.99

High-Tech For Her

FABRIQ Chorus

FABRIQ Chorus is an interactive voice controlled multiroom speaker that uses Amazon Alexa Voice Service to play music, control smart home devices, set alarms and much more. FABRIQ speakers are standalone Alexa devices and do not require an Echo or Dot.

Using Wi-Fi, you can connect up to 10 FABRIQ speakers for a multiroom sound experience. You can play music synchronously through your home or choose different songs for different rooms.

Bluetooth capability allows you to bring your portable FABRIQ speaker anywhere you go. Chorus comes with a charging dock that makes it easy to bring from room to room.

Two precision drivers deliver 8w of crisp sound at any volume.

With Alexa, you can play music from Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn and access your books from Audible.

Buy Now - $99.99

Aluratek Wifi Distressed Wood Digital Frame

Aluratek makes awesome Digital frames and has now just made them more style friendly for V-day. Aluratek's Digital Photo Frames are a wonderful way to bring your treasured photos and memories to life with incredible image clarity in rich and vibrant colors all on the TFT true color LCD at 800 x 600 resolution at an ideal 4:3 aspect ratio. The functional and stylish frame makes a great addition to any room of your house or office environment. With memory card reader and USB support, it is easy to share all your favorite photos.

Buy Now - $69.99

Aquasana Clean Water Machine

A winner of Good Housekeeping’s “Best of the Test”

10x stronger and 8x longer lasting than other pitchers.

One gallon pitcher to hold plenty of water.

Slim design to maximize counter space, a perfect quality in a kitchen gadget.

Bluetooth connected, so you can measure gallons filtered and when the filter needs to be replaced.

Buy Now - $129.99

The Smart Pill Reminder Solution by Popit

Popit Sense is the world’s first pill tracker for medications that come in blisters, like birth control pills, antibiotics, supplements, etc. By using patented technology, it automatically detects when a pill has been taken. The app reminds you only if you forgot the pill. No more needless alerts!

Popit Sense connects to the smartphone app through Bluetooth. The app records pills taken and provides insights of medication use. It is certified as a Medical Device.

The solution has been clinically proven to reduce missed pills by over 80%. It is the perfect gift for anyone who keeps missing pills.

Buy Now - $49

The Vena vLove Smartphone Case

The vLove also offers great durability with CornerGuard Technology and it showcases one's true emotions, and is available in four stylish colors:

Chic, sleek, and minimal: Heart-shaped cutouts provides appealing look.

Dual-layer defense: Protection from everyday scratches.

CornerGuard™ Technology absorbs and disperses force from drops.

Available for the iPhone X, LG G6, Galaxy S8 / S8+, iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, and the iPhone 7 / 7 Plus.

Buy Now - $24.99

Fosmon’s Ultrasonic Essential Oil Aroma Diffuser

Misting and aromatherapy aid in stress and allergy relief, relaxation, mood enhancement, and respiratory, circulatory and immune system function.

7 light color options with 2 brightness options – personalize your relaxation space!

6 function remote control allows greater access to your diffuser from across the room: Control time, mist intensity, mist length, mist intermittent setting and color.

Use for hours with the 500 ML tank! High and low mist setting can run one, two, or three hours. The unit can also run continuously, and shut off automatically when the water runs out.

Join millions of satisfied customers with our limited lifetime warranty, backed by our experienced and dedicated USA based customer service.

Buy Now - $24.99

1MORE Stylish BT Headphones

Listen to your favorite music in style with 1MORE’s Stylish BT Headphones, featuring a soft neckband and convenient multi-functional controls for the ultimate listening experience. The Stylish BT's feature a 3C battery that is capable of 3x faster charging time than most standard batteries. Fast Charge capabilities grants you 3 hours of use with only 10 minutes of charge time, perfect for those who are always on-the-go. The sound chamber is made of ABS material and is vacuum plated for a glossy finish. Soft, skin-friendly silicone eartips provide a comfortable fit during prolonged use as well as a tight seal to prevent sound leakage. A frosted PE SR tube under the housing provides added durability to handle any condition.

Buy Now - $79.99

Polaroid Pop Instant Print Digital Camera

The Polaroid Popinstant digital camera makes it fun, quick, and easy to snap, record, edit, print, and share all of your special moments via Bluetooth connectivity to the Polaroid Popapp or the built-in instant printer! The Polaroid Popnow prints a larger 3.5x4.25" photo with the classic white border you love on all of your prints. Unleash your creative side with your favorite app features including fun stickers and touchscreen drawing. Capture those life moments you want to print on the go or even share them with your friends and family from the print app. So go ahead and start to make your pictures pop!

