megabus.com and Mother’s Day

May 5, 2016 by 3 Comments

Mother’s Day is upon us, and most of us either wish we could spend more time with Mom or could see our Mother’s for Mother’s Day.  There are many ways to show our mother’s we love them.  In a recent survey by megabus.com a majority of megabus.com customers miss their moms (64%), many say mom would cry tears of joy if they surprised her with a trip (53%) or an unannounced visit (46%).  So instead of sending a flower bouquet or a box of candies and a greeting card, stop by for a visit.  Spend the day with Mom. Even if you are vehicle-less, megabus.com will make Mom within reach.  Or if you are feeling adventurous, as is Mom of course, take a bus ride into the city.  Use megabus.com and ride in comfort and the least amount of stress possible.  A day in the city could include a museum, have a nice lunch, hit the shops, etc.  Of course if Mom is giving a bit too much advice, feel free to have a few drinks- you aren’t driving. 😉

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As you may or may not know, megabus.com is celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year. That is 10 years of making commutes comfortable, and less stressful.  They are very willing to give you a bus ride there and home again, check out the routes that best fit you.

Some other ideas for Mother’s Day gifts are:  Make something fun and personal- dinner, a home project that needs to get done, or even just some help around the yard.  A gift from the heart doesn’t have to cost a lot, it just has to be heartfelt.  So whatever gift you give, be sure its a good one and has some thought behind it.  Also remember it is indeed Mother’s Day very soon so at least make that phone call to Mom and see how she is doing.

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of megabus.com . The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: review

What are the #RulesoftheHouse at Home?

May 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

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RULES OF THE HOUSE

by Mac Barnett and Matt Myers

In stores May 3, 2016

Ages 3-5

Ian always follows the rules. His sister, Jenny, breaks them all the time—especially “Don’t pinch.”  So Ian is thrilled when the house where his family is vacationing posts a tidy list of rules. But when Jenny breaks them all, the house itself decides it’s time for payback. The rug, the stove, and the bathtub are hungry for rulebreaker soup, and they’ve found the perfect ingredient: Jenny!

Now Ian is faced with a thorny question: What if saving your sister means breaking the rules?

From the New York Times best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers comes a hilarious tale of sibling rivalry, moral complexity, and disgruntled monsters, perfect for sharing with your own favorite rulebreakers.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Mac Barnett is the New York Times best-selling author of over twenty books for children, including Count the Monkeys, illustrated by Kevin Cornell; Chloe and the Lion, illustrated by Adam Rex; and Extra Yarn and Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, both illustrated by Jon Klassen, and both winners of a Caldecott Honor and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. He also writes the Terrible Two series with Jory John. Mac lives in Berkeley, California. Visit him at macbarnett.com

Matt Myers studied at the Museum Art School in Portland, Oregon, where he majored in both fine arts and graphic arts. He has illustrated a number of books for children, including the Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett, Clink by Kelly DiPucchio, and the New York Times best seller Battle Bunny, by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Matt lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Visit him at myerspaints.com.

Filed Under: lifestyle items

Coolest Car Parks in the World Revealed

May 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment

UK based airport car parking provider has completed a piece of research into the coolest car parks in the world. Two car parks in Miami made it into the list, as did some in other countries. These car parks were shown to be truly picture-worthy.

Car parks usually aren’t the things people think about when they consider cutting edge architecture and design. However, a UK based airport car parking provider has decided to draw some attention to these types of buildings. According to them, some car parks are nothing short of cool.

www.airportparking.co.uk took a look at some of the world’s best known car parks, coming up with a top 10 list of cool car parks. The first they added to the list is 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami, FL. This car park has received a wealth of design awards and the landmark is described as ‘radical’ looking like a house of cards. Some who park there simply don’t leave, enjoy the views over South Beach instead. It has no exterior walls, has varying floor heights, and is constructed around cantilevers and buttresses.

The second carpark is also in Miami, FL, being the Ballet Valet Parking Garage. This was built in 1995 as part of a project between Tony Goldman and the city of Miami. It is part of the Arqcuitectonica Retail Center, meaning people can shop at street level, and park at the same time. The carpark perfectly blends in thanks to its lush greenery.

In third place is the Car Park Plaza in Cajnovas, Spain. This is the embodiment of all that is Spanish, focusing on fun and colors. At the same time, sustainability and functionality were high on the designer’s agenda. The carpark has very low power consumption because it uses neon lights. These lights complement the graphics, colors, and other visuals on the walls, which provide an easy guide for drivers at the same time.

