Archive for the ‘Thursday: Reviews’ Category
Run Training App Review
I am many things; mom, wife, friend, kids belts inventor, and so on, but there is one thing I am not, I am not a runner. I don’t understand it. I’d even go as far as to say if I ever had to run for my life, I’d probably die. As I’ve said before, my assistant has gotten into running. She’s even gone as far as to run 3.25 miles straight, without stopping. I know what you are thinking, “What’s wrong with her?” Ha ha! I joke! I think it’s great and she went from barely being able to run in 30 second intervals to running a whole 5K in 6 and 1/2 weeks. How’d she do it? Well, she just happened to let me in on her secret.
Yep, its an app… You should have seen that one coming! My fondness for apps has outweighed my hatred of running. I downloaded the Run Training App and it looks really helpful. I decided to recruit some of the other moms at Bugs school to start this with me. I’m hoping that together we can push and encourage each other to go farther and really do this.
This App has some really great features (Note: this app does cost $2.99, but there is a free version that you can use 6 times prior to deciding if you want to purchase it). The first feature that I really like is the Mode section. That is where you can choose how you want to train. There are 4 main modes (all modes keep track of your time, distance, pace, and calories burned):
- Free Mode – Allows you to just get out and run.
- Route Mode – Allows you to set up a routes for different places that you may run.
- Training Mode – My favorite mode. This is where you can choose what you want to train towards, ie. 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon (Good night! Why on earth would you want to put yourself through that???) What’s nice is that in training mode it gives you voice cues as to when to run and when to walk.
- Goal Mode – This mode allows you to set up either a distance goal or a time goal and then announces when you are halfway there.
This app also keeps track of a calendar for you and every time you run it logs it on the calendar without you having to take an extra step.
You can go back and look at your history and see how each run compares to the previous one.
The last thing I’ll mention is a cool sort of techie feature. It keeps a map of where you ran so you can actually see how far you went! I think that’s super cool because I am a visual person. You can select the street view, satellite view or a hybrid view.
Overall, even though I’m not a runner (no matter how many times my assistant says “Oh, you’d be surprised! You’ll love it!”), I really like this app and I think that it will be a great asset on my overall journey to health this year!
Blessings,
Customize Me
Earlier this year, in my kids belts blog, I admitted that my new year resolution is to work on my health. My overall health, not just weight, but with that being said, weight does play a roll in better health. Last week I started a running program (maybe I’ll review that app next week), so that is working on my strength and cardio, now I need to work on cutting calories and fat and all that fun stuff. Well, hubby and I wanted to go out to dinner a few nights ago (I know, eating right and eating out are a dangerous combination) and we decided on Red Robin… Yummm.
Once we were seated, I did the responsible thing (bleh… I know) and asked for their nutrition facts. What I was given both surprised and delighted me. You all know by now that I have an iPhone app addiction, so when the waiter said that there’s an app for that, I was sold!(PS they have an online version too, check it out)
I downloaded the Red Robin Customizer app and it is super cool.
The home screen of this app has two options: Create a Meal or My Saved Meals. When you click on “Create a Meal” it takes you to the Red Robin menu. You can choose any item, from burgers, to wraps, to chicken sandwiches, to appetizers to sides and so on and so on… Say you want a chicken sandwich, click on chicken sandwich and then surf through their options. Let’s pick the Chicken Caprese Sandwich. You can click on the “customize” button and suddenly, the sandwich separates by ingredient. you can then delete an item, or switch an item out by sliding the item back and forth. It’s so cool! As you are doing this, you can switch back and forth between that and the nutrition. Once you get the sandwich to the calories you want, you can then add on to the meal with a side, dessert and beverages. You can also save that meal for next time so you don’t have to take the time to do it again.
I have to say, this will totally take the guess work out of eat out at Red Robin. I wish every restaurant had one. My word, could you imagine my phone if they did?? It would explode!!!
Blessings,
Dreamy Dream Zoo
Oh, iPhone, you never let me down… In a world, where I am being pummeled (yes pummeled, my assistant is a brute) with kids belts deadlines and decisions, I can still sneak off into the corner of the room and indulge in a little dreamy escape called “Dream Zoo”.