Buy Now - $199.99

PureSound Headphones from Paww

Available in Cerise Pink, the perfect shade for the day of love, the Paww PureSound Headphones are the ideal gift for any music lover in your life. The headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 technology, which creates a clearer sound and faster wireless capabilities, along with aptX Low Latency that enhances high-impact digital experiences. With 20 hours of play time, these fashionable headphones bring bold sound to life. The PureSound Headphones also come in Nautical Blue for the special guy in your life.

Buy Now - $74.99

Tech Toys For Tots

Cubelets Discovery Set

Ideal for children ages 4+, this new set is the perfect way to dive into robotics and coding with more building possibilities, creative challenges, and ways to investigate big ideas. Beloved by thousands of educators from Vermont to Vietnam, Cubelets are engaging and intuitive little robots that introduce kids to big ideas like engineering, design, and computational thinking. Cubelets robot blocks are the perfect holiday gift to inspire future storytellers, scientists, designers and anyone interested in learning through play.

Buy Now - $139.95

Man’s Best Tech – For Man’s Best Friend

Furbo Dog Camera

To show your love this Valentine’s Day, gift the dog parent in your life a Furbo Dog Camera, the world’s first treat tossing camera for dogs. It’s the perfect last minute gift for anyone who hates being away from their pup during the day.

And this Valentine’s Day, Furbo is even running a special deal! Originally priced at $249, Furbo will be on sale for $179. Furbo Dog camera ships in just one day for Amazon Prime members.

With Furbo, dog parents can keep an eye on their dog throughout the day, toss them treats, speak to them through a 2-way audio feature, as well as -- via the new Furbo Dog Nanny service -- receive:
24/7 Smart Alerts: Dog Activity Alert, Bark Alert, Dog Selfie Alert (yes you get a selfie of your pup!) & Person Alert

Cloud-recorded videos triggered by activity, barking or people in the frame.

Doggie Diaries- You will receive a 60-second timelapse of highlights from your pup’s day.

Buy Now - $179

The Oregon Zoo: Your Family Holiday Destination

December 22, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to the Oregon Zoo for hosting my family and I!

This weekend is your last opportunity to see ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo before Christmas! If you want a magical night that provides fun for the whole family, head on down to the Oregon Zoo this weekend. Our family went to ZooLights a couple of years back and I can’t wait to experience it again!

The Oregon Zoo is the perfect place to meet up and connect with your loved ones. Over Labor Day weekend, my aunt from Montana came to the Pacific Northwest to visit her daughter who lives in Washington State. Her granddaughter also happens to live in Portland, so the Oregon Zoo was a great location for us to all rendezvous – especially since this was her one-year-old great-grandchild’s first-ever visit to a zoo!

Visiting the zoo with family provides so much entertainment for the whole group. There’s so much to see and enjoy, yet it’s the perfect setting to be able to connect with your loved ones, chat and catch up while you walk the grounds. And the kids won’t get bored of sitting around while the grownups talk, since they’ll be delighting in all the animals and activities just for little ones!

Seeing the wonder of a small child being exposed to new sights and animals for the first time is always very special. Even as an adult, watching these majestic creatures is just awe-inspiring. And the Oregon Zoo’s focus on conservation and education is crucial for young and old alike.

One can’t-miss spot for families is the petting zoo. As MomStart’s resident rabbit lover, I must point out that the petting zoo is home to soft, sweet, and adorable BUNNIES!

BUNNIES!!!

And the buns weren’t the only fun friends we met at the petting zoo:

Our family had a day to remember at the Oregon Zoo. I actually just got a Christmas card from my aunt where she specifically mentioned our zoo trip and thanked me for taking her there – so if you want to create lasting memories with your loved ones, I highly recommend it! Whether you have family traveling in from out of state or just want a fun spot to meet up with your local crew, the Oregon Zoo is the perfect destination to spend quality time. It offers something for all ages, and just gets even more magical this time of year. If your Christmas spirit needs a little pumping up, this will definitely do the trick!

ZooLights runs through January 5th, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when it will be closed for the holiday. For details on hours and tickets, visit OregonZoo.org.

Make The Holidays Merry & Bright With Wonster Words!

December 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post.

For most kids in our area, today was the last day of school before holiday vacation. We all look forward to having a nice break during Christmas – it’s a great opportunity to spend more quality time together as a family. However, school holidays can also lead to boredom and learning loss. Fortunately, you can keep the kids occupied while you wrap up those last holiday errands, and they’ll be learning priceless skills at the same time – thanks to Wonster Words!

If you’ve heard me talk about Wonster Words before, then you already know that I’m a fan. Wonster Words is an award-winning educational app for Android and iOS that helps build your child’s understanding of ABC phonics and spelling. Taking inspiration from the classic educational TV programming that we all grew up with, Wonster Words is an interactive puzzle game featuring cute characters that lead children through stories and introduce them to concepts such as basic word families and the 44 most common phonemes. The app prompts kids to figure out the spelling of words by dragging and dropping animated letters as they sound out the phonics, consonant blends and gliding vowels. When the letters are arranged correctly, the meaning of the word is visually illustrated by short animations and mini-games. It’s a fantastic way to teach children how to spell, because they get to interact directly with the word structure in a hands-on way to see where the letters should go, while playing with the sounds and watching the story of what each word means.

