Hi! Here’s a way I stay calm, cool, and connected while shopping for pajamas for my 10 year old daughter.
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June
18Pajama Shopping 2.0
Posted by Becky in Becky, Shopping
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Walk into any baby store and you will find an endless number of infant car seat options. Every color is available, with a variety of accessories, head-rests, and sun shades, even different modes of installation. But how do you know what to buy?
A car seat is supposed to keep your baby safe in an automobile. All models claim to have a variety of safety features. But not all are created equal, and much depends on your own vehicle, not the car seat brand.
We started our search with a handy book (yes, a book – does anyone use those anymore?) that rated all baby equipment. This allowed us to determine the seats that are highly rated on ease of use, durability and accessories. We then visited carseatdata.org, where we searched for the best car seat from those compatible with our automobile. By cross-referencing between the book and the recommendations at carseatdata.org, we narrowed our options to a few. We then made our decision based on aesthetics. After all the legwork, the final decision was easy.
All of this sounds simple, but we have an extra step because our second car is a wheelchair van, which we use to transport my stepson. This vehicle is modified to meet my stepson’s needs and is not listed at carseatdata.org. For the car seat in this vehicle, we will visit a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to determine which seat will be best. Locating a CPST is easy – simply visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov to get a list of locations for technicians in your area. You can look it up on your Smartphone and then use your Smartphone to navigate to the nearest CPST.
Believe it or not, this was much easier than deciding on how to decorate the nursery!
Laura HernandezHello, my name is Laura, and I am a wife and working mom who has been with AT&T for 13 years. I am a mom who is about to be a mom for the first time – sounds confusing. I have a stepson with a disability who lives with us, and my husband and I are expecting our first child together in May. My stepson is completely dependent on technology to communicate, so if we want to communicate with him when we are not at home, e-mail and texting is the way to go. I use technology in every aspect of my life. Aside from using my Blackberry to stay connected to work issues, I use Navigator to get around my new city of Dallas, and I use multiple smartphone applications to manage grocery lists, get restaurant reviews or find important locations, like the shoe repair, tailor and, yes, even clean bathrooms. As two working parents juggling the demands our stepson presents us, we use technology to coordinate social schedules and yoga classes and to keep our friends and family up-to-date on happenings in our lives. More recently, I have used the internet to track how my pregnancy is progressing.
Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Guest Blogger, Shopping, SmartPhone Tags: Safety, Shopping
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I am amazed at the apps available today. Not just for work – but for our time outside work. For those who are practically minded there are apps that help you maintain your car, track your bills and ones that even act as personal assistance. There are sport apps that help improve your golf swing or track the results of baseball and football games. For travel bugs, there are language translators and assistance with the conversion of money. Concerned about keeping your mind active after massive amounts of time watching Barney with your kids? You can use your mobile phone do Sudoku and brain teasers to keep your mind active. Even the White House launched an app that can be used to access streaming video of President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address.
My husband writes computer software — for fun. Go figure… The last time I wrote a computer program it was in graduate school and it was in Assembly Language. This was just shortly after the Jurassic period. I remember clearly when I erased my back up file, around 3 AM, for a key project. That was when I determined that I, indeed, had a more colorful vocabulary than I realized — even if I did not actually say the words out loud. More importantly, I found I did not have the passion I needed to be a really good programmer. Without passion, your job is just work. I am glad that there are opportunities for programmers with a passion, like my husband, who can use their creativity to create applications and share them with others. Sometimes they are silly, but sometimes they are very useful.
There are apps on cell phones today that help people with Autism communicate and ones under development that may help older people anticipate when a fall is likely so they can prevent injuries. This means that older people may be able to stay in their own homes longer rather than go to a assistive care or a nursing facility. There are applications like Dragon that enable you to dictate your emails – useful to people with conditions such as arthritis and those over forty who do not have their reading glasses! The work being developed today that is often offered at no cost by online good citizens who just want to help their virtual neighbors, is truly inspiring. Many applications are accessible for people who have vision loss like me and there are groups that talk just about those applications.
