All posts by Alicia

5 Personalized Hand-Stamped Bracelets and Necklaces

May 23, 2014Fashion & Style, Jewelry, Style GuideHand Stamped Jewelry, JewelryAlicia

I have over a dozen pieces of personalized hand-stamped jewelry that I have collected over the years. I had a necklace made with my son’s initials, when he was a baby, then another necklace with two birds with my husband and mine’s initials, and a bracelet with initial charms for both of my kids. Some of the pieces have since gone missing because Madelyn thinks it’s fun to wear my jewelry and apparently doesn’t understand the importance of putting my stuff away after she borrows it. I will probably find a necklace or two under her mattress one of these days.

Hand-stamped jewelry is a great keepsake for moms. Just don’t let your young kids use it for dress-up. 😉 Many pieces can be customized with a child’s name, initials, birth date, and even a birthstone. Celebrity moms, such as Nicole Richie, have been seen wearing hand-stamped jewelry with their child’s initial or name on it.

Here are three hand-stamped bracelets and three hand-stamped necklaces that I love

1 – Lowercase Typewriter Initial Necklace / $64 at Boticca.com
This necklace is 16″ long and features two charms, each measuring 3/8″ wide. 14k gold-filled chain and charms.

2 – 2 Rectangle Name Tag Necklace / $114+ at Anna Bee Jewelry
This necklace is my favorite of the bunch not just because it was worn by Gwyneth Paltrow.. no.. because it is simple. These pieces can be made with gold, silver, or mixed metals. Each one-of-a-kind piece is handmade including the charms.

3 – sheena is – riveted or pyramid stud bangle / $59 at Three Sisters
This is my favorite hand stamped bracelet.. for now at least. I love it! You can choose from round rivets or pyramid studs. I’d go with the pyramid studs. 🙂

4 – Silver Two Charm Necklace / $70 at Hip Mom Jewelry
This necklace features 2 sterling silver charms and can be accented by birthstones or freshwater pearls.

5 – Love Always Wrap Handstamped Bracelet / $23 on Etsy
While you can’t customize the phrase on this bracelet, what I love about this bracelet is that the stamped piece is held together by leather. You can choose 5 colors of leather.

Do you have a hand-stamped piece of jewelry with your child’s name on it? Where did you get it?

5 Patterned Sunglasses From $5 to $435 That Will Spice Up Your Summer Style

May 20, 2014Fashion & Style, Style GuideFashion, summer, SunglassesAlicia

I have worn the same two pairs of sunglasses for years; Tory Burch sunglasses and Versace sunglasses with a cute little gold ribbon on each side which is totally not my style usually but the ribbon is small and just cute! I was really upset when I saw that my Tory Burch sunglasses had scratches on the lenses so I did what I do and started a search for sunglasses online.

During my search for sunglasses I was reminded that not all sunglasses are alike. Sunglasses come in different styles, colors, and shapes. From leopard print to brightly colored flowers to polka dots, and even camouflage, despite how small sunglasses are, they sure can pack a punch of pattern! I might expect camouflage from a pair of sunglasses in the sporting section at Walmart but I was surprised to see Tory Burch offering a sleek pair of what looks like camouflage sunglasses (#2 below). I’m not brave enough to wear anything camouflage or better yet, camouflage just isn’t my thing.

Here are five patterned sunglasses that will spice up your summer wardrobe!

1 – Bottega Veneta 195/S / $435 at Zappos.com

2 – Tory Burch TY7054 / $205 at Zappos.com

3 – Prada Sunglasses, PR 29PS / $310 at Macys.com

4 – Mossimo® Cateye Sunglasses – Tortoise / $16.99 at Target

5 – Tortoise Square Sunglasses / Ready for it? $5.80 at Forever21. You read that right. 🙂

If you want to splurge on a pair of sunglasses I suggest you go to your local eyewear boutique and spend time trying several pairs on. Consider the nosebridge, color, fit, and shape when shopping for sunglasses. While it might be fun to own a pair of leopard print or polka dot sunglasses, I think I’d rather spend money on a more basic looking pair that I feel comfortable wearing with any outfit and in any situation. I’d rather pay a lot for a good pair of sunglasses I will wear for years than a little for a pair of sunglasses that will last a few months because they are flimsy. Do you agree? My daughter on the other hand… she’s all about the print! It seems like leopard print sunglasses will always be trendy but what about aviators? A post for another day I guess.

