Xoom This to the Top of the Holiday Wishlist

Have you been a good kid or a bad kid this year?
Start keeping track with a Motorola Xoom.

Anyone who knows me and my family knows we are huge fans of the Iphone. So when the Ipad was introduced, we were certainly interested in adding it to our ever-growing arsenal of chargeable devices. However, it seemed just like a bigger version of what we already had…so when I got the chance to try out the Ipad’s newest competitor, the Motorola Xoom, I was happy to see what “else” another tablet could actually do that an Ipad couldn’t. I mean comparison shopping is always necessary, right?  I was pleasantly surprised by the answers.

Just like anything new, I was careful about the way I used it and completely refused to read the directions.  I will confess, since this wasn’t an Apple product, I had to learn a new interface. It was a little difficult to reprogram my thinking, but with some of the other cool things I began to enjoy, I was willing to work through it…What I really noticed about how FAST this thing went. I configured my email accounts in a few seconds.  Since what I do most of all is work, I tried out all my familiar apps. THIS is where it was great that I was a Google user. Besides being a Motorola and Verizon product, the tablet has the unique advantage of being a Google product.  So once I set up my Google account, things like Talk, Tasks, Books and more were already configured before I even used the apps – genius!

In a short time, this little screen became a part of our family’s everyday. After mama had explored her new toy for a couple of days, both my husband and my son asked if they could look at it. I finally gave in and with supervision; I let them take a drive. I mean, I was supposed to be seeing what this thing was capable of. Then the fight was on… Angry Birds was just the start of it. We then tried to use it as a cookbook using the handy charging stand. Then I downloaded Pandora and used it to play music – the sound worked beautifully. Movies (which that could stream from my tablet to my big screen) and videos seemed to play like a dream – and the photos were vivid, crisp and colorful. However, my favorite part of this thing is something that the Ipad can’t do at all – I could view Flash pages! (Something many Apple users know is a huge inconvenience.)

But as much as I liked it, the Motorola Xoom did have its downfall. First, off – I did have some difficulty figuring out where the “on” button was. Yep, that’s right. Unlike that familiar one button that Iphone and Ipad’s are known for, the on/off button is on the BACK of the tablet. Also, the setup/navigation is different than an Ipad - not because it is harder, but more complex. With so many options to customize and the capability to run multiple windows, it can be overwhelming. But like anything, you learn as you go and just enjoy it for what it is. While it is not a replacement for your laptop, desktop or phone, it is a great device to make your household run a little – or actually, a lot smoother. And with a little more time, I would love to figure out what other things this magic device can do and perhaps learn what the terms, honeycomb and ice cream sandwich have to do with the Motorola Xoom.  

Bottom line, although there are many capabilities that the Motorola Xoom and Apple Ipad share, they aren’t exactly the same thing. Just like Hotmail and Gmail, it depends on your lifestyle and what you use it for that will help you make your best decision on choosing a tablet.  So when you get asked what you might want for Christmas, consider that Ipad is not the only option and take a look at the Xoom!

I was provided a Motorola Xoom to demo for a short time to conduct this review. However, the opinions and considerations are all my own.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/17/3601278/xoom-this-to-the-top-the-holiday.html

The Game Plan: Making the Perfect Christmas Bow

Call me a dork, but part of my favorite things about Christmas is not just buying the gifts, but wrapping them. I take great pleasure in carefully selecting my wrapping paper and ribbon. I love wrapping presents so much I even have a gift-wrapping room in my house (well, it’s a room with a lot of gift wrap and other things as well.)


The Gift-Wrapping Room (Thanks, Grandpa!)

Unfortunately, although I have tried many, many times, making the perfect bow has not been easy for me – at least until now. I usually have just made a simple bow (like the way you do on your shoes), but have honestly yearned to learn how to make one of those pretty, pom-pom ribbons like you used to get when stores wrapped your gifts.

However, during a special presentation, one of my guilty pleasures – The Container Store, showed me that there was still hope to make the perfect bow. So much so, they even made me make one myself and it came out just the way it supposed to! Now, I pass on the love to you and present my holiday present: my secret to making “The Perfect Christmas Bow.”

However, during a special presentation, one of my guilty pleasures – The Container Store, showed me that there was still hope to make the perfect bow. So much so, they even made me make one myself and it came out just the way it supposed to! Now, I pass on the love to you and present my holiday present: my secret to making “The Perfect Christmas Bow.”

And like every time I’ve ever been to The Container Store, I spotted some more things I didn’t know they made, but now I had to have. First was “Neat Roll.” All I can say, is “why didn’t I think of that?” It’s like those wrap bracelets we had when we were growing up – except you use it to close off your wrapping paper. Genius really and you should get yours now because this little guy was literally flying off the shelves!

The other one was this container for my son’s Legos – which of course, was a huge Lego. They even had one for the little men and it came in so many sizes and prices, which means that we will probably have to get more of these as well.

I bought a lot more stuff too...but that's another time. If you ever want to talk more about organization – then we should meet for lunch and a date at The Container Store. Perhaps this might be my new girlfriend getaway (when I’ve only got an hour to spare.)

