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The Day Sharp Sent the Stink Away

GEAR, tech By August 14, 2013 Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

I love my job.  But sometimes UrbanMommies gets sent items for review and we don’t actually know how to give them a proper test.  Case in point: The Sharp Air Purifier.  You see, I’m pretty lucky.  I don’t have carpets, don’t smoke, it’s summer when the doors are opened all the time and I’m a spectacular housekeeper.  Ha.  Ok maybe not, but my air smells pretty fresh.  I plugged in this shiny new unit in a large room.  It looked a bit like a spaceship with fancy lights and was so quiet I kept forgetting it was there.  It even monitors dust.  Reading the details, I was convinced it was doing it’s thing, but how could I prove it?

And then I decided to clean out my storage room.  Our home is built on a rock and in several places the rock comes into the house.  Dampness from the British Columbia rain combined with too-small kids’ shoes tossed into a storage bin can create quite the stench.  So when I opened the door, eager to organize the dreaded area, I gagged.  Several hours later the space looked shiny.  Soccer cleats and rollerblades were catalogued and Christmas decorations grouped (behind Hallowe’en for ease of access of course).  Martha would be proud.  But the room still smelled like a dog’s breakfast.  And then I remembered the silent spaceship in the other room.  The Sharp KC-850U Air Purifier is recommended for rooms up to 254 sq. ft. and my storage wasn’t even close to that.  I had a hunch that it would work quickly.

I dragged it in.  Plugged it in.  Turned off the lights, shut the door and came back 3 days later.The angels were singing! Mozart was playing! My air smelled clean.  Test complete and products passes with flying colours.  It actually inactivates mould, viruses, allergens and odours.  It doesn’t just mask the smells like spraying perfume around.  It actually removes them.

The details:

·         Sharp air purifiers are the world’s only air purifiers with Plasmacluser Ion (PCI) technology that uses both positive and negative ions to shower the room and seek out and inactivate many airborne contaminants.

·         Through the use of positive and negative ions, the air purifier is able to inactivate most airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria, mould spores, germs, fungi and other odour causing substances, removing up to 99.7% of airborne particles.

·         Sharp’s air purifiers with humidifying function are also the only product line on the market that combine a humidifier and air purifier, meaning one sleek unit is all that’s needed to keep the air in a room clean and comfortable, no matter what the season.

Here’s their fan page.  It should be called an air purifier page as opposed to fan. I. am. so. funny.

So now that I don’t have to use my superior housekeeping skills (chuckle) to scrub the storage room, won’t get as many viruses this winter and can skip the allergy medicines, I have a ton of time on my hands.  Dinner, anyone?

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15 Back to School Essentials

GEAR, style By August 6, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

I’m one of those parents that can’t stand the end of summer.  The thought of school lunches and early wake-ups makes me want to cry.  Even the notion of some alone time while the kids are in school doesn’t make me want to celebrate.  But back to school shopping?  Now you’re talking.  I love the new beginnings – a change to streamline routines and try to finally nail the healthy littler-less lunch.  We can always dream.  Here are our 15 back to school essentials for this year.

1.  Reminiscent of old-school TV dinner trays or modern Bento boxes, the PlanetBox ensures food doesn’t get all mixed up and helps you include healthier options for the pickiest eater.  The magnets add a personal flair.  Also available at Pottery Barn Kids with personalized carry bags.

2.  Microwave, dishwasher safe and waterproof.  Music to a parents’ ears!  Not having to raid the lost and found box at school every week?  Even better.  I just ordered Mabels Labels‘ Ultimate Back to School Pack. The kids got to choose their own personal designs and even prompted them to clean out their closet.

3.  Sanrio.  It’s all about Sanrio.  I just got 2 new Sigg Hello Kitty water bottles.  Always BPA-free, these designs also allow you to write a note to your kids in the thought bubble.  My preference is to have the kids write a note to me, as I won’t give these bottles up.  Sorry, boys.

