All posts by Alicia

Best Buy Lunar New Year Gift Card

Best Buy Celebrates Lunar New Year With A Lunar New Year Inspired Gift Card

Best Buy GoPro camerasIn the spirit of diversity and company values, Best Buy supports events that are important to their employees, customers, and communities.  The upcoming Lunar New Year is one of those important celebrations.

For Asians all around the world, including Asian-Americans, Lunar New Year not only celebrates the beginning of the year but also the ending of winter and the anticipated arrival of spring.  It is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Asian countries.  

Best Buy Lunar New Year Gift CardTraditions of those who celebrate Lunar New Year often participate in include writing a wish for the new year on red paper, setting off firecrackers to send out the old year and welcome in the new, children receive gifts and families clean the home together, ahead of the big celebration.  I’d like to implement that tradition please! 🙂  The 14th day is spent getting ready for the Lantern Festival which takes place on the 15th night. On the fifteenth day, the Lantern Festival is held during which children carry lanterns in a nighttime parade.  How beautiful would that be to see?

This upcoming year, Lunar New Year, which is based on the phases of the moon, falls on February 19th, 2015 of our Gregorian calendar.  Best Buy is helping celebrate the event with Asian-inspired Giftcard and eGiftcard, available for purchase or gifting from BestBuy.com through February 22nd, 2015.

To have a gift card shipped to your or a friend’s address, follow this link.  To purchase an eGiftcard, one that can be sent via email and used at Best Buy and online, scroll to the right of the following link until you see the red giftcard with the two Koi fish: http:///www.bestbuy.com/egiftcard.

The physical Lunar New Year gift card and the eGiftcard will be available online at Best Buy from November 1, 2014 to February 22, 2015.

Pinterest Google Play app on Intel Tablet

How We Prepared For Halloween With Our Asus MeMo Pad™ 7 Intel Tablet | #IntelTablets

Intel Tablet blogger

I can’t believe Halloween is tomorrow!  My daughter has been reading Ever After High books for a couple of months and when she joined me to browse the Walmart website for Halloween costumes a few weeks ago, she expressed, with no hesitation, that she wanted to be one of the characters from Ever After High.   While we weren’t able to find the costume she wanted in her size she was very keen on the Red Vampiress costume she saw on the Walmart website.. so that’s what she is going to be.. a vampire.  Eeek!  A fun way for her to search for a Halloween costume was on the new Intel tablet I received to review, the Asus MeMo Pad 7.  Being the tech savvy kid she is she knew how to operate the tablet without instruction from me.

Below is a screenshot of the Halloween costume Madelyn chose on the Walmart app as well as a photo of her wearing the costume, taken with the Asus MeMo Pad 7.

Asus MeMo Pad 7 Intel Tablet review

Not only does Madelyn love Halloween because she can dress-up, but she loves looking at and almost examining carved pumpkins, Halloween decor and of course, trick-or-treating.   Halloween has turned into more of a celebratory occasion than it was when I was young.  If I recall correctly, and my memory can be wacky at times so don’t quote me.. ever, I wore the same hand-made Halloween costume for several years in a row.  I was a witch.. for years.  Some, such as Madelyn, might say I’m still a witch. 🙂  But I’m really not. I’m sweet as Pumpkin Pie!  Halloween was all about the candy back in the day.  Now Halloween is a time of year when kids gather together to compare costumes, have a costume party and even exchange candy at school.

Halloween apps on Intel Tablet asus memo pad 7

That said, it makes sense that preparing for Halloween is a little more time consuming than it was in the early 70’s when I was a child.  Parents search the Internet for the best deal on a costume, fun Halloween decor ideas, Halloween party ideas, etc.. Now, with parents being so busy, we often use our smartphones and tablets to help with our searches.  Stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Target have apps for tablets like the new Intel Tablets so now it’s easier than ever to grab the tablet and browse a few shopping apps and wahlah, you’re Halloween shopping is done and better than ever probably!

Not only can you download apps from the Google Play store, included on the tablet, you can use the built in Google Search widget to search for anything such as “youth Halloween costume”, “Halloween crafts for kids” and “Halloween decoration ideas” and the results will open in the browser instantly.

