I am literally jumping up & down with excitement about the Slingbox SOLO. In my opinion this is the coolest thing to happen to tv since the dvr. I am a tv addict but even if you are not, this is a product that will be an asset to your life. Basically the Slingbox SOLO hooks up to pretty much any home theater device you might have - in my case we hooked it up to our DISH dvr box. It will then make it possible to watch your tv on your computer via Internet - anywhere in the world. You don't just have the ability to watch live tv but you can also watch your dvr events, even schedule your dvr to record. You have all the same features you would have if you were sitting in front of the tv in your own home, including the ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward live tv. We travel a great deal and I am spoiled at home with the ability to watch my shows the next day (and fast forward), so it is really cool to be able to still do that through my computer no matter what hotel I'm stuck in. If you happen to have a laptop with an aircard you can watch your shows or entertain your children on a long car ride. There are seriously so many options when it comes to using your Slingbox!
My favorite feature that can be used once you have a slingbox is the SlingPlayer Mobile. I am still amazed with it!! It took me only moments to download the app ($29.99) from the app store and to start watching my dvr right from my iPhone. I have a fairly slow internet connection in my home so I worried that the quality would be poor or pausing to load. It is honestly just like watching my tv. This is incredible to me!! Since my dvr holds 200 hours of programming in addition to the ability to watch live tv - the entertainment possibilities are endless. Now instead of constantly buying iTune episodes of the Backyardigans - I can just let me son watch the ones that are taped on my dvr. It keeps him entertained while we run errands and it is such an asset when we are stuck in a long line or waiting room. I love it because I can catch up with my shows in the carpool line or while my kids are running amok at the jumping place. I can watch Project Runway while in the laundry room or take a relaxing bath and enjoy a juicy episode of Gossip Girl. You can literally watch tv wherever you want!
As far as bluetooth headset's go - the new Jawbone ICON would be the Rolls Royce in my book. The 6 different styles of ICON are like nothing I have ever seen before - they're stylish, elegant, and modern. Actually, everything about the ICON is impressive right down to the packaging. It comes in a clear container appearing to float inside the package. It wows before you even unwrap it. Once opened you discover that it comes complete with 3 fit earbuds, 4 round earbuds, and an earloop. What this means for you is that you no longer have to settle for one size fits all. You can customize your ICON to fit the way you want it to, whether it be looped over your ear or snuggled inside. I usually hate the way earbuds feel because due to what I can only guess is an abnormally tiny ear - they actually hurt the cartilage inside my ear. I assumed that the ICON earbuds would be the same, but to my surprise - it fit very comfortably and stayed in place incredibly well!
There is even more to love about this stylish hands free device! The sound quality is incredible. It actually uses technology that was developed for use in tanks and helicopters. It is the only bluetooth headset that has a Voice Activity Sensor - which actually feels your speech - making it possible to distinguish your voice from the background noise. It then uses it's NoiseAssassin technology to eliminate the background noise making your voice crystal clear.
It charges with the included USB charger or the included wall adapter. I love the way the USB charger elevates the ICON. It not only looks cool but it keeps me from accidentally sitting on it. It charges quickly and will give you up to 4.5 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time. I seriously LOVE this headset. If I am on the phone then I am using my ICON. It makes my driving much safer, my typing skills greatly improved, and it not only keeps makeup residue off my touchscreen but it keeps me from accidentally muting, holding, or pressing speaker on my calls. I can now change a diaper, prepare dinner, even bathe a toddler without worrying about dropping my phone in something damaging or having to find a way to do these tasks with just one hand. It is a really helpful device to have would make a great gift for both male and female. My husband has certainly been admiring mine! Check out the Jawbone site to get your own or to buy one for that special someone on your Valentine's Shopping List (trust me - this will get a better response than flowers!).