Do you wear sunglasses with a pattern or do you stick to plain, one color sunglasses? Do you have a favorite brand of sunglasses?

Keep Your Feet Cool and Cute In These 5 Breathable Ballet Flats

May 19, 2014Fashion & Style, Style Guideballet flat, Fashion, Shoes, summerAlicia

Summer is quickly approaching and that means it’s time for sandals and flats. I love ballet flats. Ballet flats have been my go-to shoe for about three years and I don’t know how my feet survived 30-something years in something other than ballet flats or wedge sandals during the summer. Actually, I do. I wore either my black or tan pair of Earth mary janes for years and I still love them but they’re too hot to wear in the summer and maybe they are a little worn out. Ballet flats come in a lot of styles and colors. Some have bows, some are quilted and some are embellished with studs! I’ll show you some of my favorite embellished ballet flats another day. 🙂

Below are five pairs of breathable ballet flats. These flats either have a breathable lining and/or insole. You can feel confident that your feet won’t sweat in these shoes this summer. I hate summer foot sweat which is why I also wear wedge sandals in the summer.

I’ve shown you ballet flats for little girls, now it’s time to show you breathable ballet flats for women.

1 – Hush Puppies Chaste Ballet – Hush Puppies are a tried and true shoe brand. The breathable lining and a cushioned insole are sure to keep your feet comfy and cool this summer.

2 – Patagonia Maha Breathe – I love the Atoll Aqua color as shown above, but these flats are available in 6 colors in case you’re not fond of aqua shoes.

3 – J. Crew Quorra Ballet Flats – Look close and you’ll see Xs and Os on these sunwashed aqua ballet flats. I think this color is really pretty but if aqua shoes don’t excite you you’ll be happy to know that these J. Crew ballet flats are available in four other colors.

4 – UGG Kellis Crystal – These flats don’t necessarily look breathable but from what I’ve read the breathable leather lining helps fight overheating feet and if these flats are true to the UGG brand they are very comfortable.

5 – Reebok ‘True Studio’ Ballet Flat – While these aren’t my favorite color, they look comfortable and definitely breathable. These ballet flats are probably best for yoga or around the house.

Talk to us!

Do you have a favorite pair of ballet flats? What do you look for when shopping for flats? Do you consider breathability when shoe shopping or is style more important?

The HTC One M8 harman/kardon for Sprint: Amazing Photographs & Incredible Sound!

May 15, 2014Brand Ambassador, Gadgets, Smartphones, Technology#SprintMom, Harman/Kardon, HTC One M8, mom central, Sprint AmbassadorAlicia

Perhaps the most exciting new Android smartphone on the market right now is the HTC One M8. It is truly something special and is available through all the major wireless carriers in the United States. However, the recently released Sprint edition, the HTC One M8 harman/kardon, offers users an even better overall experience. It delivers even better audio quality than the regular version making it not just a great smartphone but an awesome media device.