4.  We know that UrbanMommies is a big fan of manners for kids.  Let’s not stop at school.  Funkins are colourful, fun napkins made just for our little robot lovers and fishermen.

5.  As you register the kids for extra-curricular activities, don’t forget to include down time.  The Babba Box is a subscription service that provides hours of after-school and weekend creativity.  Combine it with Disney’s new Story app and we’re willing to bet you double their fun.

6.  I always went to school with personalized pencils from Lillian Vernon.  You despise me now don’t you?  And now they are in pink.

7.  WoolFelt iPad sleeve on etsy.  Stunning.

8.  Fancy patterned binders help our kids feel like individuals.  Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with epic patterns.  Available at Staples.

9.  Boys: In the summer I can’t get my boys to wear pants.  In the fall I can’t get them to wear pants without holes in the knees.  Good news: Iron Knee pants from Land’s End.  The revolutionary interior knee patch will allow them to fall on their knees all the time without you having to deal with seeing their kneecaps at the end of the day.  Now we just need to stock up on Tide Pods how to deal with the grass stains.
10.  Girls: The new Binksy & Bobo reversible tie dress.  Spills can be instantly hidden with a flip.  And it’s Canadian. I need one in my size please.

11.  Picmonkey.  It’s all about picmonkey.  They’ve just released some back to school themes, overlays and nostalgic school effects.

12.  Zoo Lunches from Skip Hop acts as a lunch bag and doubles as a little friend.  Available at Snuggle Bugz.

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50 Years: The Ford Mustang Convertible

auto, GEAR By July 30, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

It was my tenth wedding anniversary and I was fully surprised as I got whisked off to Los Angeles.  The tenth seems to carry more weight than it used to.  We were upgraded and treated like royalty everywhere we went and it began with the car rental agency.  Noting the special occasion we were given a Ford Mustang convertible.  And I happened to have a scarf to tie around my head a la Grace Kelly. (But of course).

The Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang has always held allure for me.  Rugged and manly yet powerful with crisp lines, it produces a visceral reaction.  I have to stop writing auto reviews.  They always sound racy to me. (But to be fair you should read their slogans).  Even as an automatic the car is easy to handle and the turning radius was impressive in tiny LA parking garages.  Delivering up to 662 HP (V8 Manual Supercharged), I can’t think of a better vehicle in which to see the southern California coast.  No longer intimidated by the sunroof, it was fully automated with 2 manual levers that were easily operated.

I happened to be attending the Ford Trends Conference in Detroit for the 50th anniversary of the Mustang.  Unlike the image in my mind of the vehicle of 50 years ago (my close friend was given one by his dad), I was taken with the modern design and extras.  Trends discussed at the conference about environmental responsibility, technology and the notion of cars making life easier for their drivers were evident in the vehicle.  The SYNC® with MyFord Touch® systems allow you to use the RCA connectors to plug in all kinds of video players such as gaming consoles and iPods. You can even turn your smartphone into a wireless router, so your passengers — big and small — can surf the Web! Hold me back – I’m trying to unplug this summer.

It’s in the Detailing

The steering wheel was stitched beautifully through leather and ergonomic to the hands.  The square detailing on the dash juxtaposed against the curves of the outside shell made for a ying-yang experience.  Our music blared clearly from huge speakers and as we drove through Malibu and Hollywood I played with the dials styled like old-school radio accessories.  I may have been singing a bit too.. Capitol Records, are you listening?  More a ‘date-night’ vehicle, there were of course carseat latches but you’d be hard-pressed to fit a third person between two carseats.  That, of course, isn’t the purpose of this machine.  As a date vehicle for fair weather?  Perfect.

See also:

Ford Fusion

Ford Edge

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Online Terms Every Parent Should Know

apps, FAM, GEAR, kids By July 2, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Our children are growing up in a digital world with technology right at their fingertips. They’re spending more and more time on the web — so teaching them to be safe and responsible online is critical.  During the summer when there is less structure for our children is a critical time to address online safety.  We’ve discovered a list of online terms every parent should know to get your conversations started.