For those trying to juggle home and work, you can find healthy recipes and menu planners for shopping. And on the lighter side, or hopefully lighter side, you can find several programs that count or track calories or carbs. There are applications related to wellness as a whole and, I am told, ones that will help track your workouts as well. I should probably check into those…
Of course, there are games for kids of all ages. The handset vendors I’ve met say these help people to use a keypad more quickly and efficiently. I am skeptical. I think they are really just for fun. And, if my observations are correct, they are there to help people waiting in airports pass the time without becoming belligerent. For kids, there are educational applications that teach things like phonics and counting. There are even apps that provide a virtual experience of things we ACTUALLY did like skee ball, board games and spin art. The only application that I have not been able to find is one that will soothe the overtired toddler. But then, there is a nap for that…
About the author: Susan Mazrui, who just celebrated her 15th anniversary with AT&T, has two daughters, Sarah (23 years old) and Nicole (3 years old). Sarah works full-time and goes to Law School part-time. Nicole is a part-time preschooler whose current career aspirations include medicine and firefighting. Married to Jamal, a brilliant software developer and civil servant, Susan enjoys listening to books, described videos and international travel. Susan and Jamal also have a Cavapoo named Ginger (1 year old). Ginger initially aspired to become a guide dog for Susan but later decided to become a watch dog as she thoroughly enjoys people watching and really did not want to work that hard.Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Applications, Guest Blogger, Just for fun, Organization, Shopping, Uncategorized Tags: SmartPhone
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January
15(Red) Laser Focused Shopping
I have to tell you about this app! It’s called RedLaser and check out our experience! So we were shopping for my brother for Christmas who wanted a specific vacuum that would help pick up dog hair. Of course, he’s my brother so he doesn’t tell me until last minute. Anyway, we were in a store and found the one we thought he might like for $149. While looking around the rest of the store, we decided to look at some other stores and see what price they listed for the vacuum. I wasn’t too keen on this idea because as I mentioned it was last minute and as you can imagine traffic was busy in the stores. Well, on our way out of the door my husband remembered hearing about the RedLaser app. So, I’m not sure if we were just curious about this app, but we downloaded it for $1.99 We usually don’t spend money on apps because there are so many great apps for free. We joked saying this better be worth it.
So, we download the app which takes less than a minute, quickly read what it’s about and we are off…back to locate the vacuum we think is the Christmas winner. The app was SO easy. You simply locate the bar code on the item, and put your smartphone up to it as if you are scanning the code. A second or two later, it vibrates indicating it picked it up and spits back results of where you can buy the item cheaper. Well sure enough, it says it’s cheaper and it’s right down the street! So what started as a $149 gift, RedLaser now was telling us we could get the same exact item for $99 down the streetat another store. As you can imagine, we were in shock and not entirely sure it was accurate, but being the other store was so close, we said let’s go check it out. Sure enough,there it was, the vacuum that picks up pet hair for $99! We were pleasantly surprised. The halo to all of this, when we got to the register, it was actually $79! So thank you RedLaser!!! It’s worth the $1.99 we spent!
Posted by Brandy in Brandy, Shopping, SmartPhone Tags: Brandy, SmartPhone
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November
25Black Friday Shopping!
Hey! Not sure about you all, but at my house we love shopping and we especially love a good a deal. My daughter shows a handy Smartphone application that will make shopping this Black Friday a breeze. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Posted by Becky in Becky, How To, Shopping, SmartPhone
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November
12New Phone and Holiday Shopping
So I have my new Smartphone now, and I’ve had it about three weeks. There are so many applications to choose from and sometimes at night while lying in my bed, I browse all the applications. I browse until my eyes become dry and itchy. Dare, I say that this little contraption is a tad bit addicting. I have found that at doctor’s appointments or any other downtime, I always have something to do thanks to my Smartphone. Just as stated in my earlier blog, I am on my way to Super Mommy status. I have so many paths to take to achieve the status that I am at a loss where to start.
Since the holidays are fast approaching, I will start with how I plan to use my Smartphone to make the holiday season less complicated. Every year close to the holiday shopping time, I whip out my little notebook that houses gift lists from previous years and every year I add the currents years’ list to the notebook. Of course the little notebook only has so many pages, so as my notebook fills up, I have to buy a new one. To make sure I am not duplicating any gifts, I have to go through all of my notebooks. I also have a gift budget. The budget is on a spreadsheet in my computer and has to be updated several times to keep the running totals. Now my gift list is going electronic thanks to my Smartphone. I have purchased an application that will track my gifts and the price of the gifts at the same time, Holiday Shopping List. I now have an electronic version of my gift lists and I can enter a budget for each person, the application tallies my gifts and lets me know when I have reached the budget. I can also enter gift ideas for each person. There are many different gift list applications available; it’s up to each individual to choose which application would fit their gift list style. I am very excited on how much more organized my gift list will be. Next is to find and install the holiday card list.
Happy shopping!
Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Effie, Organization, Shopping, SmartPhone Tags: Effie, Shopping, SmartPhone
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October
15Teenagers and the New Way to Shop
As a parent I am amazed on how our children find new applications for their mobile devices. Stephanie recently blogged about her shopping tips, and I began to notice how my daughter and her friends are using their mobile devices for shopping as well.