If there was one thing my husband wanted this holiday season, it was a pair of golf shoes. He didn't know exactly what pair he wanted but once he tried on the new Adidas Tour 360 Pro 4.0 - his mind was made up. I don't know much about golf so I thought I would let my husband share why he thinks they are so amazing. He plays golf as much as possible and actually was the recipient of a golf scholarship. In the words of my husband:
I have always loved the way DJ's mix music together. I have even tried to do it myself and quickly discovered it was not an easy task to do. Thanks to DJ Hero I can get closer than ever before to mixing some really great beats. I have been seriously enjoying this game and so has my husband! This came as a shock to me because he typically hates any type of video game. DJ Hero lets you use an authentic turntable controller. You push the colored buttons on beat with the screen and you have to scratch the board as directed. It is not as easy as it sounds but it is certainly addictive! If you get far enough into the mix without a mistake you get to pull the turntable back and rewind. It is a major goal of mine to rewind as much as possible! As you get past the easy setting you actually get to cross fade the songs too. There are more than 102 songs made into unique mixes. Some of my favorite artists are mixed in a way I've never heard before. Artists like Eminem, 50 cent, Marvin Gaye, The Killers, Weezer, 2Pac, Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, and the Black Eyed Peas. Some of the tracks even allow a guitar to join in a play along! The mixes are so good I wish they had a soundtrack I could take in my car. With beats like that, it's the perfect way to get a party going - you can even set up a party playlist. If you have another turntable, you and friends can mix together! Everyone who notices it in our home wants to play and soon becomes hooked. It's pretty much impossible not to enjoy the music at the very least. I love it. My friends love it. My husband loves it. I think this is a gift that is sure to be appreciated this holiday season!!
Not Just Any Old Day has the perfect item to commemorate that special day in your life. Whether it be your wedding day, your child's birthday, even your birthday. Everyone has a special day in there life and this is the perfect way to highlight it. I love the beautiful Calendar Charm Necklaces. The antique feel of the skeleton style key appeals to me from the first glance. You can put the swarovski crystal of your choosing on the date that matters to you. The end result is a stunning piece of jewelry that you will treasure. I was lucky enough to have one created for the special moments in my life - all of which took place in August. My wedding and the birth of both my sons were all in August. They were able to put 3 swarovski cystals on my calendar charm to show each date! I get so many compliments and questions about this one of a kind necklace. I think it is the perfect gift for any mother or grandmother. It would also make a touching present for a new bride. I am beyond impressed with the craftsmanship and quality of the necklace. It is truly beautiful. You can get yours in sterling silver or if you want to go all the way, you can purchase one in 14k gold with a diamond!! You can also get calendar charm bracelets, cuffs, even key rings!
We all want to look our best in photographs. With the help of Serif's PhotoPlus X3 Studio we can enjoy some of the advantages celebrities have. You can easily brighten your eyes, whiten your teeth, even smooth out some wrinkles in the Makeover Studio. PhotoPlus X3 Studio will also make fixing your photos a breeze. You can crop, resize, brighten, even adjust shadows, and so much more. You can get in touch with your creative side by trying out the different artistic styles, adding special effects, you can even warp or animate your images. I loved the easy to use cutting tool that allowed me to remove the person or object from a photo - then place them into a different image or solid background. I spend lots of time editing photos and I was really impressed by this program. It was very simple to use and the how-to menu made it even easier. I learned how to do many things just by watching their video tutorials (which I also found inspiring). The images I have created using this program are my favorites. They are the photos that will be appearing the Christmas calendar that I give out to grandparents and on our Christmas card. They are the photos that fill my brag book. If you know someone who loves to take pictures or fiddle with images, even just someone who likes to be able to crop & remove red-eye, this is a great gift for them! I'm addicted and I have the fabulous photos to prove it!
I'm sure the rest of the world has already stumbled unto the fun of Guitar Hero but for me Band Hero was my first experience. I had NO idea how additively fun it would be! Seriously, don't be surprised to see me rocking out after midnight after my family has gone to sleep. The Band Hero Kit comes with the microphone, drums, and guitar that you need to get your band up and running. This is so much fun for the whole family! My husband and I will play an instrument and then watch my 4 year old become the singing star. Seeing as how he doesn't know any songs but Johnny Cash he mostly makes up the lyrics but it is so fun to watch. The game allows you to set the difficulty level for each player, that way our son can be on beginner and we can play something a little more challenging. This is destined to become a party favorite too! We can't wait to have friends over and play Band Hero. With cool features like Sing Along where 4 players can easily jump in and sing just like karoake (no scoring) and Party Play where you can join in & out of songs with the click of a button (no worry of failing), this is the perfect game for friends & family nights!! You can even add another guitar to the mix, increasing the size of your band. You can actually use any combination of instruments - even 4 microphones, making the ultimate karoake style showdown or your new boy/girl band. We have the whole family over for Christmas Eve and always wear ridiculous pjs and play games. This year I can't wait to see my grandpa singing along and my mom attempting the drums!