I know that my app obsessions change weekly, sometimes daily, ok, sometimes several times daily, but that’s ok, right, whatever keeps mama happy… or sane… whichever the case may be and for me it’s iPhone apps. What’s the harm? The majority are free and if they aren’t, $0.99 isn’t too bad (I know I am sounding a bit hypocritical after my Value of a Dollar post, but don’t judge me).
This weeks app is Dream Zoo, its an addictive time suck. The people at Zynga have done it again. They have created some of my favorite games and Dream Zoo has not let me down.
The premise behind the game is to build your dream zoo. You start off with a small piece of property and an animal and go from there. Everything you do earns you more coins, hearts and bills. You can use those as forms of payment when purchasing more land, animals, decor, storks and such. You can interact with other (friends or random people) zoos to earn more hearts and coins. You can breed your animals to create champion bloodlines. The possibilities are endless. The animals even need to be fed and bathed!
I have also realized that the people who design and sell these apps are genius’. They suck you into playing and then sell you little bits of nothing for $.99 here and $.99 there. To be clear, I still have not spent any extra money on this game. I patiently wait to earn the hearts/coins/bills needed to “purchase” whatever it is I want. However, I am sure that there are a whole lot of people who do participate in those in-app purchases. Wow… maybe I am in the wrong business.
Anyway, back to Dream Zoo. There are a few things that I am not so crazy about when it comes to this app. It crashes a little more than I would like which is frustrating. It’s also such a new app that there isn’t much support out there (even on Zynga’s website) and there are no instructions anywhere that I can find. I sort of feel like their guinea pig in the testing phase, but I can play for free, so I’m not complaining… too much anyway.
If you have an iPhone, iPod, iPad, iWhatever, you should download it and see what all the fuss is about and if you want to add me as your neighbor (code RVHMLB), that wouldn’t be a bad thing!
Blessings,
Weelicious App
I have an iPhone App addiction, I know this… I have embraced it because it’s really useless to fight it. I love the variety of apps out there, games, entertainment, books, utilities, social networking… and so on.
As I have mentioned before, besides being an awesome kids belts inventor, I am also a mom and as such, I try my hardest to be the best mom I can be. I am not perfect my any means, but I do have spurts of greatness… 
One thing I like to do, is cook for Super Dude and Bug. I found a website a long time ago (and have even shared recipes from there, read this blog post) called Weelicious and fell in love. They offer tons of recipes for all ages (seriously, even baby food!) and they are usually quick, easy and relatively healthy.
My assistant brought it to my attention that there is a Weelicious App. I know, I don’t know why she did that either, but she did and yes, I love it.
This app has so many features that it’s hard to know where to start, but one really cool feature is the videos. The videos are tutorials for how to prepare the recipe and she posts at least one a month. I like this because I can review the video before I prepare the dish so I know what to expect.
Then I can go in and check out the recipe which can add to my favorites so it’s super easy to find the next time and how cool is it that it will even make my shopping list for me?? They must know that I will lose a paper list. While on the recipe page, you can scroll to the bottom and read comments and reviews for that recipe.
Speaking of recipes… I think they have something for every palate, every taste bud, every age and even variations for food allergies. I really like the fact that they not only separate them by category (including, but not limited to holiday categories, age categories and meal type categories), but they also have a search feature if you are looking for a specific ingredient.
Then, there is this “More” tab, which includes even more great stuff. It breaks down the food groups and gives you recipes that fit into them. There are tips for getting your kids to eat, trying new things, and feeding plans for babies. The health tab is amazing because it shows you all of the vitamins and minerals, explains why we need them and where you can find them!
Overall, I love this app (in case you couldn’t tell). I can’t think of anything I would change or add. If you are a parent with a smart phone, I highly recommend this app. Did I mention that it’s a FREE app? That makes it like a bazillion times better!
Blessings.