Happy Wrapping!

Please note:

I attended a special blogger event at The Container Store to learn about the resources I have discussed here, but my sincere love of The Container Store is all my own.

Read more about my team at Go Team Reo:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/01/3564216/making-the-perfect-christmas-bow.html

The Game Plan: To Nintendo or not to Nintendo? – That is the question.

Are you one of those people who loves to play Farmville on their Facebook? Do you have Angry Birds on your Ipad? Is your idea of exercise pulling out the Wii Fit? Well, folks, that’s not me. Actually, while I am a competitive person and LOVE my techno toys, games (and especially a gaming system), don’t interest me. My husband enjoys them and has many on his phone and computer and my son has a Leapster he received as a gift, but admittedly we don’t have a Wii, a PS, a DS or any other one of those things. However, just like everything with being a parent, sometimes you find yourself reconsidering your thinking. This was especially the case for me after attending a special event at the W Hotel in Dallas called the Games for Girls Summit, which has me wondering now: Can games be a good thing?

Hosted by an esteemed panel of women including Nicole Armstrong of Activision, Suzanne Kantra of Techilicious, and local hostess with the mostess, Holly Homer of She is Dallas/June Cleaver Nirvana, the Games for Girls Summit was held at the W Hotel in Dallas on November 15. The two-hour event included moms and their kiddos listening to information about games while experiencing the newest kid-centric games on the market. I really enjoyed being able to see the games in action by kids of all ages and since we are a group of moms talking about mom stuff – it was nice to have my kids experience it with me.

Although the environment was amazing, it was the facts from a few recent studies by BYU, NCBI and NPD I heard that really made me think.

Check these out:

• 42% of kids less than 8 years old have a TV in their room.
My kiddo has always had a TV in his room.

• Today, 91 percent of kids (approximately 64 million) ages 2-17 are gaming in the U.S.

My kiddo has a Leapster and has eight game apps on my Iphone.

• 11% of 0-8 years olds have used a smartphone.

He can operate my phone better than I do.

• People who play video games are more creative. Gamers process info faster and by playing a game together, create a social bond sooner with others.

Well, I have to wonder about this one since “creative” is a relative term, but it can’t hurt to add a little creativity to his learning, not to mention the ability to process info quickly. And while social interaction skills are so important at this age, I had always thought that games would make it that much harder, but it seems the opposite is true.

• Gamers spend 80% of their time failing.

This was the one that really seemed to make me reconsider that by playing games like a Wii can really make my kid build perseverance: the age-old lesson, “When you fail, try, try again.”

Those stats game me really reeling. Then they brought out the goodies – all the newest and coolest games imaginable including Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo, Lalaloopsy, Zoobles, ZhuZhu Babies, Squinkies 2: Adventure Mall Surprize and one of the coolest games I have ever seen - Wappy Dog. The Wappy Dog interacts with the Nintendo DS and vice versa. I have to admit this toy was so cute and I’m really thinking about getting one for my three-year old.

All in all, I thought the summit was eye-opening and a real life-changing experience, honestly. So the next day when I went to Best Buy, I sauntered over to the game section to look at what was out there. I will admit it was a little overwhelming, but at least I made my first step into gaming…and in perfect timing for the holidays (at least for my kids!)

Got any suggestions for a non-gaming mom? What’s your favorite system for the kiddos?

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/20/3540284/the-game-plan-to-nintendo-or-not.html#ixzz1eITtTl6x

The Game Plan: Celebrate the holidays one bottom at a time!

Huggies Launches New Santa Diapers
Mom2MomDFW.com  | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By Autumn Rose Reo on 11/13/11 22:29

Now that I have two children, Holiday preparation consists of a lot more than just putting up my decorations. It's actually more fun now as I figure out the attire for our family photo for the family Christmas photo. From the sweaters to socks, in a way I never thought I would be, I enjoy trying to put together that one moment when it is ok to make everyone look like "Leave it to Beaver."

In the middle of all of the holiday fuss, I received a package that truly was the icing on the cake! Diapers! And not just any diapers but some of the cutesy diapers I have seen in a long time. Of course, with the recent trend in printed diapers, we have had our share of the cute jean diapers for my son and as a baby shower gift I received the sweetest personalized diapers complete in their own cupcake basket. But the timing on these couldn't be sweeter: Santa diapers from Huggies!

Available now until December and in sizes 3-6, these "Santa pants" are too cute and later found out have a greater cause. When parents create and share their Huggies/American Greetings "Stylize your Santa" card, they will also help to diaper a baby in need with Every Little Bottom, an organization committed to donating 22.5 million diapers to those families in need.

What a great stocking stuffer for my kiddos along with friends and family. Actually, Im thinking about using these for as a unique invitation for our holiday party. Now the hunt is on to find these like i did the jean diapers at my grocery store!

* I was provided these diapers from Huggies for the purpose of the review.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/13/3522859/the-game-plan-celebrate-the-holidays.html#ixzz1eE6lOulF