As part of the discussion to educate parents, teachers and children about being responsible and safe online, NBCUniversal’s “The More You Know” Learning Series — in collaboration with NBC News — has unveiled Growing Up Online, a free, interactive eBook on digital literacy and Internet safety.  Even the most experienced Internet user might have a few questions about all the technical language used in the online world. What exactly is a cache? What is your digital footprint?

Here’s a list of commonly used terms:

APP or application, is a software program typically used on a smartphone or mobile device. Apps may feel new, but the phrase “software application” has been around for over thirty years.

Instagram a free photo-sharing and social networking site on which people can take pictures and then share them with other members of the Instagram community.

Social Games games played online in which multiple players in different locations can play together or against one another. These players may or may not know one another online.

Social Networking Sites websites, such as Facebook or Twitter, on which people can share information and photos and play games together.

MMORPG a massive, multiplayer, online role-playing game. “World of Warcraft” is one of the most famous examples.

Digital Footprint the record, or footprint of everywhere you’ve gone online. This may include your visits to a web page or chat room, emails and uploaded videos. Some of this material may be publicly available to anyone searching for it and can be used in ways you might not want it to be.

Cache is a way your computer stores information, from either your own hard disk or online, so that it can be accessed more quickly. There is a record of your computer’s cache, and you can delete items from it if they link to objectionable sites. A related term, browser history, refers to a list of all the sites you’ve visited online in a certain time frame. Each browser lists these differently.

The more you know about how the online world works, the easier it will be to talk with your kids and that’s the best way to keep them safe.

(Adapted from the eBook, Growing Up Online by NBC Universal and NBC News).

To download a free copy of Growing Up Online and learn about digital safety and internet security, visit http://www.themoreyouknow.com/ebooks/ and start a conversation with your kids.

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An Antidote for Lego Addiction: Renting and Returning Lego

GEAR, toys By July 2, 2013 Tags: , , , No Comments

As a mom whose children had a slight addition to Lego, I know how difficult it can be to stick to a toy budget when your child covets a certain set.  Or ten. Worse still, they assemble it in a day (ok maybe not the Deathstar) and soonafter, the new items get played with and broken.  We’ve just discovered Pleygo, a Netflix-like rental service for Lego sets.

Pleygo is a new service which provides kids and adults unlimited access to the world of Lego at a minimal cost.  By renting and returning Lego sets, parents save money and kids continue to be excited and long for the new set that comes in the mail.  Life skills such as creativity, fine-motor and sequencing are enhanced and I’m willing to bet that my summer tech-timeout challenge will be a tad easier once I subscribe! There are plans for Unlimited Lego sets for 3, 6 or even 12 months.  

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Kidoodle: The New Screen-Time Solution

apps, GEAR By June 26, 2013 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

I heard a story last week about a phenomenal mom who allowed her 7 year-old son on a playdate.  While the two boys were innocently searching for Lego on the internet, up popped an x-rated video that wouldn’t close with  a simple click. She cried for three days and told me softly that she would never be ab;e to take back the images her son had witnessed.  Horrific.  Enter Kidoodle.TV.  Launched for beta testing in Canada and set to launch across North America this summer, Kidoodle is made just for kids aged 12 and under. With increased parental controls, Kidoodle.TV makes programming safe for kids, with educational and entertaining content, free of nudity, profanity, violence and advertising directed at children.

They are offering a FREE one month trial during their beta test to get feedback from parents like you. Parents can sign up for this beta invitation on their site.

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Our 20 Favourite Beauty Products for the Summer

beauty, GEAR By June 5, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

We get a ton of products shipped to the office for testing and we try as many as we can.  So we owe it to our readers to share our favs.  Some are a tad racy, so watch out… Presenting Our 20 Favourite Beauty Products for the Summer!  Enjoy and be sure to add your own in the comments section.