If you have kids, you know what I mean when I suggest that your smartphone is a media device. You know how your smartphone transforms into a gaming console with the switch from adult to child’s hands? Or a karaoke machine, a DJ, a mini movie theatre, and in our case, a bedtime story reader when I’m sick and can’t read to my daughter at night.**

HTC One M8 Size & Sound

The HTC One M8 harman/kardon is slightly taller than last year’s version and slightly larger at 71 millimeters wide. The screen is a full five inches with an HD display resolution of 1980 by 1080 pixels. Battery life is good with the 2600 mAh battery and should get most parents through a busy day. Of course, you have access to plenty of apps courtesy of Google Play whether you are looking for entertainment, finance, games, social networking and so much more. The Harman/Kardon Sprint HTC One M8 includes a special technology called Clari-Fi. It makes all types of digital music compressed to fit on your phone have a more natural sound when you are listening to music through headphones. This is what makes it unique to the general version of the smartphone that are available worldwide. The sound quality is amazing. I’m not kidding when I tell you this; I was laying in my daughter’s bed a few nights ago and we were watching and listening to one of the SAG Foundation stories being read by James Earl Jones. There was a point during the 7 minute video that I looked around my daughter’s room because I heard music coming from the left side of me and swore an iPod or her radio came on and I was going to have to get up to turn it off. In reality, it was the music from the story we were watching, transcending into a space I didn’t think sound from a phone could go. It was as if she had surround sound speakers in her room. It was really wild actually.

I can’t even compare the sound quality of the HTC One M8 harman/kardon and the iPhone 5s. The sound quality is that different. Like I said earlier, it’s like you’re holding a mini movie theatre in your hands or you’re at a live concert without the parking hassle and crowd. The sound is really that good. So, if you listen to music while you’re working, exercising, cleaning, cooking, putting the kids to bed (Enya is great for bedtime!), or enjoying a romantic dinner with your significant other, the HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon will immerse you in the music like never before. Really. I’m not exaggerating. Go to your Sprint store and check it out for yourself!

Take Professional Looking Photos With UltraPixels

If you are a busy mom or dad you will find that the HTC One M8 harman/kardon is the ultimate smartphone for you. It is made with a gorgeous all metal build that is highly durable and will be able to withstand a good deal of punishment, even when your kids get their hands on it. Like the original HTC One from last year, the camera of the M8 is 4 megapixels, or rather UltraPixels as HTC has dubbed them. The UltraPixels are meant to capture as much light as possible in your shots when you are in low-light situations.

One of my favorite ways to test a camera is by taking macro or close-up shots. Here are a few photographs I took with the HTC One M8 harman/kardon.

However, unlike the original HTC One, the One M8 has dual rear-facing cameras. The purpose of this is to offer more depth in your photos, which is great when you are chasing your kids around to snap the best possible pictures. There is also a feature called UFocus that allows you to capture a photo and then go back to it to edit it when you are ready. Blurring the background will make your images look even better as it more effectively emphasizes the object or person of your focus.

As a parent, I enjoy the Zoe feature, which is the ability to capture video clips that are three seconds long and made up of 20 still shots. The HTC One M8 captures this each time you snap a photo. Later, you can choose individual frames that you would like to use to make up a quick video for memorizing those special moments.

Keep Up With Your Social Media With BlinkFeed!

One of the biggest features of the phone is BlinkFeed. This appeared on last year’s HTC One and offers a refreshing look to your home screen that stands out in comparison to other Android smartphones. You can choose among news and social network feeds you want to appear on your home screen so that you do not have to go digging for it. It is a great way to keep up with current events and with family and friends with whom you are connected on Facebook or Twitter.

Is It Easy To Transition From Other Phone and/or OS?

Overall, the HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon has definitely replaced my iPhone. I have been anxious for a larger iPhone to be released and while it looks like that may happen sometime, I am very happy with the HTC One M8, even being the Apple girl I am. HTC makes the transition from an iPhone, or any phone for that matter, to an HTC easy with the HTC Sync Manager. I had my iTunes music on the HTC One M8 in no time and to top it off, I get to listen to the music from the phone OR from the amazing Harman Kardon Onyx Studio which connects to my HTC One M8 via Bluetooth and produces the most amazingly full and crisp sound. The Harman Kardon Onyz Studio is a definite addition to our vacations this summer as we love to listen to music wherever we are and it is so portable, there’s no reason not to bring it along.

