Tablet SmartPhone Gloves Warm Hands When It's Cold Outside

Accessories

Isn't it annoying when it's chilly outdoors and you have to take your gloves off every time you want to use your iPad, iPhone, Android smartphone, tablet, other hand held mobile device or camera? Yeah, I know the feeling. I can totally relate because as both a blogger and a mom on the go with four kids -- including one that takes trapeze lessons -- I suffered chronically with that problem ever since I acquired my first iPhone over four years ago. 

The trapeze net is reflected in my iPhone alongside my pair of NuTouch Gloves

As luck would have it I had the opportunity to test out NuTouch Gloves by Newer Technology who's products I've reviewed before. This time I discovered a good solution for comfortably using touch-screen devices outside and in the car when it's cold outside.

Now I don't have to endure freezing cold hands and fingers each time I want to check my email, Tweet or check Facebook for status updates. I carry my pair everywhere I go. I wore them on my flight to International Consumer Electronics Show CES in January when it was freezing cold in the cabin, too. I'm even wearing these indoors at home right now because our heat is turned off to reduce energy consumption whilst I'm typing out this blog post on my desktop Mac Mini computer keyboard.

I wore my NuTouch Gloves enroute on this flight to Las Vegas for International CES 2013

On the slopes at Mammoth Mountain, CA NuTouch Gloves were under my ski gloves

Thanks to a unique conductive fiber that's woven into all ten fingertips of these soft cotton blend gloves you can type, tap, swipe and scroll on your device and keep your hands warm at the same time. I've tested these in the car as well as worn them as glove liners while skiing at Mammoth Mountain, at my daughters' nighttime winter soccer games and, most recently, during brisk winter days on the Santa Monica Pier while photographing one of my teenage sons flying on the trapeze at the Trapeze School New York here in Los Angeles. Brrr it can be really cold out there when its down in the upper 30s on the beach in the early morning on a foggy day. 

Here's my almost 16 year-old triplet son in action flying on the trapeze high above the beach in Santa Monica. This is definitely not as easy as it looks and takes lots of practice!




NuTouch Gloves are hand washable and are available in classic charcoal gray in four sizes that will fit just about any size hand from small to extra large. These gloves work well for both women and men. 

My only wish as a fashion conscious woman is that since I wear gloves so much I wish they came in more solid colors and perhaps some fun prints to match whatever I'm wearing. Actually, here's another idea too: Why not offer even smaller sizes since kids -- who are forever losing their gloves when they take them off -- seem to be acquiring all the coolest electronics at such an early age and their hands get cold too?

Image provided by Newer Technology

NuTouch Gloves retail for $19.99 and are available online and at select retailers.

FTC Disclosure: I received the product featured to facilitate this review. However, thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

4 Cool Things About the New HTC Droid DNA Smartphone from Verizon - A Teen's Perspective

Technology

Want to know what's cool? Ask just about any senior in high school for their opinions on what matters most about their smartphones and you'll likely get an earful. That's what I did to find out what my 12th grader -- who last assisted me in reviewing the Nokia Lumia 822 -- thinks of the new HTC Droid DNA Smartphone that's now available exclusively from Verizon Wireless. 

Here's the top four HTC Droid DNA cool factors in my teen's book

• Thinness
• Style
• Color
• Features & Functions

THINNESS
At just .38 inch thick this smartphone is super thin and weighs in at a lean 5 ounces. That's a real asset for long distance cyclists like my son who out of necessity travel as lightly as possible.

Look at the image below to see how the HTC Droid DNA (left) compares in thickness to the iPhone 5 (right).

STYLE
Less boxy in shape than the latest version of iPhone, the graceful contour of the body of this phone fits perfectly into the hand. A huge 5" screen area that improves the viewing experience when surfing the net also makes this a great option for students on the go.

COLOR
Sleek black with a playful pop of red accents on the sides add another cool dimension to the overall sophistication of this device.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONS
My teen's favorite physical quality of all: A high pixel density, dual camera with an ultra wide angle front facing lens that also shoots 1080 pixels video to capture all those fleeting high school moments flying by the second half of senior year. This smartphone is also mobile hotspot compatible and can support up to 10 WiFi enabled devices perfect for those late night study groups that college bound seniors often engage in.

My future engineer with his Graphene Research presentation

This is the first of a series of three stories on how the HTC Droid DNA impacts today's lifestyle. Watch for future posts on this in the weeks ahead.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless ambassador serving as a member of the Verizon AIC Blogger Team and that I received the product featured to facilitate this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Best Buy Free Electronics Recycling Program

Eco Lifestyle 

Environmental Friendly Disposal of Computers, Tech 

Rarely do I get the opportunity to write about two of my favorite things in the same story: technology and eco friendly family living. But, thanks to Best Buy, that's exactly what I'm doing with this post to let you know about their extensive electronics recycling program as well as to inspire you to teach your kids about recycling electronics.

