Chic Simple Moms

Snow White--she's Back!

Ah yes, after a brief hiatus, I have returned! 

When I was asked to review “Snow White,”—the DVD/Blue Ray version, I admitted I giggled. “Snow White” was the first movie I saw on the “big screen”—at the Stonestown Cinema in San Francisco. I was four years old, my grandmother was then a seamstress for Elizabeth Arden, and we both dressed up for the Saturday Matinee.  We took the bus, she wore gloves, and yes, I am dating myself—this Saturday afternoon with Grandma happened 33 years ago.

And 33 years later, the same film is back, better than ever, The sound is amazing, the movie still captures every emotion and my kids duck and hide when I put the movie in the DVD, making me wonder, what on earth was grandma thinking? It’s really a scary movie for a 4 year old!

That aside, I’m excited for it to part of MY DVD  collection and it will come out on appropriate occasions for the kids to watch, but remain safely tucked away with mom. “Snow White” was a rite of passage for me—being able to venture out with grandma on my own (we went to lunch at the Fireplace Inn at the Mall after. How “grown up!”). It seems that “Snow White” has grown up as well. I have a DVD player, I’m a bit tempted to explore Blue Ray since I have both versions to test out...

Blue-Ray

* Up to 6x better quality than DVD* 7.1 Surround Sound
* Immersive activity with games and special features
* Kid proof-more scratch resistant (wait, do they know my kids?)
* Plays both Blu-ray and DVD discs
* Blu-ray also plays on Sony Playstation 3 players

Ok, I can’t rave about the Blue-Ray factor personally but I can say, I love the fact that my 1^st movie ever is on DVD and she’s moved into the next realm of technology even though I haven’t yet.  And I know a Blue Ray player will make its way into my home soon so I am loving the fact that this release covers both bases. 

Great Holiday Gift for any child—although I would recommend active parental screening for anyone under the age of 8.

Snow White--she's Back!

Ah yes, after a brief hiatus, I have returned! 

When I was asked to review “Snow White,”—the DVD/Blue Ray version, I admitted I giggled. “Snow White” was the first movie I saw on the “big screen”—at the Stonestown Cinema in San Francisco. I was four years old, my grandmother was then a seamstress for Elizabeth Arden, and we both dressed up for the Saturday Matinee.  We took the bus, she wore gloves, and yes, I am dating myself—this Saturday afternoon with Grandma happened 33 years ago.

And 33 years later, the same film is back, better than ever, The sound is amazing, the movie still captures every emotion and my kids duck and hide when I put the movie in the DVD, making me wonder, what on earth was grandma thinking? It’s really a scary movie for a 4 year old!

That aside, I’m excited for it to part of MY DVD  collection and it will come out on appropriate occasions for the kids to watch, but remain safely tucked away with mom. “Snow White” was a rite of passage for me—being able to venture out with grandma on my own (we went to lunch at the Fireplace Inn at the Mall after. How “grown up!”). It seems that “Snow White” has grown up as well. I have a DVD player, I’m a bit tempted to explore Blue Ray since I have both versions to test out...

Blue-Ray

* Up to 6x better quality than DVD* 7.1 Surround Sound
* Immersive activity with games and special features
* Kid proof-more scratch resistant (wait, do they know my kids?)
* Plays both Blu-ray and DVD discs
* Blu-ray also plays on Sony Playstation 3 players

Ok, I can’t rave about the Blue-Ray factor personally but I can say, I love the fact that my 1^st movie ever is on DVD and she’s moved into the next realm of technology even though I haven’t yet.  And I know a Blue Ray player will make its way into my home soon so I am loving the fact that this release covers both bases. 

Great Holiday Gift for any child—although I would recommend active parental screening for anyone under the age of 8.

Holiday Gifts: Chic Simple Kid Friendly Items

With 5 shopping days until Christmas, the shopping rush is on. Still need gifts for the kids in your life? Look no further. These items are a no-brainer.

For the little ones (ages 3+)

 

Plan Toys Melody Xylophone is eco-chic and budget friendly. Colorful and well made, the curve base allows it to produce real music note and parents can use the 3 musical cards included ("Jingle Bells", "Ode to Joy", and "Mary had a Little Lamb") to start developing sound recognition and foster music appreciation.

Founded in 1981 in Thailand, Plan Toys has been using non-toxic water based colors since 1994 and preservative-free rubber wood since 2004. They are innovators in both toy invention and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

Because of the small parts, this item is recommended for children age 3+. For a younger child, check out their Oval Xylophone which is recommended for children 18 months+. With the Melody Xylophone priced at $25 and the Oval Xylophone priced at $19, these are no-brainer gifts that will keep your children busy and happy and will last for years to come.

For the little car buffs:

Another Plan Toys favorite at my house, their Racing Car is propelled by a gear box and zooms forward when pulled back and released. It's the perfect sized stocking stuffer and fits easily into a little one's jacket pocket or a diaper bag. Because of the small parts (all securely attached), it's recommended for ages 3+ and at $5.00 it's another no-brainer gift or gift addition.

To purchase, visit www.plantoysusa.com to order online or to find a retailer near you.

For yourself or anyone looking to keep bath toys in check, Kuster's Bath Toy Store is perfect for tub time and looks great in any bathroom. To purchase go to www.goores.com.