The fifth car park is Charles Street in Sheffield, UK. This is operated by Q-Park and was designed by Morrison Architects, who also redeveloped the former Arsenal stadium. Charles Street holds 520 vehicles across ten floors. Ground level includes a retail space.

The sixth is Cordova Parkade, which is in Vancouver, Canada. It was built in the frame of an old department store in an effort to revitalize the downtown area of Vancouver. Some $28 million was spent in the completion of this carpark, ranking it as one of the most expensive as well. The building is inspired by train stations from the 19th century and fits in perfectly with the historic buildings in that part of the city.

Seventh place went to the Eureka Tower Car Park in Melbourne, Australia. This car park uses moder design styles, including colors and two- and three-dimensional design tricks. Along the way, words like up, down, in, and out, snap into alignment. This means that the drive itself is more enjoyable and engaging for drivers as well.

The eight coolest car park is the Michigan Theater in Detroit. This was built in 1926, when Henry Ford built his very first vehicle in it. The theater itself closed its doors in 1976, and it was set to be demolished. However, adjacent buildings would then suffer stability issues, so it was turned into a carpark instead.

A representative from Airport Parking says: “We love these different car parks around the world, and there are quite a few more than do really deserve our attention. The Michigan Theater, however, has to be the best one of all. To park underneath the wall art of this theater, imagining the ornate chandeliers above you, is an experience you will never forget.”

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With:

Back to School with Concordia University Wisconsin

May 1, 2016 by 8 Comments

Deciding to go back to college can be a daunting task, but with the right school and the will to keep going it is possible.

In the current economic times, it can take a single line on your resume to separate you from the top of the choices or the bottom.  That line is your education- the best way to compare with college graduates when being considered for a position is to not only have the experience, but also the education.  But with a family, job, and social responsibilities, it can be very difficult to fit in a traditional college education.  Online colleges are a great resource.  Concordia University Wisconsin is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree granting colleges and universities.  Concordia University Wisconsin has many programs including Business, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Education, Counseling, Health Services, Occupational Therapy, Information Technology, Theology and even High School Dual Credits.  In addition to these courses there are also free email courses available.  These courses are a great way to get your feet wet with online learning to see if this is a viable way for you to learn.  For most people who use computers regularly, online courses are a breeze to get used to as long as you are able to keep focused on the work and take the subject seriously.  Concordia University WI has online programs that are made specifically for busy adults. They believe that you do not need to sacrifice your roles of mother, sister, wife, friend, neighbor, etc, to pursue something you feel called to study and have tailor made their offerings to help you keep life in balance.

Below are a few tips on how to ace your courses.

  1. Dedicate time to your class.  Set aside and hour a day to work on class/course work only.
  2. When it is time to do course work,  turn your phone silent across the room, close Facebook/Twitter/Messenger and any other social networking outlets.  As of this point you need to concentrate and social networks were made to eat time and attention.
  3. Get help.  A study buddy can help out big time, make friends in your class try to meet up locally, or just hang out digitally via social networking.  Just do not do this during class time.
  4. Take courses you care about, try not to pick courses just because they are available.  If possible pick topis you may enjoy or have been interested in in the past.  Have you always enjoyed sci fi movies, look into astronomy, like to go hiking, look into botany.  There are many topics to learn and study, some of which you might actually enjoy.
  5. Have fun!  Keep your head up even through the boring parts.  School can be fun, so make it that way.  Give yourself incentives to finish on time.  Maybe a little extra TV time, a candy before bed, or that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing up.

With the right attitude and the motivation, a degree is within reach.  Which leads to a smarter and better qualified person.  Which leads to a higher paying job.  Which leads to a less stressful existence.  Which leads to a happier you.

Take a look at what they offer- you might just find what you are looking for.


Filed Under: lifestyle items

#CuriousGeorgeonHulu Twit­ter Party

April 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Promo
Curious George on Hulu Twitter Party 4-28-16 at 9p ET bit.ly/cgonhulursvp

 

Join Blog­gin Mamas & Hulu as we host the #CuriousGeorgeonHulu Twit­ter Party on Thursday, 4–28–16 at 9p EST/6pm PST! We’ll be chat­ting about Curious George, now streaming on Hulu.