My daughter, a high school junior, needed a new dress for homecoming dances she is planning to attend. She and her friends went shopping at the mall for new dresses, which is no different than when I was in high school (however I never bought a dress). What is different is they were taking pictures of themselves in the dresses and emailing the pictures to several of their friends for their opinions. I have noticed this new way to shop for homecoming dresses continued throughout the weekend as my daughter was receiving pictures of dresses from several of her friends. As an observer this was very entertaining.
I thought about this, and am impressed that our children find new ways to use their mobile devices in addition to talking and texting. This is the new way to shop in the 21st century.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Shopping, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Photos, Teenagers
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September
24Shop with Me!
As everyone pretty much knows by now, I’m an avid shopper. If and when I get any free time in my schedule, it is quickly consumed with runs to the mall either for me or my tweens. Window shopping trips are adventurous, relaxing, and fun! However, when I’m errand shopping, like trying to find an outfit for a specific occasion, it can be stressful!!!
I have a very calculated approach that I take when completing shopping errands. The two tools central to these searches: a phone and a computer. When I have at least a day advance notice, I’ll get online and start browsing through the various stores and boutiques at my favorite shopping locales, clicking away on the pictures of items I like and sending them out to everyone in my inner circle for their opinion. Just like this:
If I’m already out then I can snap pics of the things I like best and either email them to friends, or post them on Facebook immediately, for all to see.
Recently, my son was away on a summer trip and called home frantic. School was to start on Monday and he was desperate for a specific pair of Nikes. He hurriedly gave me a description of what he was looking for and then sent me a pic from his Samsung phone. I was off, utilizing the Nike, Yellow Pages and Shopping applications in order to find the locations closest to me that might have this style.
(I have to tell you that at this point, if it had been for myself and if there had been more time, then I might have also used the Craigslist or Ebay features to see if I could find alternate options at a cheaper price. I’ve found Michael Kors STEALS by doing this.)
The whole thing took a matter of a couple of hours from request to purchase. They were ready and waiting from him when he came back home from his trip. Yes Christopher, I know, your momma ROCKS!!!!!!! Here he is on his first day of school sporting his new shoes:
(Disclaimer: Standard usage rates apply, depending on your plan. See att.com/dataterms for terms & conditions.)
Posted by Stephanie in Shopping, Stephanie, Uncategorized Tags: Shopping, Stephanie
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July
28To Game, Or Not To Game?
In the spring and summer, I find that Amy and I spend much less time playing video games and watching TV because we’re outside playing sports or working in the yard. Our gaming consoles lay dormant, begging for
Baseball Slugger 3D by Com2uS (www.com2us.com)
some sort of activity. The same can’t be said for our wireless phones. I find that, while we don’t game much at home when it’s nice outside, we spend more time gaming away from home than ever.
Waiting in line at the grocery store, the DMV, or movie theater isn’t the test of our patience it once was. Now, we get out our wireless phones and pull up our favorite game to pass the time. We previously would have spent time looking for a clock and muttering the unspeakable under our breaths.
With wireless phones and devices that are more powerful than the computers and gaming consoles we played as children, you can almost always have your favorite game in hand, ready for the next time you’re stuck waiting.
Do you game? Do your children game?
Posted by Cory in Cory, Just for fun, Shopping, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Baseball Slugger, Cory, gaming, video games
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May
6Moms Love Apps!
With Mother’s Day approaching, I was recently asked about mom-related applications, which inspired me to do some research. I can’t believe the amount of apps that are out there related to kids and parenting. There were apps for expecting moms as well as new moms, including Expecting, Baby Names, Baby Tracker for Nursing, and Baby Log. For parents, there were also apps such as Flashmath, Scribble (which my son Johnny really likes), Grocery IQ, Grocery Gadget Shopping List, Preschool Adventure, and Allowance Calculator.
This whole app thing has really taken off and allows you to have a customized app that fits your life. I now have some work ahead of me because there are many apps like Grocery IQ, Grocery Gadget Shopping List and Allowance Calculator that I really want to try out. I’ll keep you posted on my experiences, but feel free to share what apps you’re using! I want to hear from you. I’ll be on the road next week, so will have some down time while in airports and hotels to play around on my device.
Remember, you can follow me on Twitter. Happy Mother’s Day!
Posted by Brandy in Brandy, How To, Just for fun, Organization, Shopping Tags: Brandy, iPhone applications, mother's day
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