My triplets grew up fast

Diassembling computers at a kids museum

MBE partnered with Best Buy for this post

There's something I have to admit to you though. Before embarking on the research to write this post I wasn't even aware that a dedicated Best Buy Electronics Recycling Program existed. 

Here's the backstory. I'm a repeat Best Buy customer that's shopped at this national retailer for Apple and PC computers and accessories. I've purchased multiple desktop computers there, as well as our Bosch washer and dryer set which I love. In fact, we bought the latter at Best Buy a few years ago after learning they carried a wide array of brands and types of large Energy Star certified appliances.  They also recycled our old laundry appliances when they delivered the much more energy efficient ones we have now. 

For this post I started digging deeper to learn about this retailer giant's free technology recycling service that's available in every single Best Buy location in Puerto Rico and the U.S. What a welcome discovery since the only other computer and electronics recycling programs I'd heard of previously either were affiliated with the city where I live (they do free pickups of electronics for disposal just a few times a year) or were private companies that actually charged a fee to take my unwanted electronics off my hands. 

According to Best Buy their company recycles 387 pounds of electronics each minute during store hours -- that's a whopping 80 million pounds of e-waste disposal last year alone! With technology being the fastest growing waste stream on the planet, it's reassuring to know that they want to be part of the solution in a big and impactful way. 

No matter where you bought it or how old it is, the good news is that this store will take your electronics and recycle them for you, responsibly and safely.

My neighborhood Best Buy store here in Los Angeles

Best Buy accepts a long list of electronics for recycling

• TVs and Monitors
• Stands, Mounts and Furniture
• Portable TV and Video
• Car Video
• Audio
• Car and GPS
• Cameras and Camcorders
• Computers
• Mobile Phones and Office
• Music, Movies and Books
• Video Games and Gadgets
• Home and Appliances

See the Best Buy Recycling tab for full details since what they accept varies by state. You can also learn more here about how you can participate in their Tech Trade-in and Recycling Solutions and get a behind the scenes look at this eco-friendly consumer program.

What kinds of things do you do with your children to teach them about recyling? Have you recycled computers or other electronics before and if so, how? Have you had any specific experiences with Best Buy's electronics recycling program? 

Artsy Wooden Recycling Bins, Costa Rica 

FTC Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated, however opinions in this post are honest and are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

A Soolip Wedding 2013 The Modern Bridal Public Event March 3 at Bel Air Bay Club Los Angeles

Weddings

If you're a Southern California bride to be or in the wedding business you're not going to want to miss A Soolip Wedding 2013: The Modern Bridal Event. The annual celebration of beautiful and meaningful weddings returns to Los Angeles this Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Bel Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. I attended a press only preview of this affair to get a sneak peek of all the wonderful things in store for you this weekend.

My favorite 2013 St. Pucchi Wedding Gown

This fine curated event celebrates the art of getting married. Conceived by gracious-living visionary Wanda Wen who is also the proprietress of the elegant shop Soolip Paperie and Press, A Soolip Wedding 2013 features an exquisite collection of 60 wedding vendors ranging from artisans, planners, and designers to epicurean pros and other creme d' la creme experts -- all catering to brides and grooms planning the weddings of their dreams.

Bridal resources on display include paper, floral, catering, photography, sweets, lingerie, entertainment, venues, honeymoon travel and more. To inform as well as entertain guests there will also be a formal fashion showing and a series of Engaging with the Experts panel discussions.

Aaron Delesie for David Pressman

The theme of the event this year, Crystal Showers, Eternal Flowers, is meant to convey an elevated art of matrimony and summoned perpetual bliss.

These beautiful note cards are from Soolip Paperie & Press

Wen explains, "A wedding is a celebration of unconditional love and discovery of pure, untouched beauty that encapsulates life's most precious moments in one occasion, yet is destined to generate an eternity of meaningful experiences to come."

Image provided by St. Pucchi

Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door and may be purchased online at Asoolipwedding.com or by calling 310-360-1055. 

Admission includes food tastings, cake, champagne, a bridal fashion showing, beauty-filled gift bags, and for brides, a complimentary download of the new Soolip Wedding App released on Valentine's Day (watch for a separate review in a future MommyBlogExpert post) that acts as a design planning tool for style-seeking brides to create their own inspiration boards incorporating Dynamic Shapes. Brides attending will also be eligible for a luxury raffle for prizes including a Kauai honeymoon and a gift certificate towards a wedding gown from St. Pucchi.