Pinterest Google Play app on Intel Tablet

Oh, and don’t forget to search Pinterest for fun holiday decor and craft ideas, which you can easily do on your Intel Tablet too, using the Pinterest app!

For an investment of under $150, the Asus MeMo Pad™ 7 tablet is a super-helper for busy families and beyond using the tablet to get ready for holidays like Halloween, it is a great size for little hands to use to play educational games on, learn to read and even do research for school papers.

I’ll be sharing more on my experiences with the Asus Intel Tablet in the coming weeks so stay tuned and have a great Halloween!

2015 Toyota Sienna

2015 Toyota Sienna First Look and Review

The Original Swagger Wagon” splashes into 2015 with a dynamically refreshed exterior and copious amounts of pizazz for a parents’ night out or early-morning practice with the kids.

2015 Toyota Sienna

 

MSRP: Starting at $28,500-$41,650
MPG: 18 City / 25 Hwy
ENGINE: 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission

Family Car Review - Test DriveThe quintessential minivan…classic chariot of the large family, often times deemed an absolute necessity amongst the suburbanite demographic that chooses not to experience their foray at the local mall in an SUV.   Almost since its inception, the minivan has been given a bad rap by hardcore car enthusiasts, who have accused it of being little more than a household appliance on four wheels, but over the years manufacturers such as Toyota have breathed new life into this segment through expressive design, incredible safety measures and comprehensive practicality.

I recently spent a couple of days in Florida with Toyota to experience the new 2015 Toyota Sienna, Camry, and Yaris.   What a great bunch of cars!  You’ve undoubtedly seen or heard the Swagger Wagon commercials/videos featuring the ultra-hip, practical, and super functional 2015 Sienna, a minivan so radically different from the models launched during the van’s heyday it has become a perennial favorite amongst shoppers of this segment.  Cruising through the quiet neighborhood roads as well as on the highway I found the Sienna to be a willing and entertaining.. and stylish.. companion.  The sleek minivan smoothly shifted through the six speeds of the automatic transmission handling the smooth suburban roads as well as the bumpy roads leading to Florida’s infamous St. John’s River, with ease. 

Perhaps most noteworthy of all is Toyota’s insistence to push forward with a sporty, look-at-me SE model trim for its minivan, fusing the gorgeous looks of its other SE-endowed vehicles such as the Camry with sprawling interior space for families of virtually all sizes. With its visual flair including subtle integrated lower-body spoilers, attention-grabbing wheels and aggressive front fascia, the Sienna SE is never mistaken for any other kind of minivan on the road.

And that’s just the beginning of this model’s story.  After a one-week test drive with the Sienna at home in Atlanta, I got to know it very well!

The Inside Scoop

Receiving a mid-cycle update and available in L, LE, SE, XLE and Limited trims, the 2015 Sienna boasts equipment packages to fit any lifestyle and any family. Indeed, whether you’re heading the carpool or transporting key members of the soccer team to that ever-important practice, there is room for everyone here. With seating for up to eight and on eight-passenger models, the versatile center seat in the second row folds upright to form an additional seat. Meanwhile, available dual power sliding doors makes entering the Sienna’s spacious, claustrophobia-free interior easy, accessible via a button on the remote keyless entry or available Smart Key fob.

Additional benefits in the seating department include third-row easy access, which yields first-class treatment for third-row passengers. The vehicle’s second-row seat cushions tip up, allowing the seats to slide forward to make access to the third-row seating a snap. Not only that, the Sienna’s interior features flexible seating arrangements that can be quickly configured for the ideal combination of passengers and cargo. A flexible third row completes the seating amenities with the Split & Stow Third Row feature, allowing the third-row seating to fold into a cargo area storage compartment which yields flat load space. On Limited FWD models, the seats come power-operated.

2015 Toyota Sienna Armrest

Amongst all of Sienna’s interior amenities for 2015, the Driver Easy Speak is by far one of the most talked-about. Making it easier to chat with passengers in the rear seats, Sienna’s available Driver Easy Speak feature has a built-in microphone up front that picks up the human voice and transmits it to the back through the rear speakers. Turning it on is as easy as pressing a button on the touch-screen display.  What’s even better than being able to talk to your kids seated in the third row?  Them not being able to talk back through said speaker!  Mom (or Dad) has spoken.. and you can’t talk back.. is all I have to say!

