tech – The Next Kid Thing

Techlicious Lunch and Learn: Great Tech Gadgets for Travel

August 8, 2018October 2, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s summertime, and for many people, that means it’s time for summer travel! When we talk travel, technology often goes hand in hand. While the idea of unplugging on vacation may be ideal for some, for us, it’s also a chance to test new tech.

Our friends at Techlicious invited us to another great lunch and learn sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association, where we had the chance to get a firsthand look at technology that comes in handy for travel. We take our long roadtrips to Va. in August, so I thought this would be a great time to share about the tech featured at the event. Here’s some of the tech that they highlighted at the event:

Roku Streaming Stick

The Roku Streaming Stick is a great for those who stream and need access to their shows on the go. The Roku Streaming Stick is convenient because you can use your voice to search for content with ease. You can customize your home screen to access your favorite content. And for added convenience, you can stream with private listening, which is a great feature for travelers. Roku

Hum by Verizon

Hum by Verizon adds connected car features to make roadtrips navigate easier. The Hum can help with roadside assistance, stolen vehicle assistance, maintenance reminders, mechanics hotline, vehicle location, boundary alerts, speed alerts, driving history, navigation, discounts and can act as a hotspot. This cool gadget does a little bit of everything and is ideal for vehicles that don’t have connectivity on their own. The device is around $100 and requires a monthly subscription.

Ashley Chloe Helix Cuff

HelixChloe

The Ashley Chloe Helix Cuff is a stylish wearable band allows easy accessibility to your headphones. You can manage your phone calls and listen to music on two different Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

myCharge

I love this limited edition myCharge power bank. The Limited-Edition Pride power bank is white with a Pride Flag heart design and it provides enough power (4,000mAh) for about 2x extra battery life for a smartphone. The Pride Limited Edition power bank features convenient fold-out wall prongs so it can be plugged directly into a wall outlet for recharging, no extra cable needed. The Pride charger only weighs 0.42 lbs., making it the perfect light weight power bank to stash in a bag or pocket for extra battery life while attending Pride festivities, traveling or everyday use.In honor of Pride Month in June and to help support LGBTQ initiatives, myCharge introduced a Limited Edition power bank and committed 5% of sales from the charger to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.

Modobag

Modobag is the world’s first motorized, smart and connected carry-on that gets you to your destination up to three times faster than walking. Modobag I thought this was a really unique gadget, that is sure to turn heads in the airport. Goodness knows, I could use one of these to transport my slow-going kids!

Sony SP700 Noise Canceling True Wireless Headphones

The WF-SP700N’s wireless earbuds let you listen to your favorite tracks with Bluetooth® connection and NFC connectivity, so you won’t be held back by wires.
SonySP700 These headphones are a great alternative to conventional earbuds allowing for more mobility either on the go or for workouts. Fully charged, the headphones give you up to three hours of music playback. While the compact charging case not only keep your headphones secure, but holds a further two full three hour charges letting you power up on the go. That’s up to 9 hours of music playback, so you can keep listening all day.

Thank you to our friends at Techlicious and CTA for providing such an informative presentation about travel gadgets, and, of course, for the delicious lunch and delightful company.

Unique Gifts at Target for the Holidays

December 7, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Several weeks ago, I had the chance to get a preview of holiday gifts at Target. As usual, Target’s gifts and exclusive collaborations don’t disappoint, so I thought I’d highlight just a few of my favorite finds for this holiday season.

1. Tapas Entertaining Set

This very cool Tapas Kit would make a great hostess gift or a delicious alternative for friends who are foodies.

2. Wing Sauce Set

In our home, we are geeks about a lot of things, and that includes Buffalo wings. Almost every Friday night, we head to a local restaurant and indulge in this fried bar staple. It’s hard to find a sauce and consistency that appeals to all of us, so I especially loved this wing sauce set. How fun would this be for fellow wing aficionados or friends who love spices and sauces! And for about $12, you can’t go wrong!

