Category Archives: Gadgets

DaysAgo Digital Day Counter

Gadgets

DaysagoWith everything that parents have to do and think about, it’s no wonder we don’t remember when the tomato sauce was opened or if the open jar of baby food in the refrigerator is from this decade.  It’s tough to remember when you opened what.

The DaysAgo Digital Day Counter solves that problem once and for all.  It is the first and only digital day
counter that attaches to a variety of surfaces with a magnetic or
suction backing or with a band.  Now you can store baby food, breast milk, or left-overs without having to worry about remembering when you put it in the refrigerator or freezer.  The DaysAgo Digital Day Counter counts up to 99 days. It’s a simple gadget that is
re-usable, versatile and helps save money. You can use it on food
containers to let you know how many days ago you opened it, closed it,
tried it, sauced it, grew it, etc.  As for leftovers, it eliminates the
doubt about when to throw it out.

Use the DaysAgo Digital Day Counter to reminder you when you:

  • cleaned the fish tank
  • opened the baby food
  • watered the plants
  • gave your dog medicine
  • made the baby’s bottle
  • thoroughly washed the bath toys

Simply attach the DaysAgo Digital Day Counter to an item (produce, chips, fish tank, plants) and
it digitally displays how many days or hours ago the item was opened, cleaned, given or watered. 

There are tons of usage possibilities.

What would you use a DaysAgo Digital Day Counter for?

Three readers will win a DaysAgo Digital Day Counter!  Send your most creative usage idea to be entered to win. The contest starts Friday April 25th and ends April 30th.  I will choose the three most creative ideas by May 2nd and will contact the winners by email.
Email your most creative idea to alicia @ themommyinsider . com (no spaces).

WEBSITE: DaysAgo Digital Day Counter

20Q the little round gadget that knows what you’re thinking

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Electronics, Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, Games, Toys, Travel

20Q has been around for years and is now available in a smaller, smarter, pastel version.   20Q is an "artificial intelligence" game that tries to guess what you are thinking about by asking questions such as "is it alive", "does it make you feel good", and "is it hard". 
Much to my amazement, 20Q figured out what we were thinking 8 times out of 10.    How does it work, you ask?   By process of elimination.

I thought of an elephant, a balloon, and a piece of grass.  20Q guessed the elephant and balloon between the 15-20th guess but the closest 20Q got to guessing a piece of grass was guessing that I was thinking of a leaf.  That is still pretty good.  I was impressed. 

If 20Q doesn’t guess what you are thinking about (read your mind) by the 20th question, you win!
When 20Q asks the player a question, the player responds by pressing one of four buttons.  Yes, no, sometimes, or don’t know.  Based on your response 20Q asks the player another question.

20Q is a great game to take on vacation as it doesn’t blast annoying beeps and boings, nor does it take up much room being about the size of a child’s palm.  Recommended for ages 8 and up, 20Q is now available in spring colors.

Icon_website2   Learn more about 20Q or buy here

iRobot Scooba

Cleaning & Cleaners, Electronics, Gadgets

IrobotscoobaThe iRobot Scooba is a superb addition to any home with linoleum, tile or hardwood floors. The Scooba preps, washes, scrubs and squeegees your floor so you don’t have to! The Scooba can be turned on as you are leaving the house so you come home to clean floors. It can be u
sed with a special solution made by Clorox and available at most grocery stores or you can simply use water and vinegar or just water. We tested the iRobot Scooba on hardwood floors and used the Virtual Walls in our doorways to see how they worked. The iRobot Scooba has built in sensors that prevent it from going off of ledges and stairs so the Virtual Walls are mainly for occasions when you want the Scooba to clean one room instead of all attached rooms. Simply place a Virtual Wall device on the floor and the iRobot Scooba will not go past it.

On average, the Scooba covers each area of the floor 5 times. It’s fun to watch but you might get dizzy if you watch too long! The Scooba’s sensors help it navigate the room and avoid carpeted areas and area rugs. The Scooba washes the floor with clean solution and deposits the dirty water into a dirty water tank automatically, so it does not recycle the dirty water. Corners, under cabinets, and tables are no match for the Scooba. It cleans these areas just as well as the rest of the floor.

Be warned, using and watching the Scooba can be addictive and you may forget how to use a mop.

Icon_website2Watch demonstration videos and learn more about the iRobot Scooba here.

Check prices and/or buy at Amazon.com

Pedometer

Electronics, Gadgets, Safety

Oregonpedometer I have become increasingly aware that my body is probably not going to go back to the size 4 I was 10 years ago.  I am however, a relatively happy size 8 and that is down from a size 12 that I was  almost 2 years ago when I had Madelyn.  I lost the first 20 pounds (I gained about 35) within the first year without much exercise but when the weight loss slowed down I didn’t know what
to do.   

A lot of health magazines that say that walking can do the trick so I decided I would try that route before joining a gym.  I needed a way to track the distance I walked and found this pedometer to be a practical, easy to use solution.

Oregon Scientific offers several pedometers for both walkers and for those on a more rigorous marathon type routine who may need a pulse meeter to make sure their heart rate is at the correct level.

The pedometer that I favor is a simple one with a panic alarm. I am a bit paranoid. I don’t like walking by myself but sometimes I have to and knowing that I have a panic alarm helps me to relax and enjoy my walk.

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Pedometer with panic alarm – Oregon Scientific

Oakley RAZRWIRE sunglasses

Dad, Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, Travel

OakleyrazrwireWhat man doesn’t want a pair of Oakley’s?  When our testers put these on for the first time, I thought they all looked like spies.  It took me a while to get past the fact that they guys looked like 007 but once I did I realized that these are not only really great looking but they are also one of the coolest gadgets (for adults) that I’ve reviewed.

Oakley’s RAZRWIRE’s are the first ever eyewear to combine patented Oakley optics with Motorola wireless BLUETOOTH®  technology.  How gadgety does that sound?  A wearable link to your cellular phone, RAZRWIRE™
offers the freedom of mobile hands-free communication. The integrated
design frees you from cumbersome wires, allowing you to quickly answer
and place calls with the touch of a button.  RAZRWIRE’s detachable Motorola Bluetooth wireless headset lets active
and style conscious parents (and other consumers) experience hands-free, cable-free
communications which is a necessity when traveling to and from sports, ballet, school, and appointments. It is very important to use both hands when driving.

Our testers agreed that call clarity was not compromised nor was comfort.  RAZRWIRE sunglasses are not heavy and do not feel bulky said our testers.  The sunglasses proved to be comfortable for extended periods of time.

With RAZRWIRE™,
a hands-free link to your cellular phone is always at the ready, and
there’s no need to remove it between calls like a clumsy headset. The
technology you need is part of something you’re already wearing. RAZRWIRE™ is science wrapped in art that turns wireless mobility into fashion.

Thanks to Oakley, we are giving away a pair of RAZRWIRE’s to one lucky reader! Check back later  (April 1st 08) for details on how to enter to win.

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Oakley RAZRWIRE sunglasses