Image provided by Rrivre

Sunday, March 3, 2012

Noon to 4 p.m.

Bel Air Bay Club

16801 Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Image provided by A Soolip Wedding

FTC Disclosure: I attended the A Soolip Wedding 2013 press preview event and received a gift bag. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. Opinions in this post are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

California Wedding Press Preview Bridal Showcase A Soolip Wedding 2013 Event

Weddings

Valentine's Day may be just a memory now, but love is still in the air as I reflect back on the press preview I attended of the A Soolip Wedding 2013 - A Modern Bridal Event which will be open to the public on Sunday, March 3 in Los Angeles. In fact this sneak peek gathering of print and digital media staged in the St. Pucchi Flagship Bridal Salon on Sunset Boulevard was so beautiful, it made me want to be a young blushing bride and to get married all over again.

Current season wedding dress confections at St. Pucchi in Los Angeles

At St. Pucchi Bridal Salon the details are exquisite

From tips on choosing engagement rings and wedding bands to hiring an event planner and photographer to identifying trends in dressing both the bride and the groom to deciding on invitations to inspiring ideas on destination ceremonies, flowers, food and drinks to serve the wedding party and guests -- this insider's event covered it all.

Pink Rhubarb Smoothies Elegantly Presented at the Juice Bar

The event was complemented by pastel pink & white rose bouquets

Following a sophisticated brunch by Good Gracious! Events that included silver tray champagne service, rhubarb smoothies, Nutella stuffed french toast and other delectable drinks and food those of us attending were enlightened by a panel discussion about the latest trends for California brides and grooms.

Designer bridal salon St. Pucchi located at Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood

Champagne presented with an unexpected garnish

Bite-size Nutella Stuffed French Toast on a bejeweled serving tray 

The press gather before  the panel discussion begins

Leading the chat on West Coast wedding trends were top experts representing different facets of the business

• Wanda Wen, A Soolip Wedding - Soolip Paperie and Press 
• Pauline Parry, Good Gracious! Events - Food & Drink
• David Pressman, David Pressman Events - Event Planning
• Rani Totman, Owner & Designer of St. Pucchi - Wedding Dresses
• Nelson Holdo, Black Starr & Frost - Engagement & Wedding Jewelry

The well-appointed presentation started out with a big Wow! when Nelson Holdo nonchalantly pulled a million dollar yellow diamond ring out of his pocket for us all the see. Except for the Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian and the Crown Jewels in London, I don't think I've ever been that close to a gem of such great beauty and value.

Me with wide eyes after seeing the million dollar diamond up close

Not everyone can afford a diamond of that magnitude but us girls can all dream about one, can't we? Seriously, in case you're wondering: my own engagement ring is gorgeous and still my favorite piece of jewelry after more than 25 years. So for those getting married this year my advice to you is to be sure to select a ring that you truly love so that it will accompany you happily through many years of wedded bliss.

As far as trends go, the panelists all agreed that most notably today's modern bride is getting married at an older age and is more sophisticated than previous generations in her choices. She knows what she wants and she's planning her own wedding -- often joined by the groom for the decision process that once was strictly the domain of the bride's parents. And now more than ever couples are often likely to have a financial stake in the festivities, paying for all or at least part of the expenses involved.

Weddings are tending to be smaller with fewer than 100 guests. But at the same time costs continue to rise because couples are more focused on the details that will make their celebrations more personalized with the average wedding costing $28,700 and the luxury wedding budget hovering around $95,000 and beyond.  Thankfully, for the most part, free-spirited couples today want to own their weddings but they still have a desire to respect and honor their families' traditions.

Truly so much information was imparted at this event, way more than will fit into a single blogpost. 

So, watch for these future MommyBlogExpert posts soon

• 3 Main Things to Consider When Shopping for a Wedding Dress
• Trends in Wedding Dresses & Accessories
• Styling the Groom
• What's Acceptable for Moms Getting Married 
• Tips on Hiring & Working With an Event Planner

Just to show you how much has changed in the last 25 years, here I am with my own bridal party. The inspiration for my wedding dress which I made designed and made myself comes from Lady Diana who married Prince Charles shortly before I took my own vows. All the bridesmaids made their own dresses too.

My mid 1980s Wedding Party - I made my own dress, so did all bridesmaids

How I would love to get married again to my darling hubbie with all the modern elegant options that are available to today's couples tying the knot!

FTC Disclosure: I attended the A Soolip Wedding 2013 press preview event and received a gift bag. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. Opinions in this post are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.