3. Archer Farms Turtle Snack Bites

Okay, so I should totally keep quiet because I may just want these truffles all to myself. Archer Farms always has a great selection of delicious treats, and these Turtle Pecan Snack Bites are no exception. They combine the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness with the taste of a rich pecan Turtle confection. At under $5, you should definitely buy a few of these for stockings or stash them away for the winter. Whichever works.

4. Project MC2 Ultimate Lab Kit

When I first learned the premise behind this cool lab kit, I was immediately smitten. The Project MC2 Ultimate Lab Kit is inspired by Project MC2 which is a show on Netflix about 4 smart girls who love science and use their spy skills to go on missions for a secret organization. This kit includes a working microscope, 30 pieces, such as a funnel, beaker, safety goggles and more. At $45, this science kit would be great for any budding scientist spy!

5. Unicef Kid Powerbands
This was, perhaps, one of my absolute favorite gadgets at the Target Holiday Preview. A fitness tracker for kids, the Powerband is described as one of the first wearables-for-good. The more active kids are, the more power points they earn, which, in turn, becomes a charitable donation of food for less fortunate kids around the world. There’s an app that pairs with the Powerbands where you can track your fitness activities, as well as navigate the different global missions and learn about different countries. For every band sold, Target donates $10 to the United States Fund for Unicef. The bands are available on Target.com for $39.99.

Review: PuroSound Kids’ Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

August 6, 2015October 22, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As technology continues to evolve, as does tech specifically geared to kids. We recently had the chance to review PuroSound Kids’ Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, and it’s safe to say, we were immediately smitten with these cool headphones.

The sleek white headphones were a comfortable fit for my 7 year old, as well as for my 3 year old. The size is easily transitioned from small to bigger, with maintaining a smaller kid-size frame. I was able to try them on for size; though a bit snug for my head, they fit and I was able to listen to the excellent audio from these great headphones.

PuroSound Kids’ Bluetooth Wireless Headphones says:

We designed them especially for kids, but adults can wear them too. They have the most advanced noise limiting solution on the market and they sound great! The volume automatically limits to 85 dB, plus 82% of back ground noise is blocked. They are studio grade audio quality and have an 18 hour battery life.These headphones are amazing and kids love to wear them. We designed them especially for kids, but adults can wear them too. They have the most advanced noise limiting solution on the market and they sound great. The volume automatically limits to 85 dB, plus 82% of back ground noise is blocked. They are studio grade audio quality and have an 18 hour battery life.

As far as headphones for kids, PuroSound developed a great product. They’re aesthetically pleasing, functional, durable and a great fit for kids and tweens. My 7-year-old loved that these headphones are bluetooth-enabled. I can’t tell you how many kid headphones we’ve had to toss because the cord became dysfunctional. I appreciate that these headphones are sleek, have a longer battery life and offer a volume-limiting solution, ideal for my kid who insists on blasting his headphones.

PuroSound Kids’ Bluetooth Wireless Headphones can be found on Amazon for $79.99.

Full disclosure: we received a sample to facilitate this review. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.

Spring Fun with Paul Frank Kids Apparel

May 19, 2014May 19, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Paul Frank is brightening our spring days with a fun selection of graphic tees for the kids. This line embraces Paul Frank’s emphasis on fun and being carefree. Ideal for spring and summer days, the tees feature Paul Frank’s eclectic graphics and friendly faces, like our pal Julius!

Biggie is trying to be a ninja here. Don’t be afraid.

I checked out the girls’ tees online, and as expected, they’re super cute. I always love though, how Paul Frank caters to both boys and girls. Tees like the ones my guys are enjoying can be found at retailers such as Nordstrom.com, Macys.com, Amazon.com, Lord & Taylor, Bon Ton and Belk.com.

In addition to fun kids apparel, you can share your Paul Frank love on your iPhone case. On GetUncommon.com, you can customize a variety of iPhone cases with pics complemented with Paul Frank graphics. With the Dot Julius, Happy Julius or I Love Julius styles to choose from, not only can you share the Paul Frank love, but you can also show off your loved ones’ faces too.

I ordered the Dot Julius case, and I can’t wait to see how it turned out! I love these cases!

Full disclosure: As a Saban Brand-bassador, I received samples to facilitate this review. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.