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Acura 2103 ILX Hybrid and ILX Technology

auto, GEAR By June 4, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

There’s a joke now about me as I test drive vehicles.  Unlike other auto journalists, it takes about an hour for me to take all of the kid stuff out of my own car and transfer it to the tester.  Car seats, sporting equipment, groceries, garbage, dried cheerios and dirty coffee mugs make their way into the clean new car as everyone around me chuckles.  Luckily whenever I drive an Acura, I feel so much like a princess that I don’t mind the extra work.  I drove the Acura ILX Hybrid (MSRP $35,050) and ILX Technology (MSRP$32,350) back to back and was delighted by what I found.

Though they are different to drive (and a tad distracting if you watch the dials as much as I do), hybrids are winning my love at the moment.  Typically it’s all about the environment and the time and money you save at the gas pumps, but as an under-appreciated mom, I have other reasons.  I feel like I’m in control; of how I use the fuel, how I drive, and the noise level within the car. I also feel good about myself for simply driving a hybrid (and am able to park in hybrid-only parking spots).  That’s nice too.

That aside, here’s what I loved about both vehicles:

1.  The Valet key is genius. The removable key portion ensures that the valet or a burglar can’t get into trunk if the ‘valet’ option is switched off.  For this reason there is no passthru on the trunk on hybrid.  (Skiiers beware).
2.  Flat tire seal repair kit for the hybrid ensures you have no need to change a tire on the side of road.  Perfect safety for women!
3.  There’s a hard drive in the vehicle so that when you insert a cd it will copy your music and store it on the hard drive (150 cd capacity).
4.  Like in Hondas, there is a flat back floor which gives backseat passengers more room – especially if someone is sitting between two carseats.
5.  Pant protector and the double seal on doors ensures that you don’t get oil and grease on your new designer jeans.
6.  Seat warmers remember last setting so nobody can play a joke on you by making your backside too hot..  Ditto for the navigation system with voice recognition.
7.  The push button start, while leaving the key in your purse is a must for moms.
8.  The look is super sporty with a low profile and great viz.
9.  Rear windows are nice and low so that the kids can see out (hopefully avoiding some car screaming time).
10.  The SMS text message function reads you texts as you drive, and you are also able to respond with a few stock responses such as ‘I’ll text later, I’m driving’.  Much fun can be had with passengers in the back seat depending on the propriety of incoming text messages.
11.  There is a “feedback” system in the Hybrid that lets a driver know how well they are performing.  A big green ball grows larger if you drive sensibly and shrinks if you don’t.  So try to limit the shrinkage.

Drawbacks:
1.  I thought the trunk of the hybrid was small, as the battery is behind the back seat (or perhaps I carry around too much junk…)
2.  Totally not a drawback with the vehicles but either with my kids or my ineptitude as a Mom.  Where does all of the kid-dirt come from?  I am SO glad I don’t have to clean the car after a week of driving. What’s with the blue playdoh?

The Verdict?

Loved both of these vehicles and for the extra couple of thousand dollars, I’d choose the Acura ILX Hybrid.  The savings in fuel, the rear spoiler and the self-love you’ll receive make it a slam dunk.

Check out the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Acura RDX too.

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Soda Stream

GEAR, tech By May 5, 2013 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

soda streamThis might very possibly be the best invention.  Like EVER.  It’s not turning water into wine, mind you, but to make sparkling water from tap with or without flavours added is epic.  The Soda Stream reduces waste as you reuse the sturdy bottles provided, nor do you have to lug heavy cans or bottles.  Storage space in your kitchen is more plentiful and it’s cheaper than buying soda.  The sparkling naturals flavours are made with all natural ingredients and are healthier than typical pop and soda – plus you can also control the amount of flavour you add.  I’ve found the carbonation refills at Canadian Tire and WalMart as well as online.  It’s my new must-have appliance.

www.sodastreamusa.com 

UrbanMommies was provided with a Soda Stream system for review purposes.  As always, our opinions are our own.

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