Sprint Sound Sessions / Spotify 20 Million Songs = Super Fun Summer Road Trips!

As a part of Sprint’s new Sprint Sound Sessions, Sprint is giving customers access to Spotify’s catalogue of more than 20 million songs. I listen to music while I work, exercise, clean, and in the car. I have music on 80% of my waking hours. Sometimes even while I shower and definitely when my daughter bathes. Talk about belting out a song in the shower!

Spotify on the HTC One M8 allows users to play music on demand, create playlists, discover new music, share tracks with their friends, listen to songs offline, and listen to music without ads across multiple devices. Access to Spotify allows you to listen to millions of songs on the go. It has been really nice to be able to listen to songs I didn’t already have in my music library, from my HTC One M8 via Spotify. Think about how much easier your upcoming summer road trips will be with a service like Spotify on your phone. Sprint is offering Sprint Framily Members Spotify for FREE for 6 months with the purchase of a HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon, for a limited time. When is a better time to take advantage of a deal like that than right before summer road trips?

I hope this review helps you, especially if you’re wondering if the boost in sound quality and the transition from another smartphone operating system is easy or not. It is!

Stay tuned (sign up for my daily rss/email updates in the box at the top of the right column) for more reviews of devices offered through Sprint as I enjoy being a #SprintMom Sprint Ambassador during which I will test various Sprint devices and service options over the course of the year.

Enjoy!

Alicia

If you haven’t checked out SAG Foundation’s storybook website, bookmark it today and next time you lose your voice and can’t read bedtime stories to your kids, go to the website and choose from one of the many books for your child’s bedtime story. Actors including Annette Bening, Elijah Wood, and Betty White, read wonderful stories in a video so kids get that sense of being read to and get to see and experience the book as if it were in their hands. The HTC One M8 harman/kardon sound really helps the books come to life!

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Review: A Luxurious Family Workhorse

May 12, 2014Car ReviewsCar Review, Toyota, Toyota TundraAlicia

MSRP: Starting at $41,977
ESTIMATED MPG: 13 City / 17 HWY
ENGINE: 4.0-liter V-6, 4.6-liter or 5.7-liter V-8

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a workhorse disguised as a gorgeous pickup truck. I have wanted to test drive a pickup truck for a long time. Maybe it’s for my need to overcompensate for my shortness or because I want to feel tough on the road for once. I am not an aggressive driver by any means so having the opportunity to drive an aggressive looking but fascinatingly pretty truck was impossible to pass up. The Tundra 1794 handled our busy everyday family-life of hauling kids and their equipment to sports practices, taking several 7-year old girls to get ice cream, and driving up our local ‘mountain’, with incredible ease.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a beautiful 4-door truck with a safe, luxurious family-sized cab and many utilitarian features. It is the top of the line among Tundra’s, and that means it offers the best dashboard technology which will please the geekiest of Moms and Dads, like me. 😉 The price is top of the line, too, jumping over $44,000 compared to the base model’s $26,000 price tag.

Powertrain vs. Fuel Economy

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers the 5.7 iForce V8. This 32-valve engine cranks up 381 horsepower and an even better 401 lb-ft of torque. That’s significantly better than the other V8 engine with 310/327 hp/torque and the V6 engine with 270/278 hp/torque. The 6-speed automatic is paired with the V8. Rear wheel drive is a Tundra standard. Fuel economy is only 13 mpg/city and 18 mpg/highway. For a Dad who loves to tow, this high horsepower is a must. For a Mom who is worried about gas prices, the 1794 is a bit of a long shot but it sure is fun to drive!