First Look: LeapFrog Unveils LeapBand

April 30, 2014May 1, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Fitness Trackers just made a big leap, but this time, they’re tracking the kids. Educational entertainment powerhouse, LeapFrog, unveiled the LeapBand, a wearable activity tracker designed for kids. Part gaming device, part fitness tracker and part virtual pet, the LeapBand is touted as being the first of its kind.

The LeapBand activity tracker gets kids moving and having fun with 50 different activities and challenges, tracking a child’s physical moves so the more active a child is, the more points they earn with their virtual pet. As the child earns points through active play, they can unlock additional games, challenges, levels of play and virtual rewards for their on-screen pet.

Just like a gaming device, the kid is rewarded with play. The wearable aspect creates a new dimension for kids who are on the go. The more activity and physical movement a kid does, the more points they get.

My first thoughts? As an entry level fitness tracker for kids, this thing is pretty unique. It retails for around $40, and it’s something that can engage an active kid who also appreciates games and virtual pets. Because the device is geared to 4-7 year olds, the LeapBand is image-based, as opposed to text and numbers often seen in the adult fitness trackers. Another difference for the LeapBand is that data collection will be geared to parents and not the manufacturer.

The fact that we “need” a device like this is a whole different discussion. Physical activity should begin at home; a toy shouldn’t be the sole motivator to get moving. Ultimately, there’s nothing like playing outdoors totally unplugged. That said, I appreciate that this technology encourages physical activity and healthy habits.

With the likes of Nike Fuel, Jawbone Ups and Fitbit catering to the adult fitness market, LeapFrog is hoping to tap into this emerging trend. According to NPD Group, the overall digital fitness device market is said to be worth $330 million in 2013. As tablets for kids are on the rise, could wearable tech be the next big thing? The reaction I’m seeing and hearing so far sound decidedly skeptical. Ultimately, it’s the consumers who determine the need and demand so, we’ll see!

My older guy is at the older end of the target demo. I can see him getting a kick out of feeding his unicorn or other virtual pet. As an active athlete, however, the LeapBand would strictly be an at-home toy.

Between school and after school sports, I’m not sure he’d benefit from the fitness tracking. Is this something his school and coaches would allow? Probably not. Nevertheless, having the ability to care for his pet on his wrist? That, right there, would keep him entertained at doctor’s offices or playing in the backyard.

At the launch event, we were able to get a quick glimpse of the LeapBand. Here’s a quick demo:

Weigh in: is the LeapBand something your child would enjoy? Or do you think wearable fitness trackers for kids is unnecessary?

SheBuysCars and Toyota Host Girls’ Night Out at NYIAS

April 26, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Earlier this week, at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), car manufacturers unveiled a lineup of new and concept cars for the auto industry and the public to revel and revere.

Just before the doors opened to the general public, however, together with an esteemed group of women bloggers, I was able to get a sneak peek of events. SheBuysCars, Toyota and NYIAS, who were the organizers and sponsors of the Girls’ Night Out event, hosted a wonderful presentation and fun events for what was, perhaps, the first female-focused gathering of its kind at NYIAS.

According to an article in Forbes:

Here’s what is true: Women buy just over half of all cars sold in the United States and take part in 80 percent of all family car-buying decisions. And women car buyers do more research than men, generally speaking.

As a tech enthusiast and blogger who has been to my fair share of car and auto media events, I absolutely appreciated the girls’ night out presented by SheBuysCars. It was a platform for the NYIAS to speak to us directly, and for us, women and members of the media, to get a firsthand look at the some of the most sleek, chic and technologically-advanced cars—even if some were just for show.

I loved that my friends and fashion experts, Audrey and Vera, were on hand to discuss trends in fashion. More often than not, style and fashion trends are parallel with style aspects of new cars. The colors, designs and how it all meshes together, makes all the style choices come full circle.

Just a few of the cars and sights I loved while taking a tour of the NYIAS showroom floor:

The NYIAS is open until tomorrow, if interested in checking out these rides for yourself.

