Monthly Archives: June 2012

Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone Review

June 4, 2012Father's Day Gift Guide, New posts, SmartphonesAT&T, Father's Day Gift Guide, Nokia Lumia 900 Windows phone, smartphone, Windows 7.5Alicia

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To say that the Nokia Lumia 900 is an important phone would be an understatement. With Windows Mobile on the rise but no true marquee device on the market, Nokia looks to deliver the flagship phone for Microsoft’s new OS that some might consider to be lacking. On all counts, the finished product is a success in my eyes.

Design

Starting with the design itself, Nokia brings to Windows Mobile the iconic design that it started with the N8 and N9 line of smart phones. Sporting a 4.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, the high definition is an easy eye catcher that is great for streaming video, browsing the web, or viewing photos captured with the 8 megapixel rear camera. The design is also nearly flush throughout, except for the display itself which is slightly raised. A 1.3-inch megapixel camera is also located on the front to serve your video chat needs.

Operating System, Speed, Social Networking Apps

With Windows Mobile 7.5, otherwise known as Mango, the abilities of the phone are truly able to shine. The mobile operating system may be the newest to the market, but Microsoft has always been reliable when it comes to quality products and does not disappoint here. With the built in Windows Marketplace, users will have access to a plethora of apps to suit their every mobile need. Social networking has become one of the most popular activities in this smart phone era, and the Lumia 900 has applications for Facebook, Twitter, and many more. In just a swipe of your finger, your social media can be uploaded directly to your favorite networking site. Combine this with AT&T’s super fast LTE network and load times simply become a thing of the past.

Angry Birds game on Nokia Lumia 900 Windows phone

Games & Entertainment

What better way to help your children pass the time on those long summer road trips than through Microsoft’s XBOX Live service? Exclusive to Windows Mobile phones, access to XBOX Live has never been quicker and easier. Multiplayer gaming, unlocking achievements, and online leaderboards will keep kids (and adults!) entertained for hours on end. The Lumia 900’s 1.4 GHz Qualcomm S2 processor along with 512 MB of RAM ensures that even the most intense games and high end graphics run without a hitch.

Nokia Applications

To round out the package, Nokia even includes custom applications of their own, further distancing it from the remaining Windows 7.5 smart phones. These extra features make the Lumia 900 an even more ideal choice for the perfect Father’s Day gift. If dad is a traveler, the Nokia Drive application provide free turn by turn navigation. Enhancing this as well is Nokia Maps, a full featured map service that will even render maps in 3D if you wish. Or for the sports Dad, ESPN Hub is your one stop for all sporting news, articles, and videos.

So how do you get the perfect Father’s Day gift this year? Nokia makes it simple: start by getting the perfect phone! This Father’s day, the Lumia 900 should not be overlooked.

Learn more about the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows phone.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I received a Nokia Lumia 900 for review purposes.

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Join Me As I Try Out Tria Blue Light Acne Treatment

June 3, 2012Beauty & Skin Care, Brand Ambassador, New postsAcne, acne treatment, adult acne, Skincare, teen acne, Tria Blue LightAlicia

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When I was in highschool I developed acne. It stuck with me until I was about 25 years old. Acne had a huge impact on my life. I grew my hair long just so I could use it to cover my face at school. I covered my cheeks with my hands as I sat at my desk and I was not very social because I was embarassed about my acne. The good thing is that my peers did not make fun of me..that I know of at least. I sought the best acne treatment available at the time including medication but nothing worked. Things like light treatment weren’t an option when I was a teenager.

I am extremely grateful to not have major skin issues now but I still get pimples. Now, at almost 40 years old and after having gone through menopause (I thought that was a pimple cure-all) I still get pimples. Every morning when I put make-up on the tiny scars on my cheeks remind me of what I went through as a middle and high-schooler and into my twenties.

My son entering the teen years and you probably know what happens then. One of the changes he’s experiencing is with his skin. He gets pimples on his chin and forehead, the typical T-zone areas. He is a confident kid and is not as bothered about having pimples as I was at his age. He takes care of his skin by washing and using cleansing pads but I get very concerned about him developing bad acne like what I had. I hope and pray that neither of my children will develop acne like what I had and that we don’t ever have to seek the help of a professional for acne treatment. With that, I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to try the Tria Blue Light.

I will be participating in a 4-week program during which we will both use the Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light.

More about Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light:

Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light is a revolutionary, FDA-cleared hand-held device for at-home use that delivers the same therapeutic power of blue light used by dermatologists to treat breakouts deep within the skin.
Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light eliminates acne-causing bacteria, leaving skin clear, radiant, and healthy looking.
Dermatologist recommended, clinically proven and FDA-cleared, Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light is safe and effective.
In clinical studies, consumers saw 70% acne reduction in just two weeks, 93% noticed a smoother complexion in four weeks and 100% said skin looked healthier and more radiant in four weeks.
The Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light should be used to treat skin for 5 minutes per day – either, at once or for two sessions twice per day of 2.5 minutes.
Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light is sold at www.TriaBeauty.com and retails for $245. It includes the Skin Perfecting Blue Light, the Skin Perfecting Blue Light Treatment cartridge (good for use to 300 minutes) and a battery charger.

For more information about the Tria Blue Light please visit www.TriaBeauty.com.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Tria and received a Tria Skin Perfecting Blue Light product sample to facilitate my review.

The Mighty Max Garden Cart is Great for Gardening and Beach Gear!

June 2, 2012Father's Day Gift Guide, Gardening, Home & Garden, Must Haves, New postsbeach, Gardening, Mighty Max Garden Cart, summer, Yard WorkAlicia

Before you read any further, you must know that this is one of those rare products that I will recommend to everyone. Whether young, old, city dwellers, or country fold, the Mighty Max Cart can be used by any type of person or family and is a favorite of mine! This is definitely a Must Have!

The Mighty Max Cart is the ideal solution for toting around beach gear, gardening supplies, toys and much more. This cart can easily be transformed for everyone in the family to use. After a simple 15 minute assembly that can easily be completed by one person, the Mighty Max Cart is ready for use. My 6-year-old daughter handed me the tools and parts while I assembled the Mighty Max cart in a total of 15 minutes. The Might Max MM 800B comes with an expandable flatbed, utility tub and a pair of cargo walls. By snapping the individual pieces on or off, the cart can be turned into a completely different product. Mom, dad, seniors and even kids will have no problem pulling around this light-weight cart through even the toughest terrain. My daughter loves to pull the cart around. She said “I finally help carry the heavy plants”!

Moms working in the garden can easily pull around their plants, tools, supplies and loose materials.
Because the cart is so easy to pull, kids can help mom with her gardening work. Instead of loading your sand, gravel and dirt into an old wheelbarrow that can be difficult to maneuver around, the Mighty Max Cart makes loading and dumping in the correct spots simple. A six inch deep tub can hold up to 1/3 cubic yards of loose material at once. We put the risk of tipping to the test. This sturdy cart will not tip over or spill as you are pulling the cart. Because the cart and tub are made from an all-weather material, it can be used or left outside in all elements without causing rust or paint damage.

This is a miracle garden cart product from those that do a lot of yard work. Never worry again about leaving the cart outside in the pouring rain.

Beach-goers can make use out of the Mighty Max Cart, too!
Easily tote around all of your sand and ocean gear in this cart. It can even expand to two levels so that you can place items such as a cooler and umbrella for shade underneath while your towels and beach toys will sit in the tub up top. Pulling a cart back and forth across the sand from your shore house, condo or hotel can be a hassle. Because the Mighty Max Cart is so light-weight and easy to pull, it will glide right above the sand, making it one of the best carts on the market.No need to load up a stroller full of toys and sporting goods. The Mighty Max Cart is the perfect option to bring to children’s sports games and to the playground. Soccer balls, basketballs, remote control cars and so much more can all be stored and pulled along in the Mighty Max Cart.

Connect with Might Max:

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review. I received a Mighty Max MM 800B to facilitate the review.

Our First #TruGreen Curb Appeal Lawn Treatment

June 1, 2012Gardening, Home & Garden, New postsCurb Appeal, lawn care, TruGreen, weed control, YardAlicia

Read Part 1 > Three Lawn Care Tips To Grow Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Two TruGreen specialists visited our home to analyze our yard about a week ago. After careful consideration of our yard’s sun/shade situation, moisture levels, and size, the specialists educated me about why moss grows where it does, why tree roots need space, and why some weeds are more difficult to tackle than others. I asked the two men more than a dozen questions in hopes of picking their brains as well as gauging wether I thought they were just out to sell a service or to really help repair our yard. I felt confident that they were genuinely interested in helping ‘cure’ our yard.

A few days after the initial visit from the two TruGreen specialists, our lawn received its first treatment. The treatment included weed control, lime, and fertilizer. The TruGreen lawn care specialist spent a good amount of time on our yard and when he completed the treatments he provided us with detailed, written information about what he did and how to take care of our lawn after the treatment.

If you live in a neighborhood in which one or more home owners are not as concerned about their home’s curb appeal as you are, it’ can be frustrating. Maybe I’m speaking from experience.. maybe I’m not. That makes it all the more important and motivating to increase your own home’s curb appeal. While some home owners may not have it in their budget to buy bushes and flowers to fulfill create the yard of their dreams, TruGreen offers tips to help home owners curb appeal without breaking the bank.