 

Date: Thursday, April 28th, 2016
Time: 9:00–10:00pm EST / 6:00–7:00pm PST
Hash­tag: #CuriousGeorgeonHulu
Pre­sented by: @hulu and @BlogginMamas
Mod­er­a­tors: Eng­lish– @HeLoEnterprises Span­ish– @BBabushka

 

About Hulu & Curious George

 

Beginning March 31st, Hulu became the exclusive subscription streaming home to all nine seasons – over 100 episodes – of CURIOUS GEORGE® TV series, which is produced by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s production arm, Universal 1440 Entertainment. Hulu is also the U.S. premiere home to new seasons of the series over the coming years. In addition, television specials including Curious George: Swings Into Spring, Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, along with the feature-length originals Curious George: Follow That Monkey, Curious George: Back To The Jungle and future direct-to-TV specials are available to stream exclusively on Hulu.
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love.

 

CURIOUS GEORGE® the television series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way. Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, the series expands George’s world to include a host of colorful characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each half-hour episode includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series encourages inquiry and curiosity, promotes hands-on exploration and shows parents and caregivers how to support children’s science- and math-related play. All nine seasons of the CURIOUS GEORGE® television series are a production of Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal 1440 Entertainment, LLC.

 

Tweet­share:

 

 

Dur­ing the Twit­ter Party there will be a chance to win one of the fol­low­ing prizes by answer­ing var­i­ous ques­tions about Hulu and Curious George. Win­ners will be selected at ran­dom from all eli­gi­ble entries.

 

Prizes

 

Three (3) prize packs, each includ­ing a Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription + Curious George plush (ARV $169)

 

First Prize

 

One (1) prize pack, includ­ing one (1) Roku 4 Streaming Media Player + Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription + Curious George plush (ARV$298)

 

Grand Prize

 

One (1) prize pack, includ­ing one (1) Apple TV (4th generation) + Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription + Curious George plush (ARV $368)

 

RSVP Prize(s)

 

Five (5) prize packs, including a Hulu commercial-free 6 month subscription + Curious George plush (ARV $97)

 

RSVP Below!!

Terms and Con­di­tions

 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.
By RSVP’ing to this event and uti­liz­ing the #CuriousGeorgeonHulu hash­tag, the atten­dees acknowl­edge hav­ing read and agreed to these terms and con­di­tions.
Twit­ter Party Prize Give­away begins April 28, 2016 at 9:00 pm ET and ends no later than April 28th, 2016 at 10:30pm ET (the “Twit­ter Chat Entry Period”). Entrants enter via fol­low­ing @hulu, @HeLoEnterprises & @BlogginMamas, and post­ing a tweet with the #CuriousGeorgeonHulu and #Sweeps hash­tags dur­ing the Twit­ter Chat Entry Period. Five (5) Win­ners will be drawn ran­domly by random.org at approx­i­mately 12 minute inter­vals dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. Five (5) Win­ners will be drawn ran­domly via random.org from the event RSVP’s on the Mr. Linky wid­get.
Prizes include:
Three (3) prize packs, each includ­ing one (1) Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription and one (1) Curious George plush. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $169. One (1) prize pack to be awarded to each of three (3) winners.
One (1) First Prize pack, includ­ing one (1) Roku 4 Streaming Media Player, one (1) Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription, and one (1) Curious George plush. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $298, for one (1) win­ner.
One (1) Grand Prize pack, includ­ing one (1) Apple TV (4th generation), one (1) Hulu commercial-free 1-year subscription, and one (1) Curious George plus. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $368, for one (1) win­ner.
Five (5) RSVP Prize packs, each includ­ing one (1) Hulu commercial-free 6-month subscription, and one (1) Curious George plush. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $97. One (1) prize pack to be awarded to each of five (5) winners who RSVP’s via the Mr. Linky wid­get.

 

Each win­ner receives one (1) prize pack. Entrants who fail to com­plete said actions will be dis­qual­i­fied and an alter­nate win­ner will be selected from all entrants who entered dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. Win­ners will be noti­fied via DM (Direct Mes­sage) on Twit­ter with a request for an email address to send prize claim infor­ma­tion. Win­ners will have 48 hours to reply to the DM with a valid email address. Win­ners will have an addi­tional 48 hours from when prize claim infor­ma­tion is sent, to claim their prize and pro­vide ship­ping info, or a an alter­nate win­ner will be selected from amongst all entries received dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. All prizes will be awarded pro­vided they are validly claimed by May 4th at 11:59AM EST.