Safety

Safety equipment includes child-related features such LATCH car seat connectors. This should keep kids’ car seats in place in an accident. Side impact beams and eight airbags should protect precious cargo. The active safety systems provide electronically-controlled stability and traction. The 1794 gains front and rear parking assist sonar systems in addition to its standard rearview camera. Mom and Dad will appreciate the help even when it’s just backing out of a familiar driveway. A blind spot monitor is an important option, especially since it comes with rear cross traffic alerts for reverse maneuvers. The 1794 tightens up security by adding a glass breakage sensor to its anti-theft feature.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

Exterior

When I saw the Tundra 1794 being driven into my driveway I got goosebumps. It’s massive size, ravishing red color, and bold silver grille took my breathe away. The 1794 exterior exchanges the color-keyed bumper for a silver one with chrome end-caps and a chrome grille surround. You can even opt to exchange the 1794’s 20-inch alloys for chrome ones. The liftgate has an easy lower/lift feature that will moms and dads with kids who have to haul a lot of sports equipment to practice and games happy. When it came time to put my son’s lacrosse gear in the truck bed and take it out, my 14-year-old welcomed the easy lower liftgate. A windshield wiper de-icer and power-defrost mirrors take care of wet weather problems. The 1794 adds embedded turn signals to the power-folding side mirrors, a must-have in my opinion.

Toyota Tundra 1794 Grille

Interior

The 1794 definitely upgrades the Tundra cabin. It exchanges fabric for premium perforated leather. It adds ventilation and heating to the front seats. It adds a dual zone climate system, which operates with both Mom’s and Dad’s input. To keep the kids cool, the rear window is a vertical-slide, power-operated one. I especially appreciated the 10-way power driver seat. I am 5’1″ and was worried that I wouldn’t reach the pedals easily but the practically endless driver seat adjustment options allowed me to get comfortable and ready for a drive quickly. Front seat passengers will be pleased with their own 6-way power seat.

My kids found plenty of places to stash stuff since the cabin has numerous cup and bottle holders and the largest front cabin storage unit I’ve ever seen! My daughter stored coloring books and more in the storage compartment. As far as the back seat was concerned, my kids were in heaven. You have to see the interior of the Tundra in order to believe it when I saw it’s gigantic! Madelyn, 8-years-old, could barely touch the front seat with her toes.. great for me as she thinks that pushing on my seat with her feet is “giving me a back massage”. I’ll take a professional masseuse, thank you. 🙂 The Tundra’s split rear seat folds away for extra cargo space, in the rare case that you’d need more cargo space. Perhaps for a large stroller?

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 interior

Technology

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers top-of-the-line technology. There’s an Entune screen with easy touch buttons and a premium JBL Audio system. Even GPS navigation is standard and the voice, along with all Toyota’s I’ve tested lately, is incredible polite and soothing. I feel like I needed to say thank you after each directional command. You also get regular Tundra standards such as Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, and streaming audio from sources including Pandora and iHeart radio. For the price tag, the 2014 Tundra 1794 definitely packs in the luxuries, safety features, dash tech and utility prowess.

Utility

Dads who want a utility vehicle will find that the Tundra is one useful machine for the worksite, for hauling and for towing. To start, ground clearance is a generous 10.4 inches. The towing package is standard and includes the receiver, 4/7 pin connector, tow/haul mode, and engine components like the oil and transmission coolers. This makes the Tundra CrewMax 1794 capable of towing 10,000 pounds. By comparison the standard Tundra can tow less than 7,000 pounds. Trailer sway control is standard, making this comparable to Ford F150 and similar brands.

The only drawback I can think of after driving this stunning truck for a week is its low fuel economy. That being said, I am hard-pressed to think the average driver of a pickup truck is as concerned about getting 30+mpg as they are being able to haul a good amount of stuff in the bed while enjoying a luxury driving experience.

The look on my daughter’s face is what she thought of the Tundra! She and I relaxed in the bed of the Tundra 1794 Edition for a couple of hours while my son practiced Lacrosse. We had a blast!

Find a Toyota dealership near you and take the Tundra for a drive!

In order to facilitate this review, Toyota provided me with a 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 for one week. All opinions are my own.

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