The Battle of the Craft Store Apps
I think I may have a problem…. Hello, my name is Michelle and I am a craft-oholic. “Hi, Michelle”.
In addition to spending the day making kids belts, being a mom, and being a loving wife, I love to craft (thus my previous blog about Pinterest). I enjoy creating things and I REALLY enjoy craft stores. I have to say that a craft store to me is like a candy store to a kid. I don’t know where to start, I get overwhelmed and all tingly inside and I want to run through the isles grabbing everything I can fit in the shopping cart!
Recently, I came across something that made me happy. I found the iPhone Apps for Michael’s and Joann Fabrics! Now, I can get my craft store fix from the comfort of my own couch at 11:00 pm if I want! I am enjoying both apps, but I have to say that the Michael’s App is winning in my book.
Here are my comparisons of the two apps:
Michael’s…………………………………………………………JoAnn Fabrics
Able to view weekly ads…………………………………………….n/a
Able to view Events/Classes………………………………………n/a
QR Scanner…………………………………………………………..n/a
Coupon Barcodes to be scanned at store……………………….Coupon Code to be typed in at store
DIY Projects with Supply Lists……………………………………..n/a
Browse Products…………………………………………………….Browse Products
n/a…………………………………………………………………….Shop Online
Able to create shopping lists………………………………………n/a
Searchable Location Maps………………………………………..Searchable Location Maps
Coupon Text Alerts (optional)……………………………………..n/a
Do you see why my winner is Michaels? They just have so many more options, but I have to give Joann’s a kudos for having an App. One other thing I don’t like about Joann’s App is that in order to view and save the coupons to your “wallet” you have to give them your phone number. I’m not crazy about that, because I am worried about telemarketers having my number. I’d rather register with an email address, then I can choose what I want to read and what I want to delete.
I like both Apps, both feed my need for crafts, one just more efficient than the other. Ok, maybe I should have introduced myself better, “Hello, my name is Michelle and I am a craft-oholic and an iPhone App-oholic.”
Blessings,
Magic Mesh, not so magical
I got sucked into the “As Seen on TV” section of our local flea market. I know, I promise I haven’t lost my mind. I just like to see the newest gadgets that they swear we can’t live with out. (Something you really can’t live without? Dapper Snappers kids belts!)
One of the newest must-haves was something called “Forever Lazy“. Really? Because our nation isn’t quite stagnant enough that we now can stay in a one piece pajama set all day? My favorite part of their pitch is “Has Zippered Hatches in Front and Back, for Great Escapes When Duty Calls”. So, now you don’t even have to bother with taking the thing off when you have to go to the bathroom. Nice…
Anyway, back to my visit to the TV section. I did get hooked by a product. You all know that we moved into a new place not to long ago. Well, this place has an amazing screened-in back porch. However, the screen door does not work so well for Sammy dog who thinks she can come and go as she pleases.
There it was… a solution to my problem… the Magic Mesh…
The premise is simple, attach one side of the Velcro to the door facing and the other side is attached to the Magic Mesh. Then all you do is match up the Velcro and tada! you have a screen door. Now you, your family and pets can come and go without having to open any close doors.
In theory, it’s a good idea, but being the inventor that I am, I think it could use some upgrades. The first being the Velcro. I think that is a bad choice. I know that it makes it removable, but the glue side of the Velcro doesn’t stick that well to all surfaces and tends to fall down easily as it has been doing at my house. The other thing that should be added is a weighted bottom. The way it’s set up now, you have to hope that the magnets come close enough to each other to clasp, which doesn’t always happen. I think that weights would help with that because it would fall back into place.
All in all, if you have the right door to hang it from, it’s not too bad but it’s not too great either. More often than not, Sammy dog has walked into the house dragging the Magic Mesh behind her. It hasn’t made it back up since the last time that happened. Boo… I wanted it to work.
Blessings,
Hanging with Friends
So, my new obsession is Hanging with Friends. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s basically a cutesy version of hangman. It’s super addicting especially if you are at all competitive which I am and currently my assistant is beating me. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that, I mean, shouldn’t she at least let me win?