Safety

All 2015 Siennas come equipped with a driver front airbag and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags, driver knee airbag, passenger-seat airbag and all-row side curtain airbags. Other standouts in the safety category include Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), standard on the XLE and Limited and available as part as an options package on the SE; front and rear parking assist sonar, standard only on the Limited and a Safety Connect package that includes emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, roadside assistance and automatic collision notification, standard only on the Limited.

2015 Toyota Sienna Dash

Entertainment/Technology

Beginning with the LE trim, entertainment and tech features include an Entune Audio Plus system with seven-inch high-resolution touchscreen display, HD Radio and SiriusXM All Access Radio. Moving up to the sexy SE nets a sports instrumentation with 4.2-inch color TFT Multi-Information Display that complements an Entune Premium Audio system with navigation and App Suite. The XLE offers an optional 16.4″ Dual-View Blu-ray Disc Entertainment Center, while the Limited boasts a top-of-the-line Entune Premium JBL Audio system with navigation and App Suite.  For families that opt for the XLE with the Dual-View Blu-ray Disc Entertainment Center, the parents can’t be blamed if their kids don’t speak to them, ever again, during a road trip.

2015 Toyota Sienna Cargo space

Fuel Efficiency & Trim Level Pricing

All 2015 Siennas come equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission that nets an estimated 18/25 miles-per-gallon rating. MSRP, according to manufacturer information, on each of the Sienna trims for 2015 is as follows:

L: $28,500
LE: $31,330
SE: $34,900
XLE: $35,100
Limited: $41,650

Final Thoughts

If you’re in need of a versatile vehicle that sheds the minivan’s nearly prehistoric reputation of being dreadfully un-exciting, what’s not to like? Toyota has hit a home run with the Sienna, especially in the engineering and design-oriented SE trim, appealing to parents across the spectrum who make safety, comfort, entertainment and fuel efficiency a priority.

Test drive a 2015 Toyota Sienna at your local Toyota dealership today or learn more about the 2015 Toyota Sienna online at Toyota.com.

– Alicia

View more photos of the 2015 Toyota Sienna

 

GoPro HERO at Best Buy

Capture Your Family’s Adventures With A New GoPro Camera Available Now At Best Buy!

Best Buy GoPro cameras

GoPro HERO at Best BuyMy son loves long boarding.  If you’re not familiar with what long boarding is, it’s like skateboarding but on a long board.  There aren’t many tricks involved with long boarding as with skateboarding but the speed a long board achieves is incredible and pretty scary, to me at least, sometimes.   Sebastian even made his own longboard that sports bright green wheels and a snazzy grip tape design.  When my Dad offered to let him use his new GoPro to film himself on his longboard during a visit to his house, his excitement was too much to contain!  He hooked the GoPro to the board and took off like a… pro!

Here’s the first video he shot on my Dad’s GoPro, the one that inspired him to add a GoPro to every wish list he’ll create until he gets one. 🙂

 

With the holidays coming up, a GoPro is on the top of the list for many teens and adults and Best Buy is the place to go to check them out and buy a GoPro.

Best Buy has three new GoPro’s for you to check out; the GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, and GoPro HERO.

The GoPro HERO4 Black is the most advanced GoPro ever. It features improved image quality and a 2x more powerful processor with 2x faster video frame rates1, HERO4 Black takes award‐winning GoPro performance to a whole new level.

GoPro HERO4 Silver is the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. Controlling The camera, playing back footage and adjusting settings is ultra-convenient—just view, tap and swipe the screen. With 1080p60 and 720p120 video, and 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second, HERO4 Silver combines powerful, pro-quality capture with the convenience of a touch display.

The GoPro HERO featuring high‐quality 1080p30 and 720p60 video, and 5MP photos up to 5 fps, HERO captures the same immersive footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world.

GoPro at Best Buy

Best Buy is the home of the latest cameras and camcorders, including the full line of new GoPro cameras, plus a broad assortment of accessories. GoPro cameras make perfect holiday gifts for everyone, from kids and teens, to gadget gurus. GoPro’s new line of cameras allow you to beautifully and authentically capture and share the experiences that bring purpose, adventure, and joy to your life.