There are so many sweets during the holiday season. It is almost impossible not to gain weight. Even your stocking comes stuffed to the brim with candy. This year I am recommending that we do ourselves and our mates a favor - stuff the stockings with products from You Bar. I'm not suggesting this for your little ones but it would definitely be a appreciated change by most adults. You Bar offers something that I have never seen before. They let you create custom nutrition bars, protein shakes, trail mix, cookies, and chocolates. If you stuff most of the stocking with nutrition bars, trail mix, and protein shakes - then you won't feel so bad about adding a few custom sweets! Instead of getting a bag of trail mix and picking around the ingredients you are less than crazy about you can create one with only items that you enjoy. I am beyond impressed by the huge amount of options they give for customizing their products. Some even let you pick the butter. It's insanely addictive. This is so perfect for people will allergies or just picky eaters. You even get to have the name you choose printed on your custom creations. Wouldn't it be cool to get a stocking stuffed with "your name" nutrition bars? Even if you don't want to customize the products you order from You Bar, they have a great selection of ready made popular products just ready to be put in your shopping cart. I had the opportunity to try out a few of their bestsellers and was thrilled with them! I am not much of a healthy eater but this stuff was seriously yummy. This is definitely one of those gifts that people don't expect but they will remember for years to come.
Shopping for my husband is the hardest part of my holiday gift list. He is never clear about what he wants, hates for people to spend money on him (especially ours), and rarely shows any excitement about a present. It's kind of a losing battle. Every now and then I get lucky and stumble upon a gift he does appreciate. While he would be hesitant to admit it - he does care a great deal about his skin. The Organic Pharmacy has an ultra pampering Men's Grooming Gift that includes 2 products to get his skin glowing. This is just one of those things most guys won't buy for themselves but they will really love having. The Deep Cleansing Face Wash will cleanse, protect, and decongest. The gentle formula will remove the days gunk from his face and leave it feeling soothed and moisturized. It uses ingredients like aloe, seaweed, green tea, and even vitamin C. Inside the gift is also the Ultra Light Moisture Gel (which I secretly love to use). It leaves your skin feeling refreshed, revived, energized, and hydrated. It works quickly and the antioxidants in it's formula will protect his skin from the elements throughout the day. It even has a bit of licorice in the gel to soothe his skin. If you purchased the two items separately it would cost you almost $100 - when you get the gift set it saves you $10 plus it comes wrapped up in a pretty gift box!
We've all seen the victims of dad jeans. They are just as unattractive as the mom version. Even if you man is unaware of the unflattering nature of his current jeans, you can easily rectify the situation without him knowing there was ever a problem. This holiday season give him a pair of jeans that makes him look lean, younger, stylish, and SO much more attractive. It is time to say goodbye to jeans that go above their belly button, are tight in all the wrong places and puffy in the hips and butt. We shouldn't be able to see the full outline of your stomach and if the description says carpenter it is only meant for someone who uses a hammer hourly out their job. Rivet De Cru has a huge selection of jeans that will get your man looking better than ever. This is just as much a gift for you as it is for him. After he wears them a few times and notices the compliments he gets (especially if he was a long time sufferer of the dad jeans) he won't ever want to go back to the jeans of his past. Don't be surprised if they disappear to your local Goodwill. My favorite thing about the Rivet De Cru jeans is the fit. They are ultra flattering and the premium denim will look good wash after wash. They offer so many different choices in wash, pockets, and the overall look of the jeans - so you know that you can find something that is just right for your man. Even your son. Please don't make your teenage boy wear goofy jeans. I still have memories of the too-short sad pants my brother used to wear in high school. Just get two great pairs of jeans and you'll end up saving money because they won't wear out that easily. You can get cheap good looking tops for men but with denim - you get what you pay for and Rivet De Cru has some impressively low prices for the quality they provide. They have truly worked hard to create unique & beautiful washes. You'll appreciate the work that goes into the destroy accents and the thought out hand brushed creases! My husband loved the pair he got the chance to try out and I must admit I loved them too! They lower rise flattered his body and the dark wash went great with so much of his clothing. They make him look long & lean! Check out their site to find what is right for the man on your shopping list and check out the gorgeous lady jeans too (you get to have some presents from Santa too)!