There are times throughout the day when I need a mind break from working on my kids belts and my go to distraction is now this game. It’s nice because it keeps me thinking and stratigizing (is that a word?) in way that is different from my day to day thinking and stratigizing. A good deal of what I tend to do at work is stare at a computer screen. Whether it’s designing a new pattern (which can be awfully mind-numbing at times) or answering emails or seeking out new ways to spread the word about Dapper Snappers, while I love it, it is monotonous. As a result, I like to break up the day with a game or two of Hanging with Friends.
Here’s how it goes, once you have started a game (either with a random person or a friend), you use your random tiles to create a word. You get points for the letters you use in your word. The points are used to purchase your lifelines (see more below). Your opponent then has anywhere from 4 to 8 chances (depends on the length of your word) to guess your word. Once they have guessed your word, or have run out of chances, they get to put together a word for you to guess and it all starts over. Once one of you has missed 5 words, the game is over. Simple enough.
They just came out with some new updates that I love and some changes that I’m not so fond of. I love the fact that you can now see how your opponent tried to guess your word, that way I can see what letters they tend to choose first and stay away from them. That’s where that whole stratigizing (if I use it more than 3 times, does that make it a word?) thing comes into play. Then there are the lifelines (sometimes free, sometimes 20 coins) that come in handy as well. There are several to choose from:
When guessing your opponents word:
- Suspects – reveals 4 letters, one of which is actually in the word.
- Extinguish – removes 4 incorrect letters from your tray.
- Revive – will remove one strike from you.
When creating a new word:
- Tune-Up – lets you swap out letter tiles for randomly-drawn new ones
- Conjure – gives you one magic blank tile that can become any letter you want
One of the things I don’t particularly like since they updated the game is that the bonus tile (DL, TL, TW) seems to more often than not just be double letter. Before there was a good mix of all of the bonus tiles, now, not so much. I know it’s because they want to limited the point you earn, which in turn limits the number of coins you earn. That way you will purchase coins to be able to use your lifelines. It’s not fair. But, alas life isn’t fair and that one little gripe isn’t going to keep me from playing the game.
So that’s how I kill time, when I know I should really be doing something constructive… oh well, there’s always later!
Blessings,
It really sucks!
It does… really… my vacuum that is, and if there is ever a time that you want something to suck, it would be with your vacuum! There is nothing I hate more (well, ok, maybe some things… war, famine, disease, but you get my point) than when you spend the money on a “good” vacuum, only to get it home and not have it work well.
It’s my experience, in the world of kids belts, that when you produce a product for a specific purpose it should, at the very least, perform whatever that function may be. However, for reasons unknown to me, vacuums don’t seem to fall under that mold. Some work well, some are sort of in between and some are so bad you would be better off getting on your hands and knees and picking the dirt up manually. Totally defeats the purpose of having a vacuum in the first place.
I must say, though, that I have finally found a vacuum that I like that and it didn’t break the bank! It’s the Dirt Devil Power Air Cyclonic. I love the fact that it has amazing suction. Most of you know we just moved, but what you don’t know is that the house has ZERO carpet. That means lots of tile and laminate flooring. Many of the other vacuums I used would just push the dirt around, but not this one. It has a silicone strip that helps catch any dirt that may have not been sucked up, so that you get it on the back stroke! It’s super lightweight and very easy to clean. Overall, I am very pleased.
There are just a few cons to this handy piece of equipment. The first being that it’s very loud which is only amplified by the lack of sound absorbing materials (ie. carpet). The second being that the filter is replaceable. I would have preferred to have a filter that I could just clean out rather than having to remember that in 6 months I need to purchase another filter. The last is that it’s not the best for corners of rooms. It’s sort of hard to get it to get all the way into the corners to pick up the dirt.
So that’s my two cents on my vacuum. I hope it serves you well and comes in handy if you are in the market to purchase a new one!
Blessings,
Target Weight App Review
I feel as though I am fighting a never ending weight loss battle. I also feel as though its not one I will ever win because when I do get down to the weight that will make me happy, I will then have a new battle, a battle to stay that coveted weight.