Learning through stories on the Wonster Words app

Wonster Words contains 12 word stories about fun topics like birthdays, friendship, and space that take children through 12 word families, so as they explore the app, they’ll be exposed to hundreds of different words. Because the format presents the material naturally within a fun game, children are encouraged to explore at their own pace without pressure, for an organic and enjoyable learning experience.

The app is updated frequently with new content, and they have all kinds of fun additions for the 2018 holiday season! Wonster Words has a brand new user experience with the interactive Wonster Island landing screen, which allows users to explore a fun island full of new and different themes. Now, in addition to the great phonics exercises, Wonster Words is loaded with new educational biomes that cover basic math, science, art and music. It’s the perfect way to familiarize students with different topics in the same effective and fun format that we’ve come to love from Wonster Words, using interactive shapes and sounds to introduce new concepts. Alongside the new Wonster Island interface, the 2018 holiday update also includes new mini-games and 5 new original scores; and there will be more great content coming soon to Wonster Words, including vowels.

Try Wonster Words in your family, and you’ll soon see why it’s won awards from Parent’s Choice, National Parenting Product Award, Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice and more. I think your family will love it as much as mine does! The app is geared towards children aged 3 to 6, and is free with in-app purchases. Get it today on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon!

8 Awesome Shelving Ideas For Home Offices

December 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

With many people shifting to freelancing or starting their own entrepreneurial ventures, working from home has become a rage. People try to create the best working space and environments at home to increase their productivity. If space is designed in the right way, then home offices can become innovative and can become a source of driving out of maximum creativity. Adding appropriate elements can create a working environment that is inspirational and motivating. A couple of contemporary additions can help in forming a high yielding and feel good atmosphere.

Irrespective of the space from where you are working, the importance of getting the work done with maximum efficiency remains the same. Your productivity should not get affected just because of the fact that you are working from home. It becomes way easier to achieve better results when the working space is comfortable and inspiring. Amazing home offices can be made by including any elements that uplift the whole vibe of your working space. Be it your own personal desk or a big room at your home, you can create a functional working shelve almost anywhere you want.

We have provided a list of eight from awesome shelving ideas for your home offices. Take a look at these ideas to revamp your working shelf:

Add potted plants on your working shelve: The whole concept of artificial landscaping has the power to enliven almost any space and that too in a smarter way. You don’t have to worry things like sufficient light reaching your plants or watering the plants every day like real plants. Artificial plants come in many varieties and look just the same as natural plants. You can consider adding faux plants, artificial outdoor flowers in your plants, green artificial plants or silk flowers to lift up your working shelf.

Add books around your desk: A working desk never requires a lot of space. You don’t need a big room to create a good home office. Instead, all you need to upgrade your office space is to switch on that creative side in yourself. You can stack some books on a shelf close to your working shelf. This shelf could either be horizontal, e; right above your working desk or vertical, i.e; on the side of your working shelf. These books will add an amazing appeal to your home office.

Make it bright: If you have a vibrant personality and are a fan of bright colors then consider adding some colors on your working shelf. You can add colorful decorative pieces that are a combination of being functional and vibrant at the same time. This working environment can bring a sense of fun and brightness to your work. Working on this colorful shelf will never seem dull. In fact, the colorful surroundings can be a way to bring about maximum productivity and efficiency in your work. Turn on your boldness and experiment with adding as many colors you like in different ways.

Wooden shelves: Open wooden shelves are a great way to make the home office space look elegant and edgy. A solid wooden shelf will serve as an excellent method to keep your laptop, important documents, diaries, stationery etc. You can also add some wooden drawers below this shelf to increase your storage options. Storing things in the right way is of great help in keeping the working shelf Using a solid wooden table and drawers to organize everything uniformly can help you gain uniformity on your working shelf.

Add a sense of minimalism: Having a minimalistic working approach proves to be of great help in getting rid of all the disorder. It is significant to work in an ordered space if you want to be productive. Make a list of all the important things that you actually need on your working shelf and all the things you don’t. Then get rid of all the unimportant things to declutter your working A clean working shelf will also help in having a clean psychological headspace. This step is important to have both mental and physical cleanliness.

Go monochrome: Add elements of black and white to the working shelf of your home office. Monochrome spaces are considered to be classic. They make any space look artistic and stylish. You can add some black and white decorative or art pieces to make your working shelf appeal good. There is also an option of adding custom made monochrome storage pieces which increase both the functional and elegance quotient.

