ORION External Battery Bank, Portable Charger Review #orioncharger

I really like my iphone 5 but it doesn't hold a charge for long. Aaah, when I upgraded I thought it was going to be better than the 4 but no way. I don't know about the 6...I will have to see. So, you know now that eternal problem I always have along with my iphone friends and colleagues is how to keep the phone charged. There are a plethora of devices out there on a market now but there are advantages and disadvantages to the various options.  I recently had the opportunity to try out the ORION External Battery Bank and Portable Charger.   It is a light, compact and well-designed charging product. It charges my iphone 5 very quickly.  I have to say it has been working like a champ this week.

This is a high capacity large 6000 mAh high quality Li-ion battery. The company shared that this will recharge your device over 1000 times.  I have gotten there yet but it has been working effectively for me the past few weeks. I like that it has the ability to Dual Charge. It has 5V-2A and 5V-1A USB outputs which works simultaneously for 2 different devices at the same time. USB charging ensures it will work with most all digital devices. I like that is has this unique sliding touch to turn the power bank on and off. Very easy.  It also has something called Smart IC. This is electrical current protection which can help prevent shorting, overheating and overcharging for the ultimate in safety and security.  It also has indication lights so you know when it is charging..4 LED Lights indicate when the ORION  power bank battery is charging.

You can pick up this handy ORION External Battery Bank and Portable Charger right on Amazon, my favorite place to shop.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

AuthenticMe Elements: A Fun and Engaging Self-Discovery Project with Craft for Girls

It can be a real challenge to find a great gift for tween girls.  I know because I have one and she has lots of friends. A tech gift would be an easy way out at a dime a dozen but how long does it really hold their interest? Not too long. I have shelled out plenty for lots of tech that gets burned through quickly. Furthermore, with all this endless tech are we really doing the kids any favors? I don't think so.  I have really worked hard to rein in the tech and have always spent time emphasizing reading and crafts as much as I can. AuthenticMe Elements is a unique option that stands out as something different, educational and fun at the same time. It is a diary, a self-discovery project and a fun craft all rolled up in one.

The AuthenticMe Elements book has 10 chapters that gives plenty of time for tween girls to read, think and respond to the interesting activities that make them look inside themselves. The activities are fun but get them to really explore how they feel about lots of issues and decisions. It gets them looking around and thinking about themselves, their family and their friends. Thinking about what is REALLY important and vital. The book gently reminds girls about healthy habits in this hectic world too.  Healthy eating and how to manage stress in their lives is a big theme which I thought was wonderful.

I mentioned a craft which is actually woven into the concept of the book.  The girls create this cool bracelet as they work though the different activities. They add a special bead for each activity that they complete which serves as a reminder of the life lessons. I like that this book reinforces the smart life skills which I have spent years teaching but I know sometimes I repeat myself so many times before the message sinks in. You can't have too many positive messages for tweens these days. I love that aspect of the book.

The book shows girls different ways to see how others may be feeling and how to best respond. They show girls that you need to put yourself in another girls shoes and practice kindness and acceptance. I talk about this a lot to my daughter.  Just this past week they had a new student start in her class and we talked about how she can be included and made to feel welcome in the class, at the lunch table and out on the school yard in recess. My daughter knows that everyone is new somewhere sometimes including her whether it is a theatre class or sleepaway camp so it is kind to be inclusive because what goes around, comes around.

The authors worked closely with teen girls to create the book concept and make sure that it was on target. It shows through clearly in the subject matter and activities.  My daughter likes that it lets her unplug and learn a little about real life and herself.  The book has different categories where you complete tasks about yourself to earn a bead. She was kind of surprised by some of the questions and how they made her think about things a little bit differently. It made her think about decisions she has made in the past and how she can make alternate choices in the future that might be healthier for her. She likes how it is page by page so it is not overwhelming. She can pick one activity to do each night or a few times a week and really think about it.  She has decided to keep it by her bed to work on at the end of the day when she has time to contemplate the questions and really give it some good thought. She likes how the beads symbolize different areas of discovery and looks forward to completing her bracelet to remind her of the journey.  It will be nice that she will have a little diary of this period in her life. 

The book project was written by two women who work closely with tween girls on a regular basis. Mary Ellen Young is a founder (and current President) of Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence (HGNA), a Downers Grove, IL based non-profit organization that provides a variety of supportive programs for girls and parents. Sandra McDonnell has worked as a Public Relations Director for two Girl Scout Councils and two universities, and served as a Girl Scout troop leader for six years. Mary Ellen Young and McDonnell’s three high school and college-aged daughters helped the authors with different aspects of the book.  Mary Ellen's daughter, Sierra created all the original doodle art.  Nora Young helped with the bracelet designs, and Emma McDonnell researched and selected many of the beads.

The book comes with a kit to make the bracelet with beads that represent the theme of each chapter. The AuthenticMe Elements book and bracelet, priced at $29.50, are available at online at www.authenticme.biz and on Amazon.  This is a wonderful and wholesome gift idea for any tween for Christmas, Hanukkah or a birthday.

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary AuthenticMe Elements in order to review it. All opinions are my own.