It’s Easy Being Green

April 26, 2013April 26, 2013 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Next Kid Thing: Easy Being Green by jenrab featuring t-shirts

To round out Earth Week, I thought I’d do a round up of green things that we’re currently loving. In addition to some earth friendly items, I included some goodies and gear that we’re already playing with, or are on our ongoing wish list.

l-r clockwise

1. Hello Kitty Raincoat

A departure from the classic yellow slicker, this fun raincoat features the iconic and super-cute Hello Kitty. In addition to the frog raincoat Kitty’s wearing in the graphic, ruffles in back make this chic raincoat stand out in girly outerwear.

2. HDMX Jams Portable Speaker

We are a techy family to say the least, but we’re all about unplugging, too! And when I say unplug, that also goes for wireless technology. I love this HDMX Jams Portable Speaker for so many reasons. Beyond its cool packaging (Jam, get it?), these Blue-tooth compatible speakers pack a punch. For less than $50, the speakers offer an affordable way to share jams with friends, better yet, for those impromtu dance parties with your iphone!

3. Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Playmates makes the hot-again TMNT action figures and sets. If you have boys who are into this sort of thing, perhaps you’re already familiar with the buzz with these familiar ninja-savvy turtles. Donnie is the brains behind the guys (er, turtles’) Ooze-Zooka, so beware, Kraang and the Foot Clan!

4. Lunch Bots Quatro

I love love love Lunch Bots stainless steel containers. The quatro has dividers to give the container the Bento Box treatment, which is especially helpful for school or work lunch, and even appeasing those eaters who just can’t have their food touching.

5. Feeding Baby Green by Dr. Alan Greene

I have been such a fan of Dr. Greene since before Biggie was born. I read his articles and books throughout my pregnancy and subsequent first years as a mom. Dr. Green released Feeding Baby Green a few years ago, but his message on how to feed baby healthy, wholesome food is as timeless as it is invaluable.

6. Hello Kitty Hello Spring

This adorable book from Abrams came to me on a cold wintry day. So, now as the brighter, sunny days reflect the pages in this Hello Kitty book, we can all finally say, Hello Spring. Perfect for the littlest to biggest Hello Kitty fan, this book embraces the best aspects of the season, highlighting them in such a way that Hello Kitty does best.

7. Ruum t-shirt

New this year, Ruum is finding a way to make classic and modern styles merge in our kids’ closets. The company once known as 77Kids was bought by the former head of The Children’s Place, so expect to find fun, functional and sometimes funky clothes from Ruum (sounds like room). Tees like this one showcase the fun fashion that Ruum embodies.

8. Washi tape

I’m absolutely obsessed with washi tape! This paper tape that comes in a myriad of designs can be used for virtually anything—crafts, decor, day-to-day usage and more. We currently use washi tape for labeling and a number of crafts. You can find washi tape in crafts stores and on Etsy.

9. Little Green Shampoo and Body Wash

We test out a lot of kid bath products, and one that we’re currently loving is this Little Green Shampoo and Body Wash. I received several samples of this line in a swag bag a few years ago, and recently learned that this is a local product, as in the creator’s spa is 2 miles away. What’s great about this combo shampoo and body wash is that it cleans everything without drying the hair our skin out. There’s no parabens, allergens or sulfates and is formulated for sensitive skin like my guys. Love this line and can’t wait to try out the other products.

10. Trash Pack Garbage Truck

If you asked me what toys were going to be big in my house last year, I honestly would have never guessed it would be trash. And when I say ‘trash,’ I’m of course referring to Moose Toys’ Trash Pack. Despite their small size, these toys are huge in my house. I wrote about them around Halloween and how we gave them out for our Trunk or Treat, and like the Pied Piper, the neighborhood kids still ask me if I have more. So, when Christmas time came around, Santa remembered this and gifted Biggie with a Garbage Truck to go with said Trash Pack. Our Trash Pack Garbage Truck came with Series 3 Trashies like Putrid Boot and Scrummy Screen. Collecting things didn’t get big for us until last year, so the Trash Pack has become a mainstay around here. The garbage truck complements the collectibles and is often used to transport and store these eraser-like toys.
And because the Trash Pack has moved onto series 4, be on the look out for a review of their latest and greatest.