 

Entrants agree to release and hold harm­less the Blog­gin’ Mamas, Heather Lopez Enter­prises, LLC, Twit­ter, Hulu, LLC and any other orga­ni­za­tions respon­si­ble for spon­sor­ing, ful­fill­ing, admin­is­ter­ing, adver­tis­ing or pro­mot­ing this give­away, and their respec­tive par­ent, sub­sidiaries, and affil­i­ates and each of their respec­tive offi­cers, direc­tors, mem­bers, employ­ees, agents and sub­con­trac­tors (col­lec­tively the “Released Par­ties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and lia­bil­ity, includ­ing but not lim­ited to neg­li­gence and dam­ages of any kind to per­sons and prop­erty, includ­ing but not lim­ited to inva­sion of pri­vacy (under appro­pri­a­tion, intru­sion, pub­lic dis­clo­sure of pri­vate facts, false light in the pub­lic eye or other legal the­ory), defama­tion, slan­der, libel, vio­la­tion of right of pub­lic­ity, infringe­ment of trade­mark, copy­right or other intel­lec­tual prop­erty rights, prop­erty dam­age, or death or per­sonal injury aris­ing out of or relat­ing to a participant’s entry, cre­ation of an entry or sub­mis­sion of an entry, par­tic­i­pa­tion in this give­away, accep­tance or use or mis­use of prize. Entrant agrees to indem­nify, defend and hold harm­less the Released Par­ties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and lia­bil­i­ties (includ­ing rea­son­able attorney’s fees) aris­ing out of or relat­ing to an entrant’s par­tic­i­pa­tion in this give­away and/or entrant’s accep­tance, use or mis­use of prize, includ­ing, with­out lim­i­ta­tion, lia­bil­ity for per­sonal injury, dam­age, or loss.
The Released Par­ties make no war­ranties, and hereby dis­claims any and all war­ranties, express or implied, con­cern­ing any prize fur­nished in con­nec­tion with the give­away.

 

WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING,SUCH PRIZES ARE PROVIDED“AS IS”WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND THE RELEASED PARTIES HERE BY DISCLAIM ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY,FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

 

Dis­clo­sure: Blog­gin’ Mamas is man­ag­ing this Twit­ter Party. Indi­vid­ual co-hosts are receiv­ing com­pen­sa­tion for their par­tic­i­pa­tion. Sponsor will provide the prizes and Bloggin’ Mamas will be shipping the prizes to the individual winners.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

#CuriousGeorgeonHulu (And WIN a Prize Package!)

April 27, 2016 by 56 Comments

Disclosure- Prizing and samples are courtesy of Hulu.

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Your favorite monkey is swinging into your home. All 9 seasons of Curious George, as well as the animated film Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, are now streaming only on Hulu. As with all Kids programming on Hulu, Curious George streams commercial-free.

Hulu is THE streaming destination for the best of TV, and a great selection of films! Plus, you can stream almost anywhere, on any device, including gaming consoles, set-top boxes, tablets, mobile phones, and more. Visit Hulu.com to start a free 1-month trial which is only available for a limited time.

Series Synopsis

Curious George is an animated series based on the popular books by Margret and H.A. Rey. Aimed at preschool viewers (ages three to five), the goal of the series is to inspire children to explore science, engineering, and math in the world around them. And what better guide is there for this kind of exploration than the world’s most curious monkey?

About Curious George

All nine seasons of “Curious George” starring the sweet but mischievous monkey — more than 100 episodes in all — are now available only on Hulu.

For nearly 65 years, generations of young children have been charmed by the literary adventures of Curious George. Now George is ready for his next big adventure! Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, the series expands George’s world to include a host of colorful new characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each of the half-hour episodes includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series aims to inspire kids to explore science, math, and engineering in the world around them.

Watch a clip

Visit the official website

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One (1) winner receives:

  • 6-month Hulu gift subscription
  • Curious George Youth Zip Hooded Sweatshirt

Please feel free to enter using the RC form below.  Good luck!  Ends May 16, 2016.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway, review Tagged With: ,

1More Headphones – Clarity and Comfort

April 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Good headphones can be difficult to find.  But there are some incredible ones out there, like the newest from1More.  These headphones are tuned by a Grammy Award winning mixer Luca Bignardi, internationally acclaimed audio engineer and mixer, who helped them to complete the final product.