Ozeri 3x Tower Fan (44") with Passive NoiseReduction #PostreviewonAmazonandblog

There is nothing like a good fan to circulate the air and cool things off when the weather gets warm.  Most fans are not so stylish though so it has been a challenge to find one that looks good.  I want my fan to blend in seamlessly with my home decor. Finally, Ozeri has come through with a beautiful tower fan that blends form and function seamlessly.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Ozeri 3x 44" Tower Fan. This fan features the very latest in style, innovation and digital décor with its design, slim form factor and elegant glass base stand. It is hard to believe that it is less than 3 inches thick. The 3x Tower fan is one of the world's thinnest fans. It easily blends with my decor in my den. It can get really warm in there all year around because of the skylight. I love how it fits in perfectly. It has 3 independently controlled fans with passive noise cancellation technology. What this means to me is that I get tons of cool air but minimal noise plus the good looks.

Ozeri shared that the 3x Tower Fan's noise reduction technology utilizes the physics of blade curvature to generate mitigating sound waves that reduce blade noise and help isolate the soothing sounds of the airflow itself. That kind of tech is a little beyond my scope but what it means to me is that it moves the air but really quietly unlike traditional fans. The Ozeri 3x Tower fan is engineered with 3 independently controllable fans and 3 fan speeds, offering up to 9 levels of cooling and the ultimate in customized airflow. It also features 3 pre-programmed airflow patterns for the optimal in choice. This Tower fan was totally designed to foster sleep, relaxation and comfort with 90 degree whisper-quiet oscillation for optimal air circulation. It really works beautifully to provide some welcome relief on a sweltering summer day or for refreshing circulation all year long.

The Ozeri 3x Tower Fan also has a 7.5 hour timer that can be programmed in 30 minute increments and it is not complicated to do either. All of the fan's features, including programmable timer are easily controlled via the included extended-range remote or via the touch sensitive LED control panel. The 3x Tower fan is almost ready to go right out of the box too with no complicated setup. It has a dismountable design that only requires the hand assembly of fan base using an included large nut, with no tools required, no headaches just cool air. 

You can pick up this great tower fan from Ozeri right on Amazon for the easiest ever shopping convenience.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Upper Desk Cabinet and Shelf Mount For Ipad and other tablets and devices + a promo code discount #upperdesk

We have the ipad and the ipad mini and I have to say I love them. They pretty much have made my recipe books obsolete. I use it all the time for cooking and baking and it saves me time from cutting out all those recipes and filing them. I like to pin recipes on Pinterest and then I use my ipad as I am cooking. It was always a challenge though because the ipad would get in the way. I would put it on the table but then I was walking back and forth all the time. Until now. I was happy to hear about The Upper Desk. I had the opportunity to review Model 117. The Portable Cabinet Mount has won several awards for product design and innovation. There are two models and they are popular items at many retail stores including Walmart, Office Depot, Tiger Direct, and many others for a few reasons. I know the model I reviewed has several excellent features which work well in my own home.  See what I think below and decide for yourself. You can check out their YouTube video to see how easy it is too.

Upper Desk is a universal portable cabinet mount for tablets and devices ranging from 4-14". The big deal about this is that it is portable, not permanent. You can take it off and put it on in a flash. Ingenious!  It uses this patented Easy-Latch System® that enables the Upper Desk mount to be portable. This handy cabinet mount was perfectly crafted to turn almost any cabinet or shelf into a safe location for your tablet. It saves space and it keeps your device protected and out of the way so you can read your recipe or watch your show in peace. It even works with tablet covers which I know not all mounts do so that is a huge advantage in my mind.

Upper Desk places technology where you need it, when you need it. You can keep it there as long as you need and then move it with no damage to the surfaces. I love using it while I cook, it makes it so much easier for me and frees up the counter and table space. It is great for when my tween and I are cooking together too. We have that much more room to double task and we can both see the recipe easily.  The sleek black and steel design looks modern and fits in perfectly with my kitchen decor too.  I like that Upper Desk uses primarily powder-coated steel with some high-density plastic materials so it feels and looks sturdy. It doesn't wobble when you touch it or tap it. Upper Desk is a great option to use while you perform your daily tasks in and around the house, kitchen, garage or even in your home or corporate office.  This would also be a great gift for a college student to use in their dorm room or off campus apartment.

Upper Desk has several unique features:

• Sleek universal design fits every tablet, with and without protective cases

• Easy-Latch System does not require any drilling or screws, installs in seconds, and fits most cabinets and shelves

• High-quality construction of powder-coated steel and HDPE plastic provides superior performance and longevity for years of use

• Superior engineering yields superior features and ideal function on any surface

You can pick up Upper Desk Cabinet and Shelf Mount right online with a discount now for the ultimate in shopping convenience any time of the day or night. You can get a discount by using the Promo Code 30bucksOFF. You need to use the link above. This is a super Christmas present for the person who has it all in tech so that they can do it all or watch it all anywhere they want. This is a winner gift for 2014 and beyond.  The Portable Cabinet Mount has won several awards for product design and innovation. It is also available on Amazon.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.