I have tried all kind of diets and a few years ago I got down to a weight that I loved, then life caught up to me again and kids happened.
This is not going to be a blog about dieting though (even though I could literally go on for hours about that). This is going to be a blog about a weight loss aid, the Target Weight App.
I think it goes without saying but I am a busy mom (who isn’t, I know). Mamapreneur, inventor, kids belt manufacturer by day and a loving wife, devoted mom and puppy wrangler (or is that devoted pet owner and kid wrangler?) by night so I don’t have a lot of time in my schedule to track my weight, BMI and my goals.
This app is great because it does that for me. The home screen shows me how many pounds I have left to lose as well as how many days I have left to lose them. It shows me my current weight, BMI and even a graph that shows my progress (which I love, because it makes me feel like I have actually done something). Another really neat function of this app is that it will show you how long it will take you to reach you goal at your current rate of weight loss. This app will also sync with the Withings Body Scale, but unfortunately, I don’t have one so I really can’t say how well that side of it works.
This app has become a great accountability partner for me. On the app thumbnail on my phone’s home screen it even has a little red circle with the amount of weight I have to lose to reach my goal. So, basically, I have a little red nag every time I need to use my phone, but that’s ok, I know I need it and hey, I’m down 18 so far! So I am on my way!
Now, if I could find an app that would give me all the nourishment I need without actually having to eat, I’d be set… Oh iPhone gods, where are the good apps when you really need them?
Blessings,
Bringrr me my phone…
How many of us have thought of doing just that? Destroying our cell phones (newer cell phones mind you, that’s a really old model).
I have a love hate relationship with mine… I love to hate it and it hates to love me. Such a necessary evil, though. As much as we hate them and as much as we feel constantly connected to everyone, everything, everywhere ALL the time, we have become a society dependent on them and heaven forbid we forget that precious little electronic cellular telephone at home!
Show of hands, please, who of you still have a land line? Now, a show of hands, how many are asking yourselves what a “land line” is…? Exactly… a sad sign of the times. It used to be that when you made plans with someone, you actually had to show up because once they left their house, you couldn’t reach them. “Pashaw”, you say, “she’s crazy”, that may be true, but I do fondly remember those rotary dial phones. (If any of you ask what a rotary phone is, I may scream!)
Squirrel!
Anyway, back to what I’m here to do, talk to you about the Bringrr. The Bringrr is an amazing little device that is designed to make sure you don’t leave your cell phone at home, or at the office or where ever you have been spending your afternoon.
Tada! It’s super simple to use (so easy a caveman… oh wait… wrong commercial). All you have to do is make sure your bluetooth is turned on in your phone and set it to “discoverable” mode and turn the car’s engine on. Next, plug the Bringrr into your power outlet in your car then press and hold the Bringrr Button until you hear the beep. Now, on your phone, press Search for Devices and select BRINGRR from the list to pair with the device. You will hear another beep from it once the pairing process is complete. That’s it!
Now, every time you start your car up, the device will search for your phone. If it finds your phone, it emits a quick tone turns blue and then all is right with the universe and you can back out of your driveway and happily proceed on your journey knowing that your cell phone is stowed somewhere in your car. (The other nice thing is that it will notify you if the battery in your phone dies during your trip.)
If your phone is not in the car, it instantly goes into self destruct mode and you have 30 secs to find your phone and get it in the car or everything explodes… JUST KIDDING!! If it doesn’t find your phone, it will sound an alarm and the light turns red. Once you have your phone with you in the car, the light goes back to blue and the alarm stops.
I love it. I can’t tell you how many times I have scrambled out the door with a dog in one hand, back packs in another, a cup of coffee in another and a handful of kids belts in the other (yes I have that many hands, I AM a mom, remember?) only to get loaded up and arrive at my destination to find out I forgot my phone. Ugh… the Bringrr has saved my butt many a morning! The only draw back I have seen is that some mornings it takes a little longer than others and I have been down the road a bit when it alerted me, but overall, I would recommend it!
Blessings,