This is one of those games that I just cannot beat my husband at. It's not my fault - he has some kind of freak gene. I love the game and love playing it with anyone but him. Katamino is kinda like putting together a puzzle. You have several oddly shaped pieces and they fit together neatly inside the wooden game board. It gives you several different versions of the game to play, even a solitaire puzzle. We usually try to play a quick version in which we take turns picking pieces and then see who can fit them into their half of the game board the fastest. It's much harder than one would think - unless you are blessed with superhuman Katamino powers. It's insane - my husband can do this before I put my second piece in. I can't explain it but it's really eerie to watch him play. Thus this has quickly become his favorite game, what man doesn't enjoy a way to show off?
We have a big bowl that is filled with various chargers and electronic devices. It is always a jumbled mess of cords and an altogether eye sore in my kitchen. Recently my youngest decided to take all of the cords and play with them in a giant cinnamon roll. There is still icing in all the nooks and crannies. With the Powermat you can let go of all the cords and charge your devices in one sleek location. This unique mat will charge up to 3 devices at once. All you need is the powermat and then the adapter for each of your devices. Your powermat will also come packaged with a powercube that includes 8 different tips. Confused? Adapters are really easy to use - the blackberry adapter is actually just a replacement battery door. Just swap out the battery doors and then anytime you sit it on the powermat it will automatically start charging. The nintendo DS lite and DSi adapter just fits right over the back of your nintendo. All of the adapters are easy to use and completely cord free. You only need one per device and you won't have to worry about misplacing your charger because it is now attached to your device. I've had 2 different cell phones stop working because the charger wouldn't connect properly - with the adapters that is no longer a problem. The powercube is just like the adapters in that once you sit it on the powermat it automatically starts charging. The difference is the tiny wrap around cord that you can change out the tips on to charge your various devices. You can even store the tips that you use in the included storage case. I love only needing one plug to charge three devices. I promise this advanced gadget actually works - it even makes a sound that lets you know your device is charging. I love the sleek design and the complete lack of cords all over the place. I really love that I don't have to remember to pack 12 different chargers every time we go out of town. Powermats also come available in a portable version which makes traveling so easy. The powermat folds compactly into an included travel case that has room to store the power cord as well. I love the idea of having two powermats - the Home & Office Mat downstairs and the Portable Mat upstairs. That way I am no longer having to move cords about the house - I have one easy location on each floor to charge my devices. When we go out of town I can just grab the portable mat and I am good to go. This is such a cool device and it's so easy to use too!!
I like my husband to have a close shave and since he started using the Hydra Therapy Shave Cream he has no trouble getting one. The rich cream formula uses essential oils, vitamins C & E, and glycerin to ensure your man leaves the bathroom without little toilet paper pieces decorating his face. In addition to delivering knick free results it will also soften, moisturize, and protect his skin. This cream is like pampering for me. I would steal it to use when I shave my legs but my husband would be less than thrilled with me. It's hard to find a product that my man gets excited about and in his book the Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Shave Cream in something to write home about!
There aren't enough adjectives to truly describe how delectable Seattle Chocolates Truffle Bars taste. They come in 10 different flavors and every single one was decadent. Chocolate lovers beware - once you have a taste of the unique melt away center inside the rich chocolate shell: there will be no substitute. I for one would really like to see some in my stocking this year - no I will not miss the usual candy cane fillers. Please substitute with Seattle Chocolate's Milk Chocolate Candy Cane Crunch Truffle Bar. You can get the a 10 Bar Gift Bag for that special someone on your list or give them a 5-Bar Gift Box. Honestly, you really can't go wrong with chocolate that tastes this amazing.