 

 

For the tweener on your list…

Nintendo DS makes me smile. Back in the DAY, it was a single game—in my case, Donkey Kong. Now, Nintendo DS is a mini/portable gaming system and nowadays, the games available are family appropriate, rated "E" for everyone.

The Ener-G Horse Riders game is one of these games. For the budding equestrian in your life, this is a no brainer game allowing the player to choose from several horses and choose their own equestrian challenges. It's a non violent game so your littlest one can be looking over the player's shoulder without worry about them seeing anything inappropriate. Ubisoft has a number of casual, non-violent games that will keep both a tweener and any set of parents happy.

Visit www.ubisoft.com to purchase or to find the nearest retailer near you.

Holiday Gift Guide: Geek Chic

Fabulous Geek Chic Gadgets (and Giveaways!)

 

Itzbeen: For the mama to be or any mom is sleep deprived and needs to keep track of baby's sleeping, feeding, diaper changing schedule. Also great for moms with toddlers who are trying to get them back on a schedule and need a timer to set a limit for a single task (countdown to bath time, limiting TV time).

Awarded a JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association www.jpma.org) 2007 Innovation Award and invented by a mom (and dad), it's a no-brainer at $26.99. www.mom4life.com to purchase and check out their site for more mama chic, mama invented products.

 

Days Ago digital counter: Tired of hiding your permanent markers from your little ones but need to keep track of what's been in the fridge for how long? For anyone watching their food budget or concerned with food safety these are no brainers for their fridge or pantry. Originally developed by two moms to keep track of how long leftover baby food had been stored, it's also great for keeping track of medications, aquarium/pet cage cleanings and garden watering. Attaches easily to containers with a suction cup, band or magnet and has a replaceable battery.

Set of (2) for $10. There is also a special edition in Pink with 10% of the proceeds going to breast cancer awareness. www.daysago.com

                

(Giveaway Item!) For the Apple/MAC user in your life, Bento 2 is a user friendly organizer that will make any digital mom happy. Made by Filemaker, it's got the complexity of a traditional database but the simplicity and grace of a MAC program. Organize any aspect of your life ranging from your child's birthday party to vehicle records. It's a database program without a complicated database feel and for the diehard Apple fan; it's integrated with the iPhone and MobileMe mail.

Can't beat the price point at $49.00 and for a limited time you can download the free Holiday Pack from the Filemaker site to help organize your cards, gifts and end of year donations.

Visit www.filemaker.com/products/bento to purchase.

 

(Giveaway Item!) For the photo enthusiast, Corel's newly released Paint Shop Pro Photo 2 Ultimate is a great addition her software library. It's packed with features that allow you to edit, manipulate and fix photos and provides support for 250 camera formats. My personal favorite is the background remover which allows you to change the background of a photo (think being able to create your own "Find Waldo" with your kid's photos). Create away with this software that allows you to look like a professional and have fun in the process!

$79.99 online at www.corel.com for the full version and $49.99 for the upgrade.

 

The Aura Mobile BT by Spracht is a must-have for any mom. The Bluetooth enabled device turns any phone (mobile, cordless, pc/VOIP) into a high quality conference call phone. It's small enough to put in your purse or diaper/laptop bag and works with a wired connection as well. It also has echo and noise cancellations so it's perfect to use in the car even when the little ones are bickering in the backseat. Best of all, the unit comes with everything you need and there's no software to install so it can be used right out of the box. It's small, sleek and definitely geek chic for any mom on your list!

$99.00 at www.spracht.com .

 

(Giveaway Item!) For all you mommy bloggers out there, the Clickfree Automatic Backup drive is a MUST HAVE! In minutes, it backs up all your files ranging from photos to documents and all you need to do is connect the device to your pc or laptop with the USB cord. No additional software needed and it's small enough to fit in a purse or laptop bag. What makes it so smart is it automatically finds and backups your files, separating them by category (i.e. photos, documents, music) and by PC. The 160GB version is large enough to backup files on 10 different PCs and there are now 250GB, 320GB and 500GB versions available.

For those who prefer to have a hard copy backup, DVD backups are also available and like the drive are "click free"—no additional software to install.

Again, a must-have for anyone who relies on their pc or laptop. Snap one up BEFORE you experience a crash!

$119.99 for the 160GB drive at www.clickfree.com. DVD backups start at $9.99.

 

Sleek and chic best describe the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. Normally I am not a fan of headsets because they all look so…conventional but I love the Jawbone!

This well designed device looks and feels more like a piece of jewelry or a fancy barrette that you won't be afraid to wear even to the glitziest of holiday parties (just in case the babysitter calls…). Better yet, it charges quickly, comes with several ear loops and ear buds you can get the proper fit.

$129.99 with free shipping from the Jawbone website at www.jawbone.com.

Giveaway Items

1. Pick one item (NOTE: ONLY the items with (giveaway items) before their title are giveaways!)
2. Comment on why you think it's Geek Chic (note, for the Clickfree, the giveaway will be a 250GB Drive!)
3. Let me know who you'd give it to (yourself is fine!)

Contest runs from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 14 at midnight CST. Winner will be picked via Random.org and must be 18 or over and a US citizen to enter. Need not be a blogger to enter so pass the word around to your family and friends! Good luck!