Can you imagine how cute it would have been to capture a video of your toddler riding his or her first tricycle with a GoPro?  As you can see in the video below of my daughter riding her bike, the faces, emotions and angles the GoPro captures are one-of-a-kind! I crack up every time I watch this video and am so glad to add it to my library of funny videos of Madelyn’s childhood.

 

 

If these fabulous videos of my kids aren’t enough to convince you of how great the GoPro is, check out the GoPro videos featured on Best Buy!

Sebastian has all sorts of plans for his future GoPro including ocean, lake, and river kayaking, roller coasters, more long boarding, lacrosse.. you name it, it’s GoPro-able!  My daughter is thinking more along the lines of strapping the GoPro to her head while she shoots a rainbow loom bracelet tutorial for YouTube. 🙂  I think it would be fun to capture video of her on the bars or mat at gymnastics though.. don’t you?

Learn more at www.bestbuy.com/GoPro or visit your local Best Buy to check out the latest cameras in person.

 

 

Schoola used children's clothing

I am #GivingStyle to my Daughter and Giving Art & Music Supplies to Schools by Shopping At Schoola

Schoola used children's clothing

School’s in full swing and a pleasant change from last year, Madelyn is picking out her own school outfits, a few days a week at least.  It’s a good thing I’m not a matchy-matchy kind of person or I’d come close to fainting every morning when she walks down stairs.   You would think she is pattern blind sometimes because she loves mixing polka-dots with stripes and stripes with a pattern.   She’s eight though and can pull off the funky look.   My favorite of her recent outfits is when she wore a shirt over a dress.  Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo but it was the dress above, which she got from Schoola, with a short, loose fitting blousy shirt.  She might have gotten the idea of layering a shirt over a dress from my sister because everyone knows I’m not brave enough to do that.  My wardrobe consists of black pants, black shirts, a few sweaters.. mostly black, a couple of dresses, and black shoes.  I’m super fashion savvy right?

While Madelyn’s not a shorts and t-shirt kind of girl, she dresses up for any occasion.  She also spends a lot of time outside.   Did you ever ride a bike in a dress?  Madelyn has mastered it!   She enjoys riding her bike, swinging, doing homework or art on the back patio, and lucky for me, she loves to water the potted plants.   A few days ago she and I were about to water the plants when a package from Schoola.com arrived.  You read about Schoola.com here a few weeks ago. Madelyn was super anxious to open the box so I let her go inside and open the box while I got the hose.   I wish I was there when she opened the box because I heard a squeal and a gasp and then nothing for 5 minutes.  I called in to her and she said “mom, don’t come in my room –  I have a surprise for you”.  Five minutes later she walked daintily down the stairs holding the tip of the skirt of her beautiful new Soprano dress in her right hand while gently dragging her left hand down the handrail.. just like I imagine she will do on prom night.. but she won’t actually get to leave the house that night. 😉  Of course I didn’t have the camera ready and you can’t redo moments like and she’s not a fan of posing for photographs so I’m sharing the photos I took of her watering the plants.

Schoola designer used children's clothes

Schoola.com offers parents an affordable way to dress their kids in stylish gently used clothes while donating to schools art and music programs.

40% of the proceeds raised from purchases made on Schoola.com goes to buying art supplies music instruments and supplies as well as new books for libraries at schools across the country.  Parents like you and I can donate our children’s gently-used clothing.  Learn how to donate clothing to Schoola here

Schoola makes it easy to find exactly the pieces you’re looking for with their sorting feature.  You can first sort by gender, then choose your child’s age range, then size, and even drill down to color, brand and price.   You’ll find clothes from The Gap, Zara, Old Navy, The Children’s Place, and even designer clothes like Madelyn’s Soprano dress.   Madelyn’s outfit (above) cost just $20.70 and $8.28 of that went to help schools art, music and pe program all around the country!  Schoola.com even has a great selection of items for high school kids!  I found an Old Navy sweater for just $5.98 and a Hanes fleece pullover, Sebastian’s favorite thing to wear these days, for just $2.98!

Go through your kids closets, figure out what they need, grab a cup of tea and head to Schoola.com to shop for clothes!

25% off Schoola.com through 10/12/14!

Get 25% off your Schoola.com purchase when you use promo code givingstyle through October 12, 2014!