Add good lighting: Home offices are a perfect way to create customized working spaces. While the decorative items and furniture should be given due importance one of the most important things is good lighting. Lights are important to make working time lively. With the amazing range of lamps and lights available today, you can choose whatever that matches your personality. Right from colonial style lamps, to geometric and artistic modern lamps and lighting options, you can find a lighting option that makes even the darkest nooks lighten up.

Add some inspiring art pieces: Art has always been a source of education, inspiration and impactful in our lives. You can decorate your home office with 3d wall panels, or add an art piece that you hold meaning for you to revamp the working area. An inspiring artwork will be an extraordinary way to direct your concentration towards work. Choose this option wisely to add to lift up a boring working space.

If you work from home then you can use these tricks to make your working space a lot more efficient and fun. These tricks will help you in creating a home office which will be a unique blend of purpose and beauty. Follow these ideas to make sure that your productivity stays high. These tips are your guide to a stylish and a classic home working environment.

Entenmann’s & Bumblebee: A Sweet Pairing! (Special Offer + Giveaway)

December 20, 2018 by Beeb 66 Comments

The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s® products. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s®.

What’s even better than enjoying a delicious snack? Enjoying a delicious snack AND a movie while saving money! In honor of the upcoming film BUMBLEBEE, Entenmann’s has a great deal for movie fans: Purchase three specially marked boxes of Entenmann’s® Little Bites® muffins, eight count donuts or Entenmann’s®Minis through January 5th, 2019, and you’ll receive $5 off a ticket to see BUMBLEBEE!

You know that I never pass up a great deal, so I hit my local grocery store this morning to snag my three specially marked boxes! All I have to do is submit my receipt, and I’ll be on my way to some great savings at the cinema. I love deals like this that lead to making great memories with our family. Have you heard about BUMBLEBEE yet? It looks super cute – I saw Hailee Steinfeld performing a song from the soundtrack on The Voice last week and it was really fun. Here’s a little peek at the film’s story:

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

Good deals like this are just one of many reasons to love Entemann’s. Our household has been big fans of their tasty treats for years now – their handy, pre-portioned pouches of Little Bites® muffins are made with real ingredients like bananas, blueberries and strawberries and are the perfect thing to pack in my husband’s lunch and snack on while I write my blog posts. And who could forget the delicious Entenmann’s Rich Chocolate Frosted, Crumb and Powdered cake style donuts? Plus, there’s also the option of grabbing a light snack with Entenmann’s® Minis, which are smaller, individually wrapped versions of your favorite Entenmann’s products. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Entenmann’s has something to please!

For full details on this promotion and more about Entemann’s products, click here. You can also follow Entemann’s on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more on all their delectable goodies. And don’t forget to see BUMBLEBEE in theaters TOMORROW, December 21st!

Enter To Win:

In honor of Entenmann’s and BUMBLEBEE, we’re hosting a special giveaway just for our readers! One lucky person will win a $25 virtual Visa gift card and (3) coupons for $5.00 off the purchase of Entenmann’s Little Bites muffins!

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. While Entenmann’s is providing the coupons and gift card, MomStart is responsible for hosting and administering the giveaway, which ends on January 6th, 2019 at 11:00 PM PST. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18+ – sorry, no P.O. boxes. Please see the Rafflecopter widget for full details; and click here to read our giveaway rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding Clara The Journey of 4 Young Dancers

December 10, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This post is in partnership with Justice.

We have really been impressed with the ways that Justice, my daughter’s favorite place to go shopping for clothing and tween accessories, has been branching out. Girls can now get their ears pierced there, they can attend a myriad of fun events and they can find new books that teach them about girl empowerment. We’ve also just learned about Justice Studios, the new entertainment division within the Justice brand, that unveiling its newest piece of content: a full-length documentary called, “Finding Clara!” Finding Clara follows the journeys of four young dancers as they audition and practice the role of Clara for the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. And just to let you know, it’s fantastic. My daughter in particular loves acting and dancing so very much. She really enjoyed watching the girls go through the process of learning everything and seeing how hard each of the girls worked.

About Finding Clara

In partnership with BalletMet, Elevate Pictures and Justice were given exclusive access to go behind-the-scenes of the beloved Nutcracker production to see it through the eyes of four hard-working young dancers in a unique web series entitled, “Finding Clara.”

The original series was adapted into an 87-minute full-length documentary that follows the girls through auditions, months of challenging rehearsals, as well as the moment the girls found out who landed the lead role of Clara. It’s been years since I’ve seen the live performance of the Nutcracker, and as I would love to see it again really soon, I’m excited by this documentary.

Just in time for the holidays, you can watch Finding Clara with your family. It can be downloaded on Video on Demand on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon now for $9.99 purchase or rental (fees may vary). For more details, visit Justice at shopjustice.com or on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

#JusticeStudios #FindingClara #ParentsWithHeart #BelieveinMagicBelieveinJustice #LiveJustice