Tiny Token Designs is filled with great gifts to personalize for your loved ones. I am loving pretty much everything in their collection. Their collection of hand stamped sterling silver necklaces, earrings, bracelets, charms, and more is simply wonderful! If you are searching for a gift for a man in your life the Cuff links are certain to be a big hit. You can have the names of your choosing stamped onto them. Once personalized these are all sure to be a big hit with the lucky recipient.
Let me start of by saying this is not like other digital picture frames. The CEIVA Pro 80 is on a whole new level. Unlike traditional digital frames - CEIVA frames come with a Picture Plan photo delivery service. What this means for you is that once you set up your account you can invite friends & family to send you photos from anywhere. Then they will just appear on your frame in your home! We tried out 2 of the Pro80 frames and found them to be not only a decorative touch in our home but the best way to share our photos. You can actually stream photos straight from your computer. You no longer have to bother with transferring photos to put on your digital frame. They will automatically appear straight from your computer. This also means that you have the ability to have it cycle through a ginormous amount of pictures. You aren't limited by the size of your memory card or frame storage. It streams straight from you computer hard drive through the built in wifi. We have so many photos streaming to our frame that we rarely see the same one twice in a day. Having the Picture Plan photo 
delivery service is really fun! I can go online and decorate photos with stickers, frames, words, and much more. Once my image is the way I want it I can send it straight to my husband's frame and he will see it at work. Today our sink clogged in a seriously nasty way and I took a picture of the unsightly mess (the plunger stuck in the sink too). Then I put a sunny cheerful frame around the photo and wrote on it "wish you were here". Once complete I sent it over to my husband's frame - it's a great way to get results! I think it would be really neat to purchase one of the CEIVA frames for a grandparent and send them photos that they wouldn't usually get the chance to see. Once you set it up for them (it's pretty simple) even the technology challenged should have no issues with it. CEIVA has really worked hard to create unique features to their one of a kind frames. You can also add channels to your frame and see things like the weather in your area or recent news. This is one of those WOW products and we are truly loving using them in our lives.
I think one of the most difficult gifts to buy is the one for your child's teacher. My mother is a teacher and she would always get the exact same gifts every year. Ornaments, lotions, or any cheesy little thing that had a crayon, chalk, or an apple on it. I am constantly searching for a good gift for my son's teacher and this year The Lunchbox from OOTS is perfect! Teachers bring their lunch daily and I love the idea of giving a gift they will actually use. This lunchbox is also the coolest lunchbox I have ever seen. They truly thought of everything. The unique design was created with some serious thought into daily use. The top is made to hold a drink bottle under the adjustable strap. The upright design was created to keep your food from getting tossed around. When you purchase the deluxe version of this sleek lunchbox it comes with 5 containers (1 big, 4 small) that stack perfectly inside (you can also buy the containers separately in 3 different set options). These bpa & phthalate free plastic containers keep your food neatly packaged and can be microwaved or dishwashed. Available in 3 contemporary color combinations - who wouldn't enjoy this? My husband has already tried to steal my lunchbox. He even commented on how cool it was and he rarely comments on anything except golf.
KOR ONE has given water bottles a seriously needed face lift. The design of these hydration vessels is truly beautiful. If the gorgeous outside doesn't have you - the smartly planned out features will. No longer do you need two hands to get into your water bottle. Kiss the screw top goodbye and enjoy the easy to open hinged cap. Without the need to screw on - you get to sip through a nice smooth, ridge free opening. You can even fit ice cubes into the bottle! On top of the elegant, thought out design this bottle is also bpa free. One more reason to switch to the KOR ONE. This one should be obvious, a reusable water bottle means less waste. Less waste is good for the environment. This is an easy way to help and you get to use an ultra sleek water bottle too!
Don't let the size of Altec Lansings Orbit Mp3 speaker fool you. This little guy can get the job done and fit nicely in your bag. The 360 degree sound is clear and impressive. Plug it in to your laptop, your mp3 player, even some phones (pretty much anything with a headphone jack) and enjoy high quality sound from a compact package. It only takes 3 aaa batteries to give you up to 24 hours of sound. I love the way the cord wraps around the speaker to prevent damage & tangles. Add the fact that it even comes with a carrying case and the value cannot be beat. This ultra portable gadget is just the right size & price for pleasing any music lover. It's also great to have when playing videos on your ipods or portable dvd players, especially if you want others to watch with you!