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Two of their finest right now are the Crystal in-ear headphones and the MK801 over ear headphones.  The Crystal are genuine Swarovski crystals with chessboard faceting, which makes them sparkle and shine while you are on the go.  The in-line remote is compatible with iOS as well as Android devices with both volume controls, selection functions play pause, and call answering all at your finger tips.  The headphone’s mechanisms are made of aerospace-grade metal composite diaphragm allows the crystal piston in-ear headphones to accurately present diverse musical styles. The diaphragm extends the frequency range as well as enhances the richness and detail of the music, all while lowering distorting to produce a powerful bass.  Strong Kevlar fibers lend durability to the cable by protecting the internal wiring and extending its lifespan. The cable’s outer shell is made of two different materials. The TPE portion is strategically located for comfort. It also reduces friction on clothing to help prevent the annoying “stethoscope effect” created by noise interference.  What is really interesting is the braided section of the wire which makes for less tangles and easy tuck and go storage.

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The over the ear headphones carry some of the same characteristics as the in ear, but without anything inside your ear (obviously) and also with more comfort with four direction ear cups and a  TR-90 titanium steel head band. Incorporating this material in the ergonomic design allows for the stretching required with everyday use. TR-90 steel is flexible, lightweight, and sweat resistant.  The dual-system in-line remote control allows for compatibility with both Apple and Android systems. You’ll love having volume control, play/pause, and call answering easily accessible.  The over the ear design also allows for the reduction of ambient noise, so your listening experience is more pure and just what you want to hear.

The 1More Crystal In-Ear headphones retail for $79.99 and the MK801 over-ear headphones retail for $79.99.

Filed Under: technology

Tips for Catching Your Kids on Film

April 27, 2016 by 1 Comment

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Getting precious memories of your kids is probably one of the best parts of having a smartphone. No longer do you need to fumble around with film or have to remember to bring your camera. Instead you always have your phone with you, and it’s ready at a moment’s notice. The following are a few tips and tools to help you capture the best smartphone pictures possible:

Modes

For a lot of situations, the automatic settings on modern phone cameras are great at capturing everyday moments. But if you need something more, knowing what other modes you have access to will always be advantageous.

  • HDR: This combines two or more separate shots, one that is more exposed to capture shadow details and one that is less exposed to get the highlights. These photos are then merged together and give better dynamic range to the scene. The downside is that it takes multiple photos for HDR to work. This can lead to artifacts in fast-moving objects, such as children, and HDR also takes a few seconds to process, meaning you don’t have the same burst capability as you would otherwise.
  • Manual/Pro: Here you have access to more settings such as ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation, which gives you control over the look of a scene. If your kid is running around in a dark room, you can increase the shutter speed and the ISO to make sure you don’t get a blur across the frame.
  • Slow Motion: Not only has the smartphone replaced a dedicated camera for many situations, but it also has replaced the camcorder. Kids can move fast, especially if they are excited, so the slow motion mode of a Samsung Galaxy S7 is great for capturing that new trick they learned or their game-winning hit. Just remember that slow motion needs more light, so shooting outside or in an otherwise brightly lit area is recommended. When shooting in slow motion, you also won’t be able to take advantage of 4K — shooting instead in 1080 or 720 HD — but this is still more than enough for most people.

Camera Apps

One of the most popular photography apps is Instagram. Before sharing your photos with your favorite social network, so friends and family can see what you kid is up to, try out some of Instagram’s filters. After Instagram’s latest update, you can even have up to 60-second videos posted with ease.

If sharing isn’t what you want, a photo editing app such as Snapseed is great for on-the-go editing. The simple interface uses your finger to drag for more or less of the feature you are tweaking. Snapseed also has presets available to achieve a specific look.

Taking the Shot

Kids can move quickly, so you have to be ready to capture the right moment. Being able to launch the camera app quickly and easily is going to go a long way in making sure that you’ll capture the moment. Most Android phones are starting to move to a “double tap” of the home/power button for a quick launch of the camera. Otherwise, you can set the camera to open when you swipe up from the corner of your lock screen.

This also applies to the shutter button. Knowing where you need to press ensures you are not going to be fumbling and miss the moment. If you have the option, setting the shutter to release on touching the screen ensures you have a nice big button to press when the time is right.

Filed Under: lifestyle Tagged With: