Monthly Archives: January 2013

Plan your Valentine’s Day Dream Date with the YP app and Win a $200 Gift Card!

Contests, Giveaways, ,

We are giving away a $200 Visa gift card over on AtlantaMoms.com so be sure to hop on over there an enter to win!

If you are looking for a restaurant that serves your favorite, yet hard-to-find, dessert, look no further than the YP app on your phone.  Open the YP app on your phone and search for it.  The app will list restaurants in your area that serve it!   Or, if you decide you need pizza ASAP, you can find the place closest to you that delivers.  Share the restaurant with your husband, wife, or friends using the YP app’s social sharing feature.

The YP – Local Search & Gas Prices app will help you find everything you need, including a florist, to plan your dream Valentine’s Day date or simply a great Valentine’s Day!

With location information and reviews of over 300,000 restaurants integrated menus, and directions, planning your dream date will be quick and easy!

Click here or click the image to enter to win.

YP $200 Valentine's Day Dream Date giveaway

What is RSV and How Do I Protect My Children?

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Health, , , ,

Did you know that RSV affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two?

100% of babies by the age two?! to me that number is very scary! When my kids were little I had no idea what RSV was.  It wasn’t until my sister called me and said that my niece was in the hospital with RSV that I started researching RSV to learn more about it and find out how to protect my kids.

What is RSV:

RSV disease, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States.  The RSV season typically runs from November through March. RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection. Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.

Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:

  • Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
  • Fast or troubled breathing
  • Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
  • Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
  • Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

An estimated that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care. Whether its one day a week or 5 days a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same — increased exposure to contagious germs and viruses. Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.

Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of high-risk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

Because RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing, all parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

Here are some ways that you, your child’s caregiver and loved ones can help prevent the spread of RSV:

  • avoid RSV by cleaning baby's pacifierWash your hands and child’s hands
  • Keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean
  • Clearly mark  bottles/sippy cups by putting labels on them to help caregivers make sure that the babies are drinking out of their own bottles/sippy cups
  • If your baby uses a pacifier make sure it is cleaned regularly
  • Avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season
  • Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke

For more helpful information about RSV visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection on Twitter.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

A 2-Minute Sneak Peek Video of my Life

Gadgets, New posts, Smartphones, , ,

It’s been about 3 weeks since I started using the HTC OneX+ I’ve been talking to so much about.  Well, I decided to share a 2 minute documentary of our lives here at the Hagan house featuring photos taken on the HTC OneX+.

This video by no means shows you what our every day life is like. That includes messes, chaos, food, and more boring stuff. The shots in the video below are some of my favorite shots I’ve taken on my HTC OneX+ over the last week.

I created the video using the Movie Editor app on the phone and nothing else.. except adding it to YouTube. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it.

Be sure to change the setting of the video to 720p HD for best quality. Click on the gear icon in the bottom right to adjust the setting.

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, HTC.

Want to learn more about the HTC OneX+?

What are you waiting for?  Read these posts I’ve written about it!

Note to my readers: I received a complimentary HTC OneX+ for purposes of this review and giveaway. As always, all opinions presented in my posts are 100% honest.

Relax and Getaway with a Day at the Winery

New posts, Relaxation, Travel

Winery for parentsWe often forget to take time for ourselves. We go about our busy schedules, take care of everything and everyone else and usually end the day exhausted.  With the price of gasoline being so expensive we’ve even begun to limit “family vacations” and “Staycations” are the new wave; often traveling short distances or staying in town to take in the adventures our own hometowns offer.  I’m not so sure these are really bad options because so often in life we miss what’s in our own backyard to take off and enjoy the yard of someone else.

What many of we parents rarely do is get away together, alone. Face it, no matter what age your kids are they’re going to be a bit of a “problem” if you want to get away.  Overnight stays are often not an option, even with teenagers who can stay at home by themselves (yes, I see the cringe in every parent of a teen happening with those words) because you just don’t feel comfortable.

parents visiting wineriesWe have to remember that part of what brought you together as a couple, whether you are married, dating, living together, or whatever the circumstances, it all began when you spent time alone.  These were the times that allowed you to talk about anything and everything.  Laugh about moments in life.  Create memories and make plans for the future.  Well all of those things are still important to a relationship and it’s time to bring them back as a part of your life.  A wine tasting getaway is the perfect answer.

 

biking at wineries

Who says you have to spend a whole week, weekend or even a night away to rekindle those feelings and reacquaint yourselves with the person you fell in love with?  There is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than a getaway, spent browsing the local wineries and tasting the many flavors the area has to offer.  Many wineries offer small cafes or even full scale restaurants for when you want to take some time to grab a bite to eat in between wine tasting.  There’s nothing more economical than a wine tasting vacation either!  Your biggest costs are gas money, although many couples that live fairly close to the wineries are now going on biking tours that take them to different wineries, and whatever you choose to spend either picking up a bottle or two of your favorites or purchasing food.

picnic at wineryKeep costs at a real minimum and buy a bottle of your favorite vintage and pack a nice picnic basket to enjoy your bottle with mid-day or early evening. Don’t forget to pack the cork opener!  A long loaf of French bread, some various cheeses, fresh fruits, and meats with a cold pack and a bottle of wine you’ve found at your favorite winery can create not only a wonderful and relaxing afternoon for you and your sweetheart but an inexpensive way to enjoy each others’ company with a bit of romance.

Sometimes it’s fun to go with another couple so you can share the laughter and even split the cost of two different types of wines to drink during your picnic.  A camera takes shots of the beautiful vineyards and romantic shots of the two of you enjoying some down time and getting away from the every day craziness of life.  With two couples it also saves on gasoline time and gives you someone to share stories with and laughter.  But it’s never a bad thing to spend time alone with your love either.

wine country toursCheck out the local wineries and see what packages they may offer. If you do find that you can get away for a weekend there’s nothing more romantic than spending it talking over a glass of local wine and getting a special discount rate on everything from a nearby hotel room to discounts on dinner packages that go with the wine tours.  You can choose group tours or choose to go by yourselves and do your own thing; each has its positives and negatives about the choice.  Going on an arranged tour with others will probably give you a much more informative adventure and often some behind the scenes tours of how the wines are made.  Taking the day and spending the day as a getaway visiting the wineries on your own gives you the option to pick and choose how long you spend at each winery and sometimes you can get tours simply by asking also.

Winery getaways can be one of the most romantic ways to get back in touch with the person you fell in love with and have now found that just having a few moments together seems impossible. You can get as extensive or as casual as you’d like, from a weekend getaway to a one day adventure; either way you’re going to rekindle those old fires that may have started dwindling.  It’s also a wonderful way to get a feeling for different wines; perhaps some that you may not want to spend $30, $40, or even $10 for because you’re not sure you’ll really enjoy them.  There’s nothing worse than putting out money, no matter what the price, for a bottle of wine that virtually goes untouched because it’s not what you expected.  Wine tasting getaways take all the guess work out of whether or not you’ll enjoy the wines you pick to purchase and give you some time to simply relax together.

My favorite wine getaway is generally one that is unplanned and spur of the moment.  Pick a route with tons of wineries to visit, find some old favorites and try a few new wineries that you’ve never tried before and simply spend the day relaxing and enjoying the virtues of laid back day.

snowflakeThe best part is you can enjoy a winery getaway any time of year; winters, there is nothing more romantic than finding a winter wine that’s perfect for warming up and serving warmed. As you bundle up and go between wineries in a perfect winter afternoon you seem to leave your troubles behind.  A fall winery getaway is perfect because of picking season, the smell of fresh grapes wafting through the air and often new wines being processed within the winery itself.  Summer’s are the perfect time for a winery getaway because you can pick your mode of transportation; perhaps an afternoon of biking around the winery area, through the beautiful farm country areas winery getaway for parentsor often around a grouping of wineries in one area.  You can motorcycle if you drive one or simply take the car with the windows down to enjoy the fresh country air.  There’s also nothing more refreshing than purchasing a bottle of your favorite wine and making cool wine spritzers or a fruity sangria for a warm summers eve.  Springs are always a great time to hit the wineries too because most of us have been closed up and getting a bit of cabin fever by the time spring rolls around and it’s a wonderful way to get out, just the two of you or with friends and enjoy an inexpensive day of fun.  Whatever the season, whatever your choices, spending some time getting to reacquaint with one another over a few sips of wine, laughter and talking is probably just what your relationship needs to bring back that spark.

 

Do you and your husband take a day every once in a while to go out and explore? Do you have a favorite winery to visit?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

Find a local winery in your area here. While we are not affiliated with or sponsored by Wine-Searcher.com, we found that Wine-Searcher.com lists wineries in each state and provides great winery information.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

 

Life Happens. Protect your Smartphone and Tablet with the OtterBox Defender Series!

Electronics, Gadgets, , , ,

It’s getting harder and harder to go anywhere without a smart phone or tablet these days.  On our recent trip to Florida, I brought my iPhone, iPad, and Kindle, and my kids each brought their iPhones.  We were toting a total of 5 devices and the worry of them dropping their device of spilling milk or water on it was almost constant.

Owners of smartphones will quickly learn two facts. First, smartphones are pretty fragile, and second, they are expensive to replace. This is even more true if you have young kids in the house.  Spilled juice or a drop onto concrete can easily cost you hundreds of dollars, making a protective case a must. For the iPhone, they don’t get much better than the OtterBox Defender.

OtterBox Defender Series Review

OtterBox Defender Series

The Defender Series cases are high quality cases with an outer layer of silicone and an inner layer of hard plastic to protect your phone from drops onto any surface. Even better, Defenders have a plastic screen protector while many other iPhone cases leave your screen open to the elements. This protects your screen from dirt, abrasion, and most importantly, sticky fingers. Your ports aren’t forgotten either, as these cases have silicone plugs that keep out dirt and debris. Each case also comes with a belt clip that doubles as a stand for video watching, but it can be removed for a sleeker look.  The Defender Series is available in several colors and shoppers can even build their own Defender Series OtterBox case.  My favorite is the Paisley & Floral Defender Series case from the Studio Collection.

Other OtterBox Cases

There are several other lines of cases available for your phone or iPad for those who don’t need quite so much protection. The Commuter Series has two layer construction like the Defender, but the silicone is on the inside instead of the outside. The Reflex sacrifices the silicone and had internal air pockets to dampen shock instead. On the other hand, the Impact Series is a robust silicone case lacking any hard plastic layer. Finally, the Prefix combines both layers into one, giving you the best of both worlds. Every case is available for a range of devices in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

I rely on my OtterBox.  So far I have dropped my phone out a two story window.  It was an accident, really!  One of my first iPhone’s slipped from a stack of books I was carrying and shattered.  My husband drove off with his iPhone on the hood of his car.   My son washed his iPhone. It’s not like all of these mishaps happened within a short period of time.  We aren’t clumsy.  It’s just life.  Things happen!

If you need a robust, functional case then OtterBox is where you should look. Their variety of HTC cases, iPhone cases, and tablet cases are excellently constructed and built to last. In fact, you’ll replace your phone with a new model before you replace your case. One thing to be aware of is that these cases can be a bit more expensive than other brands, but you really do get what you pay for. The protection they offer is top notch and few other cases can compete with it. Don’t spend ages sifting through different brands and models of smartphone or iPad cases; the Defender has you covered.

Now that I’m using an HTC OneX+, I hope to get an OtterBox case for it soon too!

Learn more about OtterBox:

I received an OtterBox Defender Series for review purposes.  As always, all opinions in this post are 100% my own. I only write about products that I would buy for my family.